1st International Conference on Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Osun State University. November 5-7, 2019.

REMOTELY CONTROLLED CAR SPEED GOVERNOR

Alonge, O.I.*, Abiola, O.A., Onigbogi, A.O., Akinbode, F.O., Okediji, A. P. and Alabi, I. O.

Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Elizade University, Ilara-mokin,

Ondo State.
*Email of Corresponding Author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
This study modifies a Car Speed Limiting Device (CSLD) based on a pre-existing design with
a view to avoiding car over speeding and reduce possible accident on highway. The speed
limiter was modified by incorporating a carrier chip into the device using an Arduino Nano to
coordinate the activities of the carrier chip and the speed limiter. The function of the carrier
chip is to send and receive notification message from owner’s phone number. The components
were connected in between the two wires of the car fuel line using existing design. Two
different cars were used and tested on a highway. The result obtained for the two vehicles
showed different responses. When the speed of the car exceeds the designed speed limit of the
device, it was transmitted by the speed limiting device, the speed governor came into action
and restricted the car from going beyond the pre-set speed by actuating the relay to reduce the
current flowing through the fuel line and reduced the rate of flow of fuel into the combustion
chamber which reduces the power output of the engine. The speed limiter became active.
Warning signal in the form of alarm was activated, and the receiver sends a message to the
owner through the carrier chip. The study concluded that the modified speed governor design
is better, safer and remotely controlled compared to the existing design.

Keywords: Car, Speed Limiter, Carrier chip, Relay, Speed.

INTRODUCTION

Road accidents have become something normal due to its consistent happening and
ubiquitousness. Even in our present world, we believe any mechanical device could fail or
show sign of misbehaviour, especially if not properly manage. Every minute someone is killed
or seriously injured on the major roads because of terrible accidents (Ahmed et al., 2015). A
report by the International Road Federation (IRF) shows that about 2.4 million people have
died in road accidents across the world with over 1.3 million road death every year and daily
record of 3, 000 deaths (IRFAR, 2012). This is a worldwide pestilence practically identical to

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Malaria or Tuberculosis, which go after the youthful, poor people and the defenceless
(Varshith, 2011). The primary explanation behind these mischances is the fast and careless
driving of motorist. The World Health Organisation raised an alarm on this figure and believes
that it may increase to 1.9 million if deliberate and solid action is not taken (Tribune, 2009).
Safety has become principal focus of government agencies and private organizations concerned
with transportation. In Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is the
government agency with statutory responsibilities for road safety administration. Nigeria is the
most populous country in Africa with a total land area of 910,771 km2 and human population
of about 167 million and a high number of vehicles estimated at over 7.6 million, with a total
length of about 194, 000 km, the country has suffered severe loss of manpower and economy
to fatal car accidents (Sumaila, 2013). Undoubtedly, this population create immense pressure
that contributes to the high road traffic accidents in the country (FRSC, 2012).

The factors that induces fatal car accidents in Nigeria have been classified into human,
mechanical and environmental factors. Human factor accounts for up to 90 % of accidents
while the mechanical and environmental factors sum-up to 10 % (Assum, 1998). Human factors
include visual acuteness, driver fatigue, poor knowledge of road signs and regulations,
illiteracy, health problems, excessive speeding, drug abuse and over-confidence while on the
steering. Mechanical factors include poor vehicle maintenance, tyre blowouts, poor lights, and
broken-down vehicles on the road without adequate warning. The environmental factors are
summed up into heavy rainfall, harmattan, sun reflection, heavy wind, pot holes and un-tarred
roads. These factors have independently and/or collective contributed to the high prevalence
rate of fatal car accidents in Nigeria (Ukoji, 2017). With the deadly crashes encountered
everywhere throughout the world, vehicle safety has been set up to check them. One of the
approaches to lessen such vehicle crashes is to avoid over speeding in streets and expressways.
Vehicle safety is a basic issue in the car business and there are two existing sorts of vehicle
security frameworks: dynamic wellbeing and detached wellbeing frameworks (Ogasawara and
Ueno, 1995). Dynamic security keeps accidents from happening and detached frameworks are
worked in the auto to ensure the tenants or clients after the mishap has happened. Dynamic
security frameworks contribute considerably to lessening of extreme wounds and fatalities in
rush hour gridlock and as the level of dynamic wellbeing innovation in vehicles is expanded,
the quantities of mischances diminish. Vehicle speed sensor is a standout amongst the most
critical gadgets in the dynamic security framework (Fleming, 2001). It is a gadget in vehicles
that restricts the speed of a vehicle. Vehicle devices today assume a key part in the ergonomics

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and safety highlights. The appearance of electronically controlled actuators has added to
development of vehicle sensors (Ogasawara and Ueno, 1995). A portion of the devices set up
to control inordinate speeding incorporate Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) devices
(Fleming, 2001) and the speed governors. The ISA gadget screens the speed of the vehicle. The
ISA devices are actualized utilizing worldwide situating system collectors, radio recurrence
beneficiaries or optical acknowledgment system which requires extensive infrastructural
venture.

A few vehicle speed sensor systems have been created for use inside the vehicle for speed
checking and control purposes. Customary vehicle speed sensor presently being used
incorporate Variable Reluctance (VR) sensor. The yield of VR sensor is a simple flag whose
frequency and amplitude are corresponding to vehicle speed. Another issue with the current
electronic vehicle speed governors is that fuel supply to the motor is all of a sudden cut when
vehicle top speed is accomplished due to the on/off control strategy which results to vehicle
jerking. The automobile is likewise one of the primary methods for transportation, and
individuals make broad utilization of it for the duration of their lives. This reason, among
others, justifies the need of use of the advances in sensors, instrumentation and control in
vehicles with the goal of enhancing road safety. The problem of automotive speed
limiter/governor was considered by many investigators and researchers. Most research work
concentrated on the impact of the speed limitation on the reduction of accidents and causalities
(Han et al., 2005). Few articles are available that concern the technical aspect of the speed
limiting system. Some of the articles or publications handled the technical perspectives of the
automotive speed governor system in the recent years. Croitoru et al., (2014) introduced an
order of speed limiting device demonstrating the advantages and disadvantages each type. He
found that appropriately design ISA can be exceedingly successful in urging drivers to obey
speed limits and ought to be supported by governments. Pérez et al., (2010) exhibited another
Infrastructure to Vehicles communication and control system for intelligent speed control,
which depends on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for identification of
traffic signals on the road. Their outcomes recommended that an automatic intelligent control
system can be used to keep any sudden activity conditions and enhance the safety of the
occupants of the vehicle.

Burje et al., (2012) presented a design to control the speed of the automobiles at remote places
for fixed time. Their proposed model used a microcontroller unit that gets the pedal position

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and after that exchanges appropriate signal to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that thus
controls the cars' throttle position. They expressed that their theoretical study needs further
extension to more than one vehicle. The objectives of this work is to modify a speed governor
by adding a speed notifier and SMS controller into it and evaluate a prototype of the device
through experiments.

TYPES OF ROAD SPEED LIMITER

Based on the Functionality (Ahmed et al., 2015)

(1) Top-speed limiting

It prevents the vehicle from exceeding a set speed. Most modern vehicle engine-management
systems have a top speed setting but it is usually well in-excess of maximum national speed
limits and could not be regarded as a safety device.
(2) Speed alarm and speed limit set by the driver
It alerts the driver if a selected speed is exceeded. Some vehicles have this feature. It also
prevents the vehicle from going beyond the pre-set speed, except for temporary over-ride
situations. These are also known as "Adjustable Speed Limitation Function (ASLF)".
(3) Intelligent speed alarm and speed limiter
The system "knows" through an application like google map, the speed limit of the section of
road and direction of travel and alerts the driver if that speed is exceeded by an audible alarm,
a visual signal or a vibrating throttle pedal or a combination of these. It also prevents the vehicle
from being accelerated beyond this speed.

2.2 Based on the Control Technique (Ahmed et al., 2015).

(1) Throttle Control: The throttle control is a type of technique used in limiting the speed of
a vehicle through throttle body of the engine. A throttle body is the intake system component
in fuel-injected engines that the drivers controls with the accelerator. The throttle regulates or
limits the amount of air that enters the combustion chamber with the fuel delivered from the
injector.

(2) Direct Fuel Control: The direct fuel control is the most type technique used to regulate the
speed of a vehicle. Also, the fuel control is the most effective of all types. In this type of method,
the fuel is the source of control. The speed is limited by reducing the amount of fuel that is
released into the combustion chamber for combustion.

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(3) Electronic Speed Governor: In this type, electric signal is utilized by using a magnetic
pick up sensor. The magnetic pick up sensor is installed alongside a drive shaft gear made of
material that responds to a magnetic field. As each gearing tooth passes the sensor, the gear
interrupts the sensors magnetic field. This, thus, creates an Alternating Current signal, which
compares to the speed of the shaft. The signal is sent to the electronic control module to build
up the measure of fuel that ought to be infused to the combustion chamber of the engine.

2.3 Basic Vehicle speed measurement System

The basic measurement system consists mainly of three blocks: Sensing element, Signal
conditioning element and signal processing element. An electronic speed limiter/governor
contains three key components in particular the vehicle speed sensor, Electronic Control Unit
(ECU) and a fuel flow control valve. The speed sensor creates electronic pulses in relation to
the vehicle speed and transmits the same to the ECU. In this examination, the sensing
component convert the non-electrical signal (mechanical rotational motion) into electrical
signal (voltage pulses). The reason for the signal conditioning component is to convert the
variety of electrical signal into a voltage level suitable for additionally preparing. This is
accomplished using amplifier circuit and digital logic circuit. The following stage is the signal
condition component which is a microcontroller which takes the output of the signal
conditioning component and convert it into a shape appropriate for presentation and different
uses (display, recording and feedback control). Based on the installed algorithm, the electronic
control unit processes the speed of the vehicle also, persistently monitors the same. At whatever
point the vehicle accomplishes the most extreme set speed, the electronic control unit enacts
the actuator which directs the fuel stream and henceforth the vehicle speed is constrained.

METHODOLOGY

Materials used are speed limiting device, relay, connecting cables, GPS antenna while tools
used are cutting plier, testing lamp, razor blade and black tape

Description of Major Components

Speed Limiting Device: Speed limiter is an Electronic / Electro-Mechanical device fitted on

a vehicle with the purpose of regulating the maximum speed of a vehicle to a set limit. A Speed
Limiter is shown in Figure 1. Table 1 shows the speed limit for vehicles in Nigeria (Nigeria
Highway Code, 2015-2019). The speed limiter used in this work was pre-set to 95km/h and

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programmed with the receiver phone number. Speed Limiters are of different types based on
the vehicle category on which it is used. The two most important types are the Drive by Wire
System (RDPS) and the Fuel Type System. The Fuel type system was used in this project. The
speed limiter was built to have a port for the GPS antenna and the GSM antenna for receive
signal. It also has another cable port for the connection of the wire that would be connected to
the vehicle system.

Table 1 Speed Limits for Vehicles in km/hr

Types of Build- High Express
Vehicles up way -way
Motorcycles 50 50 -
Private Cars 50 80 100
Taxis & Buses 50 80 90
Tankers & 45 50 60
Trailers
Two Vehicle 45 45 45
(While Towing)
Two Vehicle 50 60 70
(not Towing)

Fig. 1 Speed limiter

Connection Cables: The connection cables were used to connect the speed limiter to the relay
and to the vehicle. The connection cable had different cables with different colours on it,
namely: blue, white, black, red, brown and yellow. The connection cables are as shown in
Figure 2.

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Figure 2: Connection Cables

Relay: Relay is a switch that opens and closes circuit electromechanically or electronically.
The relay used controls one electrical circuit by opening and closing contact in another circuit.
The relay came with four (4) wires, two (2) thick green wires, a red wire and black wire. The
Relay is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Relay
GPS Antenna: The Global Positioning System is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed
from a constellation of 24 satellites that continuously orbit the earth. All GPS receivers use an
antenna to receive these signals. The GPS Antenna is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: GPS Antenna

GSM Antenna: is an antenna to receive GSM signal to the device. It is as shown in Figure 5.

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Figure 5: GSM Antenna

The specification of cars used in this research are shown in Table 2 and 3. First thing done was
to identify the fuel line cable (yellow cable with green stripes) using a Tester which is a device
used to test for the flow of current in a wire or circuit. The fuel line cable was cut into two,
making the wires one carrying current from the source and the other without any current in it.
The divided wires were then connected to the relay. Connection of the relay to the fuel line was
carried out by connecting the two thick green wires from the relay to the two ends of the fuel
line cables. One of the thick green cables was connected to the fuel line cable from the power
source and the other green cable to the second wire of the fuel line. The black wire from the
relay to the black wire of the connection cable were joined together because the black wire is
the grand wire. Both black wires were connected to any other grand in the vehicle. The red
wire from the relay was connected to the brown cable from the connection cable. At the end
the connection cable is plugged into the speed limiter. The red and white wire from the
connection cable is connected to the thick green cable of the relay (the current source). The
GPS and GSM antennas were connected to the speed limiter.

Table 2: Engine Specification (HONDA ACCORD, 2003)

Fuel tank capacity 17.1 Gal
EPA mileage estimates 26 city/ 34 Highway
Base engine size 2.4 litres
Base engine type I-4
Horsepower 160 Hp
Horsepower rpm 5,500
Torque 161 Lb.Ft
Torque rpm 4,500
Maximum Towing 1,000Lbs
capacity
Drive type Front wheel
*EPA- Environmental Protection Agency

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Table 3: Engine Specification (TOYOTA COROLLA, 2009)

Fuel tank capacity 17.1 Gal
EPA mileage estimates 26 city/ 34 Highway
Base engine size 1.8 Litres
Base engine type I-4
Horse power 132 Hp
Horsepower rpm 6,000
Torque 128Lb-Ft
Torque rpm 4,400
Maximum Towing 950Lbs
capacity
Drive type Front wheel
*EPA- Environmental Protection Agency

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla Response

Table 4 and Table 5 show the interrelation between the car speed, engine speed, speed limiter,
alarm and the receiver for Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla, respectively. They basically
show the response of each component as the car speed changes. The engine speed in the case
of Toyota Corolla was quite different from Honda Accord due to some factors like engine
capacity, vehicle weight, and material selection.

Table 4: Interrelation between car speed and components for Honda Accord
Car Engine Speed Alarm Receiver
Speed Speed Limiter
(km/h) (Rev/min)

0 1000 On (NA) No No

20 1100 On (NA) No No

40 1500 On (NA) No No

60 2000 On (NA) No No

80 2500 On (NA) No No

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95 3000 On (NA) Yes Yes (Msg)

• NA-Not Active, Msg- Message

Table 5: Interrelation between car speed and components for Toyota Corolla
Car Engine Speed Alarm Receiver
Speed Speed Limiter
(km/h) (Rv/min)

0 1100 On (NA) No No

20 1300 On (NA) No No

40 1500 On (NA) No No

60 2100 On (NA) No No

80 2400 On (NA) No No

95 2800 On (NA) Yes Yes (Msg)

*NA-Not Active, Msg- Message

The two vehicles showed similar response to the speed limiter, alarm and receiver. Figure 6
shows the histogram of car speed against speed limiter for Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla.

100
Car Speed (km/hr)

80

60

40

20

0
NO NO NO NO NO YES
Speed Limiter

Figure 6: Histogram of Car Speed against Speed Limiter for Honda Accord and Toyota
Corolla.

At 0 km/h, the engine was idle. There was no load on the engine yet. Speed limiter was on but
was not active. Because the speed has not been accomplished at which it will be active. At 20
km/h, Engines of the two vehicles started running at speed higher than 0 km/h because load
has been applied to it (Transmission was on drive). At 20 km/h, the speed limiter was on but
was not active. Tracker was able to get signal and vehicles were able to be tracked at this speed.

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At 40 km/h, vehicle was moving at the constant speed while the speed limiter was not active
but on. Tracker from the speed limiter was on and was able to track vehicle at that speed. At
60 km/h, no activity from the speed limiter aside the tracker been able to locate the exact
location of vehicle at that point. At 80 km/hr, vehicle approaches maximum speed limit and
speed limiter still not responsive while it is on. At 95 km/h, Engine of each car running at
higher speeds, the speed limiter became active immediately it sensed the pre-set speed, reduced
the current in the flow line circuit leading to reduction in the flow rate of the fuel being supplied
to the combustion chamber making the mixture a lean mixture and limits the speed of the
vehicle at 95 km/h. The tracker was able to track the vehicles location as well. When trying to
exceed the pre-set car speed, the car refuses to exceed the speed because of the shortage in
current of the flow line.

Figure 7 shows the effect of car speed on the receiver for the two vehicles. As the speed of the
car increases and approaches the maximum speed pre-set already in the speed limiter, the
receiver responded variably. At 0 km/h when the vehicle is idle, the receiver is on but not
responsive at 0 km/hr. At 20 km/h, the engine was under load and vehicle was moving and yet
the receiver is still not responded. At 40 km/h, the vehicle was still being driven and no output
from the receiver from the speed limiter. At 60 km/h, receiver was on but no output from it. At
80 km/h, the vehicle was approaching the maximum speed limit and receiver was yet to respond
to the speed at which the vehicle was been driven at. At 95 km/h, receiver is fully functional
and responsive. The speed limiter stored the data to its history and when the network was
restored, the speed limiter sent the message through the carrier component to the owner’s phone
as a text message as shown in Figure 8 and at that time the message was seen from the owner’s
phone. The vehicle was shut down by sending a code “‹SABO*STP›” and a confirmation
message saying “lock car successful” was received as shown in Figure 9, then vehicle shut
down immediately. The vehicle started again as the owner restores the vehicle by sending
“‹SABO*RES›” and the owner (person sending the message receives a message too saying
“unlocked successfully” as shown in Figure 10, then the vehicle will start again.

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100

80

Car speed(km/hr)
60

40

20

0
NO NO NO NO NO YES
Receiver

Figure 7: Histogram of Car Speed against Receiver for Honda Accord and Toyota
Corolla.

Figure 8: Message from the Receiver

Figure 9: Message from the Speed Limiter after Sending the STOP Code

Figure 10: Message gotten after sending restore code

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Figure 11 shows the response of the alarm at different car speed for the two vehicles. The alarm
is the sound notifier that alerts the driver when the vehicle approaches or reaches the maximum
pre-set speed on the speed limiter. At 0 km/h, car was on and running but alarm wasn’t ringing.
At 20 km/h, vehicle was moving and alarm wasn’t responsive. At 40 km/h, still running the car
and the speed limiter was still not responsive. At 60 km/h, vehicle was still working and running
but the alarm was not working. At 80 km/h, vehicle approached maximum speed and the alarm
was yet to respond. The alarm started working when speed exceeded 80 km/h and above. The
sound became more pronounced when the speed got closer to the maximum speed. At 95 km/h,
the car was at its maximum speed and the alarm was beeping continuously till the speed drops
below the pre-set speed. When the speed drops below the maximum speed, the alarm reduced
gradually. Between the speeds of 0-80 km/h, the alarm is inactive.

100
Car speed(km/hr)

80
60
40
20
0
NO NO NO NO NO YES
Alarm

Figure 11: Histogram of car speed against alarm for Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla

CONCLUSION

This project has improved an existing speed limiting system by adding a notifier and SMS
controller. The prototype programmed to limit speed at Federal Road Safety maximum speed
at highway to be 95 km/h was able to limit vehicle speed at its maximum speed (95 km/h). The
transmitted alarm sounds when the vehicle approaches 95 km/hr and the receiver also gives or
sends a text message when the car gets to its maximum speed, alerting the owner the speed
activity of the vehicle. The relay, showed that once the speed drops below 95 km/h the engine
picks up again. The improvement basically provided an economic solution to deadly car
crashes, save vehicle fuel consumption and also monitor the activities of the driver. The project
was focused more on limiting the speed of the vehicle and informing the owner about vehicle
over-speeding activities. The project can further be improved by considering the system with
google map road speed limits to know areas with their speed limits.

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