Hi everyone,
I'm working on a project to convert a regular bicycle into a stationary exercise bike, and I'm exploring the possibility of using a BLDC motor controlled by a VESC to create resistance on the rear wheel.
The idea is that as the rider pedals, the motor provides some form of load or drag to simulate road resistance — similar to what you'd find in commercial indoor bike trainers.
I’m wondering what methods are commonly used (or possible) to create this kind of resistance with a VESC and a BLDC motor. I'm still at the design stage, so I'm open to different ideas — electrical, mechanical, or software-based solutions.
Some questions I have:
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What's the general approach to generating a controlled opposing force using a BLDC motor and VESC?
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Is it possible to vary the resistance based on cadence or torque?
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Are there any examples or existing projects doing something similar?
Any insights or recommendations would be really helpful. Thank you!
Hi,
use current mode no reverse brake adc2 @ app. settings (Current control with one separate throttle connected to ADC2 for braking.) or custom user app.
Thank you for the suggestion, when using current mode no reverse brake adc2, does braking via ADC2 still function when the motor is at a complete stop or moving very slowly? and What braking mechanism is applied in this case — is it regenerative braking, or simply applying negative torque without energy recovery?
PRAYOGA
Thank you for the suggestion, when using current mode no reverse brake adc2, does braking via ADC2 still function when the motor is at a complete stop or moving very slowly? and What braking mechanism is applied in this case — is it regenerative braking, or simply applying negative torque without energy recovery?
PRAYOGA
I have used VESC's on a motor dyno, so the resistive load side is doing what you're looking to do for your bike.
The "brake" will resist rotation from a dead stop, limited by the amps as dictated by your input (potentiometer connected to 3.3v, gnd, ADC pins) when set to current mode no reverse brake.
It is regenerative braking. The energy has to go somewhere, so the energy being put into the VESC is being passed into the battery to charge it.
I am not sure the best ways to dissipate the energy other than charging a battery. Others might be able to help with that.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m interested in applying this setup with VESC on my project.
Could you please clarify if you used the current no reverse brake adc2 with input (like from a potentiometer) to control the braking current? Or did you use a different method to achieve the resistive load effect?
Also, when applying the brake current, does the motor actually rotate backward, or does it simply stay still and resist rotation?
I’d appreciate any details on how you configured it. Thanks again!
PRAYOGA