Writing software for a car-computer

[Siekmanski]

Just bought a Mini Cooper S and was thinking about building and writing software for a car-computer.

I think i'll buy a mini-itx pc and installing a windows OS on it.
This one is realy small: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4857#ov

A 7 inch HDMI touchscreen as monitor and user interface.

Reading data from the board-computer via the OBD2 connector and display:

- Engine RPM
- Vehicle speed
- Throttle position
- Engine oil temperature
- Engine coolant temperature
- Distance traveled
- diagnostic trouble codes
- etc.

- Music player with nice graphics and music info.
- FM radio tuner, and displaying station name and other R(B)DS stuff on the screen.

The above i think i can handle, but how about controlling a mobile phone via Bluetooth ?

- Connecting a mobile phone for hands free calling via Bluetooth to the car-computer.

Anyone of you have tried this or can give me some hints how to write code to get this done ?

Marinus

[jj2007]

It seems you like challenges ;)

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[FORTRANS]

Hi,

   Looks like a nice project.  Reading and processing the data seems
like the hard part.  No clue about the Bluetooth.  Keep us posted.

   Just playing with the small, mobile computer sounds fun.  Though
a laptop (or tablet) may be more practical and easier.   Except for
the data port?  How does that hook up?

Regards,

Steve N.

[Gunther]

Hi Marinus,

your plan sounds interesting. What about a tablet PC?

Gunther

[Siekmanski]

Hi Steve,

I found it realy interesting that those mini itx pc's are very small with the power of a desktop pc and you can run Windows 8 on it.
6.7 by 6.7 inches (17 cm by 17 cm) is easy to hide in your car.
I was planning to remove my radio and use that space for this tiny motherboard.
It has all i need, fast cpu, fast video card, SSD harddisk, enough usb ports to connect to other devices such as GPS, OBD2, FM-tuner frontend etc.
It has al i need for this project.
I'm looking for a suitible mini itx motherboard now, haven't made a decision yet.
Maybe i remove my speedometer and replace it with my 7 inch touchscreen.

I found this to power it up a DC-DC ATX PC power supply designed for car pc:
http://store.mp3car.com/M3_ATX_125_Watt_Smart_Automotive_Power_Supply_p/l3-xcv4-0ygm.htm

Except for the data port?  How does that hook up?

What do you mean Steve ?

Hi Gunther,

A tablet is possible but with the itx pc i have much more posibilities to do what i want.

I'll try to do some bleutooth coding...... 

Hi jj2007,

It seems you like challenges ;)

Yes i do. 

[FORTRANS]

Hi,

enough usb ports to connect to other devices such as GPS, OBD2, FM-tuner frontend etc.

Except for the data port?  How does that hook up?

What do you mean Steve ?

   You answered above.  You are going to hook it up via a USB
port.  So a laptop would still work for a lazier person.

Thanks,

Steve N.

[jj2007]

Maybe i remove my tachometer and replace it with my 7 inch touchscreen.

That is asking for speeding fines

I have a better idea: Go for the model with the integrated projector. Imagine: You park your car somewhere against a white wall, you put your arm around her shoulder, you switch on your BRIX, and ... ::)

[Siekmanski]

hahaha.. 
I meant the speedometer it's in the middle of the car and it's quite big thus enough room for a touchsreen there.



The speed of the car is also shown on the RPM meter at the left.

Still have to make up my mind where to place the touchscreen.

Instead of a wall projector, i could install XBMC on it and then put my arm around her shoulder and watch a nice movie on the touchscreen......

[anunitu]

You do realize that soon all cars will be robot controlled so all those meters and screens will only be to keep the riders amused as they sit back and nap.

Welcome to your future,where you get to kick back forever,and the robots will not let you take any chances....

[Siekmanski]

Yeah the future.... will we have fun driving such cars ?

[anunitu]

They are talking about the first self driving cars in 2015,that from Tesla. If we don't actually get to drive,then I would guess the answer is no,I think you would have to be like the people that restore old cars to drive.

No more drag races...ahh so sad,but SAFE..the robots won't let us hurt ourselves..

[Zen]

MARINUS/SIEKMANSKI,
You really come up with some great concepts. And,...this one is so practical.
...You should think seriously about franchising it,...you will probably become a billionaire,...and, some day run into Bill Gates,...who will ask: "Why didn't I think of that ???"

[anunitu]

Well think about it,you could tweet,and twonk,and maybe twerk(Is that the dancing thing?) or maybe just plain have a conversation with HAL..Open the trunk Hal...Hal,please open the trunk....I am sorry Dave,I can not do that...

[Zen]

ANUNITU,
...I was thinking,...you could program a number of cool spy functions,...
For instance,...if you were being tracked by the NSA, for who knows what,...you could have a special function that intercepts the outgoing GPS coordinate data,...and, substitutes GPS data and current routes that are completely erroneous. But,...this would only be cool if you were a spy.

[anunitu]

So spoof your outgoing GPS data...ZEN,are you sure you don't work for the NSA??