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
It seems you like challenges ;)
Chinese hacker installs Windows 98 on an iPhone 6 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11220524/Chinese-hacker-installs-Windows-98-on-an-iPhone-6.html)
QuoteBored of iOS8? There may be hope. A hacker has successfully installed Microsoft's Windows 98 on his iPhone 6 Plus, using a game emulator available in the App Store.
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03101/iPhone_6__98_3101379b.jpg)
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.
Hi Marinus,
your plan sounds interesting. What about a tablet PC?
Gunther
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
Quote from: FORTRANS on November 13, 2014, 12:36:17 AM
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...... :dazzled:
Hi jj2007,
Quote from: jj2007 on November 12, 2014, 02:44:36 PM
It seems you like challenges ;)
Yes i do. :biggrin:
Hi,
Quote from: Siekmanski on November 13, 2014, 08:05:45 AM
enough usb ports to connect to other devices such as GPS, OBD2, FM-tuner frontend etc.
Quote from: FORTRANS on November 13, 2014, 12:36:17 AM
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.
Quote from: Siekmanski on November 13, 2014, 08:05:45 AM
Maybe i remove my tachometer and replace it with my 7 inch touchscreen.
That is asking for speeding fines :eusa_naughty:
I have a better idea: Go for the model with the integrated projector (http://www.thinkcomputers.org/gigabyte-brix-projector-review/7/). Imagine: You park your car somewhere against a white wall, you put your arm around her shoulder, you switch on your BRIX, and ... ::)
hahaha.. :biggrin:
I meant the speedometer it's in the middle of the car and it's quite big thus enough room for a touchsreen there.
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSSUlCEQI0epyInfQEhJS9SaEh_yl5kHqXlSrnUxro7e1XOyVCG)
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......
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....
Yeah the future.... will we have fun driving such cars ?
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..
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 ???"
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...
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.
So spoof your outgoing GPS data...ZEN,are you sure you don't work for the NSA??
Quote from: Zen on November 19, 2014, 09:19:02 AM
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 ???"
In my dreams hahaha... nothing new here, most new cars have such computers built in.
If you want to buy such a system it cost you a lot, so i thought building one myself for fun.
Those mini itx mother-boards are very cheap, 80 - 200 euro and a 7" touchscreen 50 euro.
I have several FM-tuners stripped from old pci TV cards at home, they are easy controlled with a 2 euro microcontroller.
Then i need 4 audio amplifiers for front and rear speakers.
At last an OBD2 connector, some resistors, caps, transistors, diodes, voltage regulator and a FTDI chip for the communication.
This is all the hardware i need in this project.
Some of those parts i have ordered in China.
Maybe i build in a neuralyzer which i can use on cops if i'm caught speeding.... :biggrin:
I have read a lot about BlueTooth ( and OBD2 ) protocols the last days and all is still a bit vague.
This weekend i'll try some coding and hope to get in contact with my mobile phone via a BlueTooth connection.
You remind me of a guy I was in High school with. We were both in electronics class,but he was that guy that went above and beyond,I think he could have taught the teacher. I have no doubt he has invented a lot of things since we were in school,he was just that guy who could come up with stuff no one else could. :t
I'm struggling my way thru the Bluetooth apis.
So far it only searches for Bluetooth devices and i hope that it filters out the smart phones.
It would be nice if you guys with a smart phone can help me out to test if it works as expected.
Turn your Bluetooth on on your smart phone and make sure it's discoverable.
Then start this proggy and let me know if it's listed as a smart phone.
Maybe some day i'll get control over smart phones and create a hands-free car kit....
Find BlueTooth Devices.....
Local Bluetooth Radio found.
Radio Name : COSMOS
Radio Address : 5cf37013cff0
Class of Device : 007e0104
Radio lmpSubversion: 00009999
Radio manufacturer : 00000045
Please wait for 12.8 seconds, scanning for BlueTooth Devices.....
Bluetooth Device Name: SiekmanskiPC
Device Address : 0015834e40ef
Class of Device : 00120104
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Bluetooth Device Name: OnBeat Rumble
Device Address : 001ddf75c722
Class of Device : 00240400
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Next device is a Smart Phone:
Bluetooth Device Name: Galaxy Note
Device Address : 38ece48e7da3
Class of Device : 005a020c
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Nada :(
Quote from: habran on November 26, 2014, 02:51:31 PM
Nada :(
What do you mean exactly habran ?
You need an usb bluetooth radio addapter connected or one on board of your computer.
It should work with XP sp2 and later operating systems.
It scans for 12.8 seconds to find nearby bluetooth devices.
Quote
C:\Users\CSL-NB-064\Desktop>BlueTooth.exe
Find BlueTooth Devices.....
Local Bluetooth Radio found.
Radio Name : CSL-NB-068
Radio Address : 3859f9ebd93e
Class of Device : 0002010c
Radio lmpSubversion: 0000220e
Radio manufacturer : 0000000f
Please wait for 12.8 seconds, scanning for BlueTooth Devices.....
Bluetooth Device Name: CSL-NB
Device Address : 2016d859e733
Class of Device : 0002010c
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Bluetooth Device Name: PRIADI-PC
Device Address : 2016d859f911
Class of Device : 007e010c
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Bluetooth Device Name: BENI-RND
Device Address : 889ffabbc18d
Class of Device : 0006010c
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Next device is a Smart Phone:
Bluetooth Device Name: BlackBerry 9860
Device Address : a06cec9e7827
Class of Device : 007a020c
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Bluetooth Device Name: SUPRIADI-NB
Device Address : bc773735cd4c
Class of Device : 0002010c
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Next device is a Smart Phone:
Bluetooth Device Name: anta40
Device Address : c4420203e4a4
Class of Device : 005a020c
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Bluetooth Device Name: SIGITSUKSES
Device Address : d0df9a2c6c4b
Class of Device : 007e010c
Device Authenticated : NO
Device Connected : NO
Device Remembered : NO
Press any key to continue...
Seems to work well...
I thought that it can discover my mobile phone with bluetooth on
isn't that what the car radio does? :redface:
when I enter my car and turn the key on Start it connects to my mobile 8)
my laptop has bluetooth inside
Thank you anta40 :biggrin:
Hi habran,
Your smart phone is already paired with your car radio so it finds it because it has the cars address etc. saved.
For allowing the smart phone to get discovered by other bluetooth devices,
you have to select the "Allow Bluetooth Devices to Find This Device" option on your smart phone.
This is how far my proggy goes at this time.
Next step in my proggy will be to send a pin-code to confirm the connection so it will recognise the smart phone automatically the next time.
My smart phone doesn't have that option
it has "Now discoverable as habran" option which is always on
I appreciate your work and I think that this is a brilliant idea
QuoteIf you want a job done right do it yourself
Habran, what brand and type of smart phone do you own ?
Last iPhone5 before iPhone6 it is 64 bit
I am thinking one of the most useful software in the future would be to block hijacking of wireless tech by outside means.
I'll have to check this, when i had an iPhone it has also troubles connecting to other bluetooth devices. :icon_rolleyes:
It would be nice to connect to iPhones too. :biggrin:
That would be nice :biggrin:
I would like to see your final product
Hope you will let us see it ;)
Quote from: anunitu on November 27, 2014, 11:38:20 PM
I am thinking one of the most useful software in the future would be to block hijacking of wireless tech by outside means.
I think that would be impossible....
Hi habran,
It seems iPhones use Bluetooth Low Energy. (Bluetooth Smart)
MSDN says; With the Bluetooth APIs it is not possible discovering and pairing "Bluetooth Low Energy" devices. :(
MSDN (@#$%^<?>&*! ) :(
Excuse my French