MP3Car.com - mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/ en Thu, 23 May 2013 23:18:22 GMT vBulletin 1 http://www.mp3car.com/images/misc/rss.png MP3Car.com - mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/ CarPC Inclinometer mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/155110-carpc-inclinometer.html Sat, 12 Jan 2013 06:27:31 GMT I've already been posting about this in Software and Software Development section here http://www.mp3car.com/software-and-s...out-there.html

In a nutshell, I have written a graphical display using Processing to display the output of a simple accelerometer. The display is very similar to those found as apps for Android and IoS devices. I've seen a lot of post from people wishing there was something similar for a Windows platform. So.... I wrote one. You can find the first version of the software attached to a message in the thread linked above. It is a proof of concept using mouse coordinates to simulate the output of an accelerometer. I have since written a second version that does actually use the output of an accelerometer. Here is a short YouTube video of the software and hardware in action. Currently, the accelerometer in use is inside a Wii Nunchuck. I used it because I had one available and the accelerometer board can be easily removed.



It does work pretty well but I still need to add a low pass filter routine to eliminate the jitter. I am trying to purchase several other rather inexpensive accelerometer boards for comparative testing. If there is enough interest in the project, I could move beyond my personal project to develop and market a custom pc board with enclosure that would only need to be mounted and plugged into a CarPC by only a single USB connection. Instead of hard coding the interface for my personal vehicle, I would continue to produce a user configurable version allowing for skins, different vehicle images and user calibration.

I think this could be a great addition for those who use a CarPC in a 4 wheel drive vehicle such as myself. The same sensor package could also be coupled to a different interface to display acceleration, braking and cornering G-forces. I should be able to adapt my existing work for just such an interface though this is not something I would develop for my own use since I have no real need for it at the moment. With the posts I have seen asking about such a system, and since I have actually taken up the ball and ran with it, I hope that I can put together some assistance in developing it further. Let's give the Windows pc users the same goodies that the android and ios tablet users have!

I am very open to the idea of collaboration if anyone is interested!

Jeffrey Allmond
2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! XSiveJeff http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=155110 Display switching mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/153762-display-switching.html Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:42:10 GMT I designed a circuit and board that can switch the RGB source to the display.

It can also mix the H&V sync to composite sync for displays that use that scheme.

I use this in the FRANKENRADIO CTS-V radio/nav carputer. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! heavymetals http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=153762 computer controlled car mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/152311-computer-controlled-car.html Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:07:02 GMT I am working on a computer controled honda civic. i have everything except the software im looking at centrafuse. my idea with this car is computer... I am working on a computer controled honda civic. i have everything except the software im looking at centrafuse. my idea with this car is computer controlled everything locks, windows, lights, trunk, hood, gas door, etc. if i could get the grant i would get centrafuse for the frount-end of the system and then build plugins for everything. also at a latertime would like to convert the transmission to manual and put in a supercharger and would like to try building some Advanced fetures into it like distraction awarenes and stuff like that but im going to rebuild the dash with a lcd screen as the insterment pannel.:first: ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! muduza http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=152311 Networked CarPC system mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/151258-networked-carpc-system.html Wed, 13 Jun 2012 06:34:41 GMT Hello again. My current system is based on a Shuttle XS35V2 system. It runs an Intel Atom D525 1.8GHZ dual core cpu and 4 GB DDR3 ram. It is... Hello again.

My current system is based on a Shuttle XS35V2 system. It runs an Intel Atom D525 1.8GHZ dual core cpu and 4 GB DDR3 ram. It is currently installed in a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport SUV. It is normally used as a NetTop system or HTPC. I've done a few modifications such as adding a 3.5mm mini jack tied into the power switch and rewired the wireless network card to switch it from the internal antenna to a rear panel mounted SMA pigtail and rooftop external antenna. Power supply wise, it is essentially a laptop type system with an external 19vdc brick. I currently power it from a tiny little 150 watt dc/dc variable output boost converter adjusted to a 19vdc output wired directly to the car battery. The Shuttle is mounted using their vesa mount bracket on a rear side cargo storage door in the back of the Montero. It locks into the bracket with a single bottom mount thumb screw. I really love this little PC since it sips power, has full passive cooling (ie. no fans so no dust to get sucked into the case).

What is different about my overall approach is that I am using a much more distributed approach to the car PC. Instead of using a single combination power supply/startup-shutdown controller, I use several individual small dc/dc converters and an arduino. One major advantage to this is cost. The 150 watt dc/dc I use to power the main pc was only $9 on EBAY. I have had no issues during engine starting with it. My arduino, front USB hub, front relay module and rear relay modules are each on their own tiny little dc/dc variable output converters that were only $2 each.

The arduino handles my pc start up and shutdown, as well as monitoring battery voltage to completely shut down the system in the event of battery drain. For start up and shutdown, the arduino monitors acc power as well as 5v from the pc usb ports to know when it is up and active. When I turn on the ignition, it sends a 5v signal to the rear relay module to pulse the PC power button. The arduino and pc communicate over the USB connection. A small program written in VB allows me to select which option and how long after the car is shut down to apply it. I have a overhead console mounted LCD display connected to the arduino by I2C bus to display the day, date, time, inside temp, outside temp and any other info I choose to implement. I also have an I2C bus real time clock connected to the arduino that is checked against the clock in the PC for syncing them. The arduino can monitor the car and perform basic functions even if the pc is in full shutdown. When the PC is sleeping, hibernating or off, the arduino can shut down all front end USB gear.

All of my audio is handled by a front mounted external USB audio card driving a tiny little 45 watt x 4 class D Alpine amplifier that fits in the dash behind the LCD touch screen. I have an HP HD-4110 webcam attached to the mirror mount arm that I use as both a dash cam and noise cancelling microphone. I use a Visteon HD Zoom radio tuner module with a MJS Gadgets USB interface cable. Other components are a TomTom Bluetooth GPS reciever that can actually pull a good signal mounted inside the cab in the overhead console. It has a rechargable battery built in so it is entirely portable but I power it off yet another little dc/dc converter. OBDII input comes from a generic ELM327 Bluetooth module.

Some of the projects I am working on are further implementation of the arduino for sensing and control functions and sharing data between it, the pc and vice-versa. My current project is connecting a WII nunchuck accelerometer board to the arduino to supply physical orientation info to the PC to display on the LCD touchscreen as a 4x4 inclinometer plugin for Centrafuse. A future project will be networking a couple of Raspberry PI boards to drive rear touch screen displays. One idea I am toying with is using a handful of networked Raspberry PI boards as a distributed Car PC system to replace my Shuttle. One would handle display and control, another would handle audio, another video, another navigation and so on. This type of arrangement would be very flexible, modular and above all, inexpensive since the PI's start at only $25 each. By using multiple networked boards, they could be powered and booted individually as needed. They could all boot and power when the car is on yet keep one running all the time to monitor the car and stay connected to the wireless network. Imagine the possibilities. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! XSiveJeff http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=151258 Cameras are not just for video recording mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/151247-cameras-are-not-just-for-video-recording.html Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:11:09 GMT Hey so I am looking to add an HD Hero camera (or an equivalent) to my car pc system. The purpose of the camera would primarily start out as a... Hey so I am looking to add an HD Hero camera (or an equivalent) to my car pc system. The purpose of the camera would primarily start out as a recording device for driving, mounted somewhere in the grill at the front of the car. However, since I am trying to be innovative I would like to make this camera do more than just record video and take pictures. One idea that I would love to incorporate would be to include license plate scanning technology (similar to systems used by parking enforcement and ezpass). The purpose of this would be to keep track of cars that I have seen before and perhaps log a GPS coordinate as well. Another thought is that this system could also be used to read traffic signs or something of that nature. Now, the software side of that seems daunting to me, but starting out with a great camera like the hd hero would vastly help me along towards reaching those end goals. I believe that these are ideas that have not been tried before and so I would certainly be bringing innovation to the activity. Here is a link to my project page thus far: http://www.mp3car.com/worklogs/15065...k-box-1-a.html ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! duncanator24 http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=151247 Client Virtualization mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/150886-client-virtualization.html Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:20:52 GMT I'd like to start off by saying that I have been following this forum for quite awhile. I forgot the password to my previous account and can no longer access the email address that was associated with it, so hence the 1st post.

What is Client Virtualization?
With today’s multicore processors and massive ammounts of ram, basic tasks such as playing music, surfing the web, and doing spreadsheets only use a fraction of the computer’s power. So why not put it to use?

By implementing Client Virtualization, the extra power from a computer is divided into virtual machines. Multiple keyboards, monitors, and mice are attached to a single machine and assigned to one of the virtual machines. The user(s) are completely unaware that they are sharing a single computer.

Why use Client Virtualization?
Client Virtualization has many advantages, here are the main ones.
- Produces less eWaste
- Uses less electricity
- Produces less heat than multiple computers
- Easier to manage Software.

I propose to implement Client Virtualization into my CarPC build for my new car. The main computer will be stored under the driver seat, with a touchscreen integrated into the dash, and two touchscreen headrests each assigned to their own virtual pc and connected to the same computer. This will allow the main computer (touchscreen on the dash) to remote view/control the two virtual computers (in the headrests). All three computers will each be able to perform their own tasks, such as check their email, watch a DVD, and play games, or the three computers can all share control over the music and take turns picking songs.

I have numerous other features worked out, but I want to keep some of them as a surprise until I am finished with my project ^__^. I have a list of all the equipment I need, as well as some fairly precise numbers. Yes, Client Virtualization may be overkill to implement into a vehicle, but the features it provides will create an amazing user infotainment experience.

I planned, built, and installed a CarPC for one of my friends, but I have yet to do my own. This will not be the first Client Virtualization I have implemented, and certainly won’t be the last. If you have any questions about Client Virtualization, please feel free to ask. I would like to keep specifics, such as company names and part numbers, out of the thread for now.

Jaysen ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! Jay4255 http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=150886 Hardware Review: T-View T92VGA mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/150566-hardware-review-t-view-t92vga.html Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:10:20 GMT What it is/does: 9.2" VGA WIDESCREEN Monitor with 2 composite inputs, 1 audio

Reviewed by: Timmy M
Manufacturer : T-View
Model: T92VGA
Specs:
Display size: 9.2 inch (16:9) WIDESCREEN
TFT-LCD PANEL
Wireless Remote control
Stylus for touch screen
VGA & video inputs, 1 audio input
Touch screen included
System: PAL & NTSC auto switching
Built-in speaker
All functions can be controlled by remote
Wide view angle
Resolution : 800*R.G.B. *480
Dual Video (VGA) Inputs & 1 audio Input
Power Supply: DC +12v
All Functions can be controlled by Remote Control
Driver CD included
Mounting stand included
OSD menu
Dimension: 9.1(L) x 6.2(H) x 1(W) in Inches Approx.
Price: $175
Shipping: $15
Rating: 8/10
Purchased at: eBay
Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220118179338
Pros:
Widescreen
three inputs
fairly bright
mirroring/flipping. I believe it's independent of each input.
I believe it has auto-on.
built in regulator so it can be connected to automotive power.

Cons:
Could be brighter
funky power connector.
Touchscreen driver or screen seems to be a bit flaky. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! alsksksk777 http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=150566 Ai10: controller for Apline AiNet mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/148477-ai10-controller-for-apline-ainet.html Fri, 08 Jul 2011 22:53:34 GMT Let me introduce my controller for different AiNet peripherals called Ai10. Initially is has been developed to let my other in-car controller to... Let me introduce my controller for different AiNet peripherals called Ai10. Initially is has been developed to let my other in-car controller to adjust major settings of Alpine PXA-H701 processor. However I tried to keep the board and firmware quite flexible for different hardware setups. Ai10 is controlled over RS232 (COM) or UART serial interfaces. It also could be connected to modern PCs thru various USB->COM adapters.
Ai10 allows to monitor AiNet bus and send any packets to AiNet. Current firmware also has built-in commands for major PXA-H700/701 or MRA-F350 settings (volume/balance/fader/sub. kevel/input select) and AiNet CD Changers controls (change disk/track, play/pause).
Boars schematics and firmware source are opened for community and available for download on Project Ai10 page https://sites.google.com/site/projai10/
Further details about Ai10 project posted in this thread: http://www.mp3car.com/car-audio/1286...-solved-4.html ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! Nik1976 http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=148477 mp3Car Dev Program (idea) mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/148293-mp3car-dev-program-idea.html Sun, 19 Jun 2011 20:31:22 GMT I have an idea for a program offered to verified developers on the mp3car.com forums, that would allow access to popular developer programs, at a... I have an idea for a program offered to verified developers on the mp3car.com forums, that would allow access to popular developer programs, at a fraction of the cost. If mp3car.com was to register with say MSDN or Apple iOS or Mac OS Developer programs as a company, and then registered certain programmers under that account. That would allow the amazing programming community here on mp3car.com the licenses to use and distribute using various technology that no one programmer should have to pay for themselves, especially when most software is distributed to the community free of charge.

What do you think, could this work? ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! UnusuallyGenius http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=148293 Display Controller Development mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/146171-display-controller-development.html Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:30:54 GMT I am working with Motorcity to get a working controller board for the Pixel Qi 10.1" Transflective LCD panel. If successful it will provide a needed inexpensive choice for quality sunlight readable displays. I am requesting an mp3Car Innovation Grant to help in this endeavor.

If approved, of course all findings will be posted on mp3Car. If denied, (:angrymob: WHAT how dare you deny me! That's it burn the place down!). No seriously, I'll still post results as development will proceed regardless, but would appreciate any help available.

Thanks

Mal ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! 4ofakind http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=146171 Galaxy Tab on a Mito (dashboard integration) mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/145632-galaxy-tab-on-a-mito-dashboard-integration.html Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:25:28 GMT Hello there. I did some dremel work to obtain this on my Alfa Romeo KRjC_EJK8Ng Bye P.S.: full story here http://dev.mittelmedia.it/?p=10... Hello there.
I did some dremel work to obtain this on my Alfa Romeo



Bye

P.S.: full story here http://dev.mittelmedia.it/?p=10 in a few days, when it'll stop snowing so hard, I'll take some better video with OBD software Google Maps etc... ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! ruspa http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=145632 anyone tried one of these mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/145360-anyone-tried-one-of-these.html Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:54:45 GMT Anyone used one of these yet as a carputer?
http://www.cutedigi.com/product_info...00047cd0ddd157

Seems like roadrunner could be optimised to run decently on it. Should just about handle movies in 640x480 as well. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! muxer107 http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=145360 Embedded setup for the OM team mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/144500-embedded-setup-for-the-om-team.html Sun, 10 Oct 2010 02:59:25 GMT tripzero has already started some great work on designing an all in one carPC based on an embedded board. At the moment, OpenMobile is really the... tripzero has already started some great work on designing an all in one carPC based on an embedded board. At the moment, OpenMobile is really the best choice for an embedded setup due to its available plugins (that can run on arm) and its ability to use the graphics chip to help with the low powered processor. Unfortunately, getting our graphics engine running on an embedded graphics chip hasn't been as easy as we would have liked (at the moment it falls back to software rendering). As this will no doubt play a large part in mp3cars future (embedded setups replacing the traditional PC), I would like to request an arm based platform for us to develop on. All of our work is (and will continue to be) open source, so this project will no doubt help many whether they are openMobile users or not.

This is obviously a rather large request so we would be quite happy just to receive an igepv2 board. Although if possible, or possibly as future requests, an expansion board and 7" seiko lcd would be incredible. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! justchat_1 http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=144500 Bluetooth Car unlocker mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/144197-bluetooth-car-unlocker.html Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:35:28 GMT I found a little article in Popular Science magazine and I think it would be a cool project. I dont know if it would really qualify for a grant but... I found a little article in Popular Science magazine and I think it would be a cool project. I dont know if it would really qualify for a grant but its worth a try.

The project involes taking a portable Bluetooth printer apart and and hooking it up to your car remote. In the event you lock your keys in your car you would be able to unlock it by sending a picture to the printer. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! swinso http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=144197 Jebus awarded Win 7 to develop RR Voice and other plugins for Win 7 mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/144157-jebus-awarded-win-7-to-develop-rr-voice-and-other-plugins-for-win-7-a.html Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:52:31 GMT Hey Guys, Just an FYI - I wanted to make sure we were supporting the effort put into RRVoice and supporting the development of pluggins for RR... Hey Guys,

Just an FYI - I wanted to make sure we were supporting the effort put into RRVoice and supporting the development of pluggins for RR that run on Win7.

Thanks for your hard work Jebus! ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! Heather http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=144157 Insignia Infocast into a Carputer mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/143824-insignia-infocast-into-a-carputer.html Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:35:31 GMT I'm new to the community, but I've had a lot of free time on my hands and haven't seen anything on the mp3car forums about this.

I'd like to get an Insignia Infocast and turn it into a carputer. The low power draw, open source hardware, and community behind it all drew me to the platform. The fact that all of it already comes in a package of its own makes it even better for people who want fairly basic functionality, yet more than a car's basic stereo system. It has an FM radio, making that an easy replacement for the stereo. Extensibility would be easily possible, as the Infocast has an internal MicroSD slot that can support 16GB, plenty for the system itself. It also has 2 USB ports which make external input (should you not like the touchscreen), Bluetooth support, GPS support, 3G dongle support, and much more quite possible.

I think this benefits the community as it would allow for an extremely low cost carputer, which I would document all of my work on. My ideas consist of making a more custom built interface for the system, and open-sourcing it when it becomes reality.

Should developing the Infocast into a full-fledged carputer fail for various reasons, such as a possibly too slow processor or such, I at least plan on taking advantage of the fact that it would still be a relatively cheap touchscreen solution, and a pre-enclosed form factor.


Feedback on this idea would be greatly appreciated :)

Just a note on the plan here: I've budgeted $300 for the basic system, which I plan on including a GPS module, B/G/N wifi, 2 user-accessible ports from the dash, Bluetooth, and OBD-2 diagnostics. I've drawn up a budget for all of these parts and have gotten it to around $250, which makes the plan for a low cost carputer very possible.




EDIT: Changed the idea from the Chumby One to the Insignia Infocast, due to larger screen and faster processor on the same platform. Added notes. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! patz2009 http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=143824 DIY all-in-one mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/143609-diy-all-in-one.html Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:06:38 GMT now, i haven't actually seen the bybyte double-din case in person, but the igepv2 board is so small (think smaller than the beagleboard) that you could probably fit it, a psu, scantool and maybe the boomzbox hardware inside a single all-in-one unit.

I don't know what I'd ask for in a grant, but this is something that provided enough documentation, possibly a lot of form members would be excited in trying out. The only thing that's really missing from this setup is the amp. Weren't there some forum members working on that?

The biggest part to get is probably the lcd, which must be hdmi/dvi. I think there is a lilliput and a xenarc that have this.

If I were to get this innovation grant, I'd be happy to document how to configure the hardware and software so that others can follow and do the same. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! tripzero http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=143609 Droid X Car Mounts mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/143237-droid-x-car-mounts.html Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:26:43 GMT I would like to apply for a grant to purchase either a car mount or desktop mount for my new Droid X. I am already able to control the Droid X over... I would like to apply for a grant to purchase either a car mount or desktop mount for my new Droid X. I am already able to control the Droid X over BT through my current headunit and would like a stand for it in the car where it can charge and also be used for various tasks like GPS and Music at the same time.

Desktop Dock
Car Mount Dock

I would prefer a desktop dock as this way I can embed the dock into my dash without the need to drape wires over my dash just like those windshield mounted GPS units. I would prefer to have the dock embedded so no wires are visible.

I also have a 2nd computer in the car (clarion mind) that could also provide permanent storage (via external HDD) for music, videos, and apps that the Droid X could access through an internal WIFI network. I assume with this setup I could create the most networked phon-based car PC setup. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! ioi8 http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=143237 Custom motorized Display for g35 mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/142632-custom-motorized-display-for-g35.html Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:03:45 GMT I do not know where else to post this so here goes. I have been working on this for quite sometime and my efforts are just not working. I wanted to... I do not know where else to post this so here goes. I have been working on this for quite sometime and my efforts are just not working. I wanted to put a 8.4" vga touchscreen display in the upper pocket of my g35. As the title say I would like to make it motorized. I should be possible but I do not have a masters skill or machine shop. Idealy I would love to dismantle the display and seperate the controls and boards from the display itself which would also require custom ribbon cables. I would much rather aquire help then money for this project. On the other hand if it would require outside help then yes money would be needed and helpful. So please please any help would be greatful. This project of mine has consumed too much of my money as is and has gone on for too long. Wish I had my own R&D team.

P.S. The display will be use for Centrafuse and a program that monitors all my cars stats (Uprev Ciper). And I wanted to control it with micro momentary switchs that will fit and fill in the space below my head unit. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! Dagoloth http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=142632 Switchable Power for OBD Sensors mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/142461-switchable-power-for-obd-sensors.html Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:59:11 GMT I would like to develop a manual (i.e toggle switch) and automated (i.e fusion brain) power controller for OBD sensors. I have found that one of the... I would like to develop a manual (i.e toggle switch) and automated (i.e fusion brain) power controller for OBD sensors. I have found that one of the biggest drawbacks to using integrated OBD software and a car PC is the power drain by leaving the OBD sensor connected.

I plan to use :
http://www.scantool.net/accessories/...1962f-5ft.html

Along with a fusion brain as well as the manual option to allow me to keep the cable connected but turn it on or off without it draining the battery.

Once I have all the wiring figured out and pin outs I would publish it up so the community could create they own to augment their car pcs.

I would like the fusion brain and the cable as part of the grant if possible

Questions or thoughts? ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! obstacleman http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=142461 iphone car controll. mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/142136-iphone-car-controll.html Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:07:56 GMT my innovation is a car controll iphone app, basic idea will be to have a fusionbrain with the cars acc, on and turnover all wired into it and also... my innovation is a car controll iphone app, basic idea will be to have a fusionbrain with the cars acc, on and turnover all wired into it and also things such as windows, imobiliser, horn, boot popper, door poppers *, interior lights, headlights, breaklights, reverse lights and parklights.
hopefully running a few addons into centrafuse i will be able to log my iphone onto the pc using wlan change music, volume, etc; then have another addon so certain iphone buttons will controll the fb. i can build the app, just i dont have the suffician program to put it on my iphone additionally i dont have a fb so this is currently just a pipe dream.

--edit--
* = incase of shaved door handles. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! we11er http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=142136 LCD Monitor Gauge Cluster mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/142046-lcd-monitor-gauge-cluster.html Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:51:13 GMT Hey folks, My 2007 Chevy Cobalt has a fully implemented CarPC with Gigabyte mobo running @ a Pentium E6300(2.33ghz x 2, technically a core2duo by... Hey folks,

My 2007 Chevy Cobalt has a fully implemented CarPC with Gigabyte mobo running @ a Pentium E6300(2.33ghz x 2, technically a core2duo by architecture), 2gb RAM, Xonar D1 sound, an array of available media reading capability, full wi-fi and internet from my hd2 running wi-fi router, BoomzBoxHD, Phoenix SOHO card, BU-353 GPS, running CF3.1, Lilliput 629 monitor, Win7 x64 and soon to have the OBD2 scanner ordered.

I've been in the community for a number of years, but as of 2 years ago I made my dreams come true and started with an old Duron setup, upgraded to my old P4, and now to my current machine.

My CarPC runs 100% stable. Hybrid sleep functionality works flawless, in fact every operation thus far on my new box which has been running for months operates flawlessly. From standby boot it's under 10 seconds. From hibernate boot it's under 30 seconds, without having done extensive bios/os tweaks.

My newest project involves installing a non-touch screen or touch screen widescreen, preferably 10inch, over the gauge cluster(very easy, gonna leave stock stuff behind as a just in case) as an overlay. Will look professional when finished. The goal is to have normal cluster functionality on the lcd while including the ability to access any of the media windows, cams, gps, or obd diagnostics directly from the drivers gauge cluster monitor.

I'm hoping that the community and MP3Car will see the value in this development and help make my next dream a reality.

Also, Intel is just up the road from me. If they ever wanted demo's or anything I'd be more than willing to give a sweet demo for them.

Attached are a few of the video's I've captured. In a couple you should be able to view the gauge cluster.

Newest, CarPC night. Taken off HD2

CarPC, no sub vs sub, with a lil peel

Back with the P4 setup

When I was first doing tests on the CarPC. Duron setup

And some Q/A that's already occurred in the thread:
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster View Post
What are your plans to implement this?
One thought was to tie into the connections on the actual cluster using a fusion brain. But that's not really a viable option as the stock gauge cluster is actually fed by the CAN bus.

Another thought that I had, the E37 computer equipped in the car has a very fast refreshing and higher baud obd bus. Because of that, I was thinking the easiest route would be for my friend Steve and I to interface using that, and polling the values through the link. My friend Steve already has a proof of concept that he has shown me, via a console which allows him to send commands of his choosing(so long onboard computer understands the command) thru and receive info from the OBD/CAN.

If I went the second route, I could probably talk to the guy that tunes my car, an ex-lead dev for Microsoft Windows, and see how he's gone about FULLY interfacing with the E37. I mentioned the idea of putting his custom tuning suite on the carpc, he said if I later had time he would look into it. His suite even allowed for live monitoring while observing the tune.

So there are a few options available at this point. I'd personally want to go the ecm obd route for ease of use, and then use a fusion brain to determine turn signal actions and reverse gear engagement.

As for placement, I'd make a nice custom overlay to simply cover the stock gauges(removable so if something happened....). There is a lot of room within the gauge cluster cowl to stick a monitor in and not get massive glare. I was putting my HD2 up in the cluster area, it looked absolutely amazing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by colin View Post
HiJack was just talking about this actually. What do you plan on doing about the PC being unstable? Maybe yours is stable right now, but a point I brought up in the other thread is that any "updates" to your system could cripple crucial parts of your car such as the tach. How will you make it so that other people's systems are reliable?
my carpc doesn't update on its own. if anything, i choose when to update and what to update. that really should be the route anyone takes when updating their carpc....just like IT admins do when choosing which Windows Updates to approve etc.

if the carpc became so unstable that the functions of the digital speedo/tach failed, it'd be easy to simply remove the custom overlay, thus revealing the still perfectly functional stock gauges.

i recognize this project is new ground for most, as not many folks have done this. the goal is to keep the, at least the POC app, as non-bloated as possible and providing stable connectivity through an attached OBD/CAN or possibly analog interface.

Quote:
Originally Posted by colin View Post
Is this developed specifically for your car then? Do you have plans to adapt to other vehicles and users?
the better the hardware interface the better, the newer the vehicle the better. I'm sure my bud would take a look at other subset protocol's or other protocols in general so long as there is a proper hardware interface. on an obd bus he's shown me how he can sniff commands and replicate them with response through his own console, thus allowing him to make a customizable array of commands to run.

the extended potentialities are there :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by hans14914 View Post
Why not use an Innovate LMA-3 and then use LogWorks software to create the digital dash. This would allow you to log the output of most sensors and display in real-time, providing a hardware solution on the interface portion.
i've taken a look before. while it accomplishes some goals it ignores others.

my concept route already uses a middle man approach in both getting real-time data to the dash while also providing a plethora of data accessible to other software etc. taking the simplest route possible with the least amount of tangles and allowing for bidirectional communication of the CANbus are two requirements for this. don't forget i was even talking about the idea of tuning solutions....


Thanks for your time,
Warren ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! warrenb213 http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=142046 Car Data Logging, the right way.... I hope. mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/141997-car-data-logging-the-right-way-i-hope.html Mon, 07 Jun 2010 06:09:08 GMT I have been looking at this whole forum in general for awhile now, getting subtle ideas and such but really nothing that was being done peaked my... I have been looking at this whole forum in general for awhile now, getting subtle ideas and such but really nothing that was being done peaked my interest, until I read this (the one I am posting on) topic. I feel as though this has already been brought up once before, but with the negative connotation of having it work for law enforcement, however I do this for the fact that I know that it will, in implementation & application, be worth while and keep the driver of the implemented car safe and knowledgeable to what is going on around him/her either with auditory or visual cues

Required Hardware:
1x Car ('92 Honda Civic DX) [Duh... Purchased]
1x Car PC (Voom PC2) [Already purchased]
1x Xenarc MDT-X7000 [Already purchased & Regretting it]
???x Quick Release Power cable, USB Cables, A/V Cables, generic electrical wiring & electrical tape
1x Quick Remove PC Mounting Bracket [Needs to be Fabricated]
4x Aerodynamic Camera Roof Mounts [Needs to be Fabricated]
1x Fusion Brain Version 4.0
2x Ultrasonic Distance Sensor
4x COM-105
1x GlobalSat BU 353
1x MyFi Modem
1x Belkin Wireless USB Adapter [Purchased]
1x 500GB Verbatim Drive [Purchased]
1x 3M Micro Projector (for later displaying of primary information on windshield)

Software Necessary:
Google Earth
Custom Programming to link all software related to either media portal, ride runner, or both. Hopefully both.

Target Features:

1) To Take pictures of any road trip done by me at intervals of every 1 ~ 3 seconds, with a snapshot of GPS location (Long & Latt)
2) Calculating speed, direction, and time of trip, as well as giving a slideshow of pictures to go along with the track of the path.
3) each 30 sec section of the trip will also output speed, and give a simulated 360 degree view of what was around my car at the time.
4) Distance sensors (sonar), to determine if I need to slow down, or speed up (if I am getting too close to the car behind me, as well as allow me to tell the speed of the cars infront and behind me compared to my own speed, to either match (for coasting & drafting abilities), or to change (in case I am speeding and not noticing this.)
5) Output my location to my friends and family so they will never call me while I am driving to ask, "Where are you? What are you doing?"
6) To create a system that if my car gets stolen, I will already have its location tracked right on my screen of my PC/Phone, for finding purposes.
7) So I dont lose my car in very large, dark parking lots, (like at work.)
8) Allow me to communicate, (through a central server) to other cars with this same system and setup, allowing me to see (virtually) through their eyes, inform of updates, and inform of stop overs without having to pick up my phone, dial a number and wait for them to answer (if my friends may at all while driving.)
9) Defeat Speeding, Tailgating, swerving, road raging tickets, easily with data logged and not controllable at the time of capture.
10) Finally something that will give the wow factor initially and then continuously give the purpose factor for friends and family.

More things may surface later, but these are just the basics, yes, a lot of this will actually be available in the 2012 vehicles, but hey, isnt this forum all about retrofitting cars with PC's when they werent ment to have one in the first place? ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! kariou http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=141997 Qube Volume Knob mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/141558-qube-volume-knob.html Fri, 14 May 2010 18:35:26 GMT Summary: In case some of you are not aware, I've been working on an IO controller that is similar to a Phidgets interface. It is USB controlled and made specifically for automotive use.

I've already created the product and it is for sale, though I would like to create some more "modules" that people want but haven't been able to get so far!

The number one thing I have in mind is a volume knob. Just a simple rotary encoder (a knob that keeps turning) attached to the Qube. Unfortunately I don't have the funding to produce it myself quite yet and I know it would be a hit.

The Qube is awaiting a forum review and then it should be available on the MP3Car.com store for a discounted price.

What I need the money for: Since I can't afford to produce these modules myself, if I got the grant, I would purchase the electronic circuit boards and the assembly services to make 40 knobs. They would be designed to interface with the Qube, but with a couple wire cuts, they could interface to any device you want (yes, even the Fusion Brain or Phidgets).

What you get out of it: Since I would be asking for money for this product from the MP3Car community, I would like to give back to it! If I get this grant, I will have these modules produced within a month. I do not want to make any money off of this, just a little popularity, SO I would be giving them away for free to anyone who purchases a Qube, or to people who make a specific request.

Why would I do that: Right now, I just need a bit of popularity for my product. The reason I created the thing in the first place is because other interfaces (not mentioning any names) don't provide the feel that you need for a car interface. Looking down at the screen is a huge pain in the *** when you're driving, especially to turn down your volume when you receive a phone call! How many times have you wished you could have something like this:



Conclusion: If I get this grant, everyone benefits. Anyone who has ever wished for a volume knob beside their touchscreen will finally get their wish. I already have the software and a working prototype so it is tested and working already. You could also configure custom actions via the Qube software if you wanted.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me or post in this thread!

Pictures:

A prototype volume knob (with click functionality for easy muting or adjusting treble/bass)


The Qube controller (that you would potentially connect the volume knob to)
]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! colin http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=141558 Mp3car Innovation Grant Application thread mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/141164-mp3car-innovation-grant-application-thread.html Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:02:12 GMT Cohesive Technology (yours truely) is creating systems and iterfaces specifically for motorsports. I just finished a 2007 BMW K1200LT fitted with... Cohesive Technology (yours truely) is creating systems and iterfaces specifically for motorsports.

I just finished a 2007 BMW K1200LT fitted with a dual-core Atom. It is on the road now with Ride Runner and DigitalFX (a temp UI).
Attached Images
     
]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! CohesiveTech http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=141164 Innovation Grant Info and Wiki Article mp3car-innovation-grant-get-one/140629-innovation-grant-info-and-wiki-article.html Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:51:08 GMT This article provides an updated overview of what the grant is and who has won.

How the Grant works:
The goal of the grant is to support the innovations for mp3Car forum members.

Forum members post in the mp3Car Innovation Grant forum here about something they are working on related to car computing. They can request up to $100 work of a physical or software and including shipping, which will be used by the grant recipient to further their innovation.

Each month, moderators select a forum member to receive the grant.

There are no strings attached, however we kindly ask that the forum member post in their worklog or some other location on the forums how they used their grant. ]]> mp3Car Innovation Grant - Get One! Heather http://www.mp3car.com/showthread.php?t=140629