*NEW* USB Input/Output Board -- Fusion Brain

[2k1Toaster]

I'm new to the mp3car forum and will be building my first carputer for my 1987 Mazda RX-7 in the next few months. Since I have some VERY specialized functions in mind, I was going to get a USB relay board and USB servo controller, but the Fusion Brain blows then out of the water with its sheer user-defined expandability. Brilliant work and an A+ to everyone that contributed to it. It's definitely going to be my birthday present to me

Has the servo control been implemented yet? I read all 74 pages in this thread today and have not found a definitive answer. Also, how is the linux version of the software coming along? I abandoned Windows last November due to OS-killing malware in favor of Ubuntu 8.04 and am planning on using linux in my carputer. Overall, the Fusion Brain looks like an incredible piece of hardware and it just wouldn't be right if it wasn't supported in Linux, the software that wrote the book on open-source!

You might want to check out the eyeR module as well that clips onto the Fusion Brain. (We do not make it fyi).

Linux short answer: We don't but someone just made a library for it (at least with Ubuntu)

Here's the Linux scoop though... I cannot find a driver that is stable on Windows that will work with Linux. In all honestly, Windows is still used the most hands down above anything else. It has the most support and the most usage. So when we tried a driver that was stable on Linux, it turned out it was not stable on XP or Vista and had a lot of locking problems. If I use a driver that is 100% with Windows, I lose Linux support but the majority of our customers are then happy. So it is a can't please everyone thing, and it makes sense to support that which is most supported, Windows.

But like I said someone just came out with a Linux library just recently (past week or so). So you may want to check into that. But all the +'s of MDX cant be used as it is not Linux compatible.

[ausloki]

I have seen some small footprint NIC's available these days. How hard would it me to add one to the fusion series?

A small control circuit could then be written to use something like an snmb mib library to poll for data or even switch ports on and off.

I have several old online UPS circuits that don't have smart interfaces just a bunch of LED outputs to indicate different states. Something like the fusion with a network interface would be ideal.

[ellislake]

can i use this in conjunction with a motor so it wil turn a motor a certain amount of times,because i have all my ac controls and stuff which are elctrical but i have one manually operated one which i want to reomve from the dash and hav it comtrolled by the pc.also how would i use this software to select a different function on my ac unit,ie i can turn a knob round and it puts heat up and turn it left and it lowers temperature etc.how would i use this software to do that so i can reomve the knob from my dash,thanks this osftware is excellant from what i have read about it,hardware seems neat and small aswell which is brilliant well done guys

[2k1Toaster]

can i use this in conjunction with a motor so it wil turn a motor a certain amount of times,because i have all my ac controls and stuff which are elctrical but i have one manually operated one which i want to reomve from the dash and hav it comtrolled by the pc.also how would i use this software to select a different function on my ac unit,ie i can turn a knob round and it puts heat up and turn it left and it lowers temperature etc.how would i use this software to do that so i can reomve the knob from my dash,thanks this osftware is excellant from what i have read about it,hardware seems neat and small aswell which is brilliant well done guys

Everything is doable, but hvac is a lot of work.

[ellislake]

Everything is doable, but hvac is a lot of work.

sorry your post has lost me,how would ur product work, for what i want it for ???

[2k1Toaster]

sorry your post has lost me,how would ur product work, for what i want it for ???

everything is controlled through an output port, and feedback/sensors are given through input ports. That's it. Wiring is different for every car between HVAC and FB. Software wise, it can be as simple or complex as you would like.

[trader007]

if you do hook your pc up to your hvac controls, i would definitely wire them to have a manual backup mode- some relay you can activate that will turn the controls back to physical knobs... just like with remote starters, if you dont give yourself a safety net youre just asking for trouble.

i honestly think tying in HVAC controls is a bit overkill.

[ellislake]

if you do hook your pc up to your hvac controls, i would definitely wire them to have a manual backup mode- some relay you can activate that will turn the controls back to physical knobs... just like with remote starters, if you dont give yourself a safety net youre just asking for trouble.

i honestly think tying in HVAC controls is a bit overkill.

ok well to be honest if im going to do it i wanna completely get rid of the heating control module or hide it and use the pc,to be honest if the fusian brain goes wrong ill just replace it same with pc,so not fussed about having some sort of manual control i always take risks with my car and its ok so far.lol

cheers

still not sure how the input sensors would work on the brain

[ellislake]

everything is controlled through an output port, and feedback/sensors are given through input ports. That's it. Wiring is different for every car between HVAC and FB. Software wise, it can be as simple or complex as you would like.

what does HVAC and FB mean.what do they stand for exactly. it may help me to understand ur product.i can see how it would be used to control my window motors as i jsut hook it up to the switches their already and once power is sent threw it will turn on the switch,im assuming the fusian brain would have to be connected to a relay which puts power to the window motors or does fusian brain have a high power output already ?

??????? thanks

[sporty_drew]

what does HVAC and FB mean.what do they stand for exactly. it may help me to understand ur product.i can see how it would be used to control my window motors as i jsut hook it up to the switches their already and once power is sent threw it will turn on the switch,im assuming the fusian brain would have to be connected to a relay which puts power to the window motors or does fusian brain have a high power output already ?

??????? thanks

HVAC- Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.
FB- Fusion Brain

It uses relays for switching power.