Fighter style MFD for motorcycle

**Chairboy** · 05-29-2004, 08:42 PM

Hi guys,

As my Car PC project is wrapping up, I'm starting to think of the future. I have a motorcycle, and I was thinking of maybe doing an MFD (Multi Function Display) to replace my gauges.

Here's my bike:

Here's what I was thinking of modeling it after:

A typical modern cockpit might look like this:

I was thinking of doing a single display in the center with buttons around the outside, and using a keyboard encoder to get the button depresses.

Here's a preliminary list of what I think I'd need to be succesful:

1. A display in the 7" class (like a Lilliput or Xenarc) that can withstand direct sunlight and still be visible (unlike a lilliput or Xenarc).
2. A Nano-ITX motherboard. An SBC would probably be underpowered because I'd like to do moving map displays too.
3. Maybe something shock resistant and small for storage like the 4 gig microdrives w/ Flash interfaces that come in the Mouvo/muvo whatever MP3 players.
4. Opus 90 or something for power.

The display doesn't need to be super color, a fighter display is pretty basic, so either monochrome or ega style graphics should be OK. If monochrome, it would be nice to have green on black for the look, so without going to a CRT (which I don't have room for on motorcycle), I probably need to emulate that on a 16 color or greater screen.

Any thoughts? I'll post some mockups of what I have in mind if anyone thinks it is interesting.

**carpcnoobie** · 05-29-2004, 09:06 PM

I have one question regarding your motorcycles electrical abilities. I am by no means an expert on either motorcycles or carpcs, but it seems to me that many people here who have computers in their cars often have two setups or must contend with keeping the power of their computers low for the sake of the charging system. Do you think your motocycle will be able to handle that??

Just a question. Like the flight sim stuff.

I wanna see the missiles and air brakes on your bike.

**Chairboy** · 05-29-2004, 09:17 PM

Good question on the power, maybe I need an Opus 30 instead of an Opus 90. : )

If I did the MFD, it'd be logical to do some fiberglass work on my bike to follow the plane theme. Maybe stubby tiny wings coming off the rear fender, a molded in webcam/guncam in the front that I can snap pictures with from the MFD, etc.

**jjh221** · 05-29-2004, 09:33 PM

lol yeah im going to do the same thing. I think ima use for the case an old power supply box, out of an old 486, for the nano. As for power i might even put an extra battery under the tail. http://65.60.244.203/Bike.htm ima do some fiber glas work to keep the rain out if i do get stuck in it and some air in. Ima get a lilliput and incase it in plexi glass. Also a touch pad for mouse, and enclose that in some type of case that pops open.
camera
gps
more to come. first i have to finish my trucks. Let me know how yours goes

**Chairboy** · 05-29-2004, 09:37 PM

Here's a picture of what the gauge cluster looks like right now:

**jjh221** · 05-29-2004, 09:39 PM

yeah ... ima remove mine and get gps. Then get app with large speedo window for gps. Now like i would look down much at it but still something good enough to keep track of speed.