Intro to a noob!

**chuckster** · 09-23-2004, 12:00 AM

Hi All,

Just wanted to to say and introduce myself to the boards. I have recently had my senior project idea approved for college. As you can guess it is a car PC.

I own a 2002 Toyota Highlander and my plans are to accomplish the following which some may be dooable and some may not without some programming and a lot of research.

- Xenarc LCD to replace the current double din head unit
- Mini ITX MB
- GPS
- Voice recognition
- MP3 player
- Movie Player
- Internal and External Vehicle temperature reading
- Vehicle performance monitoring
- I would like to setup a photo sensor to autodim the display when dark out and brighten it when it's daylight
- not sure on software yet still reading the boards to figure out what might be best
- possibly vehicle security

I'm sure I will be adding to this list as I get more into it. I have 6 months until I really have to start the project but I am anxious to start ASAP.

Anyhow; CYA on the boards and looking forward to some good communication with you all in the coming months.

I don't just want to go for the cheapest solution. I want the best of parts so I would love to hear what some of this stuff may be given my ideas above.

Chuckster

**antimatter** · 09-23-2004, 12:28 AM

Tip: Before you get eaten alive by the many savage wolves here (me included...actually i am a savage dog but anyways) Before you create a new thread use the search tool or google and do a little bit of research. The "Lifers" here get annoyed at the same questions that get answered every week.

Chances are anything you are going through has alread been answered here. If not Post a new thread.

Welcome to the forum

**mushin** · 09-23-2004, 12:31 AM

You're getting credit for doing this? That seems like cheating!

**chuckster** · 09-23-2004, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by antimatter

Tip: Before you get eaten alive by the many savage wolves here (me included...actually i am a savage dog but anyways) Before you create a new thread use the search tool or google and do a little bit of research. The "Lifers" here get annoyed at the same questions that get answered every week.

Chances are anything you are going through has alread been answered here. If not Post a new thread.

Welcome to the forum

I have read the posts enough already to realize not to ask a question that has already been answered. I've seen how brutal it can get...Thx for the tip.

Originally Posted by mushin

You're getting credit for doing this? That seems like cheating!

I didn't think they were going to allow me to do it. The thought here is that it's a from scratch project. It entails me piecing together the right parts, and get everything working together. I'm sure I will run into a lot of problems along the way. It's a BSEET degree and not a BSEE degree which may be the reason why they accepted it. It'll be a challenge I'm sure to get everything I want it to do to work...Its better than using one of the predefined projects like a weather station or something which I will never use once I complete it

Chuckster

**ThaBoy** · 09-23-2004, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by mushin

You're getting credit for doing this? That seems like cheating!

yeah

Chuckster said: "I don't just want to go for the cheapest solution. I want the best of parts so I would love to hear what some of this stuff may be given my ideas above."

I am ****ed now

**chuckster** · 09-23-2004, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by ThaBoy

yeah

Chuckster said: "I don't just want to go for the cheapest solution. I want the best of parts so I would love to hear what some of this stuff may be given my ideas above."

I am ****ed now

It's not really a question I was asking. Just seeing what peoples dream systems would consist of. I plan to do all my researching and I have already read through a lot of this awesome forum.

LOL! Trouble maker, hehehe

Chuckster

**DriverDan** · 09-23-2004, 10:36 PM

There is no way it should be accepted as a college project unless there is massive coding or hardware development involved.

**chuckster** · 09-24-2004, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by DriverDan

There is no way it should be accepted as a college project unless there is massive coding or hardware development involved.

Oh well! They accepted it, I didn't think they would but they said go for it. You won't know until you ask.

To be honest this is my third degree and I currently work as an Engineer by trade. This is just a project I would enjoy doing because I am a computer hobiest and the school OKed it.

Are we done with this now? Gees! I gotta watch what I say

I will post my progress as I go and I'm willing to share installation procedures, block diagrams and everything else I have to write up for this project along the way if you all want me to...

Chuckster

**hijinks21** · 09-24-2004, 03:47 PM

my senior project was a fooseball table that was hooked into a computer to keep score.. You could scan your college ID and it would bring up all your statisics and such. Took me about 8 hours to code and a weekend to assemble.. SWEET!

That was about my only class other then baseball coaching and sports in society senior year.