list your cool/clever/unusual project, devices and or programs

scott_fx · 02-11-2005, 09:47 PM

Hey everyone,

I think we should have a thread that lists the cool, clever, unique, unusual devices and programs we have in our cars. This thread could be a great source for people to get and share ideas that would benefit everyone.

I'll go ahead and start with my two projects that are in the works.

1) i am building a single row vfd display into my rearview mirror behind the two-way glass. With centrafuse (pro) I'll be able to pipe music info and/or gps info to the display and it will appear to be floating in the glass. (benefit: allow you to still get information while using the lcd screen for other purposes)

I just found this picture of a bluetooth mirror but this is exactly the look i'm going for:

2) using q-touch ic's i am making a touch sensative panel that will be able to switch between the commonly used features of the front end. I have wired these ic's behind a flat plexi panel that will be back lit, all you have to do is touch the text on the panel and it will switch to whatever mode you want to be in (i.e. gps, dvd, mp3, etc...) The ic's will control a relay that will be wired too a ipac2 keyboard emulator which will control the hotkeyed front end. (The benefit to this is to clear up some real estate on the lcd screen .)

also, please keep arguments off this thread, thanks!

So lets have fun with this! throw out all your projects or ideas! no matter how off the wall or extreme they may be.

0l33l · 02-11-2005, 10:02 PM

1) Making of NaviVoice for voice activated in car navigation a. la Honda/Acura. This later turned into practically full computer control.

2) Toying with the idea of using phidgets to replace my broken climate control.

dug1967 · 02-11-2005, 11:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

Hey everyone,
1) i am building a single row vfd display into my rearview mirror behind the two-way glass. With centrafuse (pro) I'll be able to pipe music info and/or gps info to the display and it will appear to be floating in the glass. (benefit: allow you to still get information while using the lcd screen for other purposes).

Now all you have to do is explain this and give details... Sounds pretty COOL... would love to know the details....

Share the Love dude....

0l33l · 02-11-2005, 11:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dug1967

Now all you have to do is explain this and give details... Sounds pretty COOL... would love to know the details....

Share the Love dude....

CF has build in LCD support.

If you put a bright display behind a mirror, it will look like the text is "floating". That's how those ebay turn signals work.

scott_fx · 02-12-2005, 02:13 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dug1967

Now all you have to do is explain this and give details... Sounds pretty COOL... would love to know the details....

Share the Love dude....

Yup, he's right. I choose a vfd display because of there natural brightness. I'm still in developmental phases of this but it should be pretty simple.

The way that normal rear view mirrors work; as i understand it, is that they use a set of mirrors to control the reflection angle and brightness. (I very rarely use this feature) There is one 'one way' mirror in front that lets light pass through to the second mirror that determines the brightness and reflection angle. I will take out this second mirror and put a vfd in it's place so that the first mirror will still reflect while letting the lit characters of the display shine through.

If there is not a one-way mirror already in the rear view mirror i have found plenty of suppliers of acrylic one-way mirrors that can be easily modified to work with this project.

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

1) Making of NaviVoice for voice activated in car navigation a. la Honda/Acura. This later turned into practically full computer control.

2) Toying with the idea of using phidgets to replace my broken climate control.

I can't wait to get my project installed and try out NaviVoice. I've been reading up on it and it seems realy cool! I hope my car isn't too loud to take advantage of this program

Vchat20 · 02-12-2005, 08:44 PM

one idea i had was basically an onstar clone in a way. basically in our van its got an inertia sensor where if we get in an accident it automatically cuts the power to the fuel pump. what my idea would be is to wire this sensor into a phidget board of some sort (dont know which one would work offhand, but shouldnt be too hard to find. just not on their site at the moment

). so what would happen is, if we got in an ccident, the sensor would cut the fuel pump and also send whatever signal (whether loss of power or added power) to the computer. the computer would then do common sense stuff like shut off whatever audio is playing, video, etc.. it would turn on the 4-ways and call like 911 or simsilar number (through cell phone via phonecontrol) and possibly provide them with gps corrdinates, etc.. and then keep the phone on the line for the occupants to keep in touch with the 911 operator.

Vchat20 · 02-12-2005, 09:03 PM

the HDD i dont think would end up too bad. ive already got plans to mount it vertically and also mounting it in a "shock absorber" configuration. the thing that has bothered me though is power issues. especially if you end up getting in a pretty bad head-on accident. you can pretty much kiss your pc goodbye.

again, this is just an idea. although id like to see the light of day, there are some obstacles to make it "reliable". but i will think of something i guess

scott_fx · 02-12-2005, 09:23 PM

maybe this would warrant putting your os on a fash drive and all your media and secondary apps on the hdd

Bugbyte · 02-12-2005, 10:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

If there is not a one-way mirror already in the rear view mirror i have found plenty of suppliers of acrylic one-way mirrors that can be easily modified to work with this project.

Ithink you'll need the one way mirror. From How stuff works.com :

"The mirror is not ground flat -- the front glass surface is at an angle to the back (mirrored) surface. So if you looked at this mirror out of its casing, it would be wedge-shaped with the thicker edge at the top. When you "flip" the mirror, the back mirrored surface actually points toward the dark ceiling, so you don't see that image. What you see instead is the image reflecting off the front of the glass, and this is much dimmer that the pure reflected image so it does not hurt your eyes."

This is a cool idea and one I've wanted to do. Let me know how it works out for you.

Altimat · 02-12-2005, 10:37 PM

I have a Phidget 4 servo controller on USB controlling sailwinch servos on my adjustable shock absorbers. An input from the vehicle speed sensor allows the suspension to self-adjust firmer at higher speeds. Three sliders on my embedded ShocKontrol App allow manually adjusting all 4 shocks together, or the front and rear independently as well.

Yeah I wish.

0l33l · 02-12-2005, 11:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

I can't wait to get my project installed and try out NaviVoice. I've been reading up on it and it seems realy cool! I hope my car isn't too loud to take advantage of this program

For your car, I'd mount the MIC close to you and point it away from the windows. That will reduce road noise. Then it will take a lot of training to get working

But its doable

scott_fx · 02-13-2005, 09:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Altimat

I have a Phidget 4 servo controller on USB controlling sailwinch servos on my adjustable shock absorbers. An input from the vehicle speed sensor allows the suspension to self-adjust firmer at higher speeds. Three sliders on my embedded ShocKontrol App allow manually adjusting all 4 shocks together, or the front and rear independently as well.

Yeah I wish.

All you need is tein shocks...

http://www.rx7store.net/index.asp?Pa...ROD&ProdID=753

this could be doable

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

For your car, I'd mount the MIC close to you and point it away from the windows. That will reduce road noise. Then it will take a lot of training to get working

But its doable

Well the thing is, i have done a lot of engine and exhaust work so it's even louder then a stock once...oh and a convertable

I'll definately hook this all up even if i can only use it when the top is up. I'll really put noise canceling MICs to the test

Keep the ideas coming

TruckinMP3 · 02-13-2005, 10:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Vchat20

the HDD i dont think would end up too bad. ive already got plans to mount it vertically and also mounting it in a "shock absorber" configuration. the thing that has bothered me though is power issues. especially if you end up getting in a pretty bad head-on accident. you can pretty much kiss your pc goodbye.snip

My system handled the crashes better than my car or myself did

I do not worry about the PC or related components at all.

mushin · 02-13-2005, 11:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Vchat20

the HDD i dont think would end up too bad. ive already got plans to mount it vertically and also mounting it in a "shock absorber" configuration. the thing that has bothered me though is power issues. especially if you end up getting in a pretty bad head-on accident. you can pretty much kiss your pc goodbye.

again, this is just an idea. although id like to see the light of day, there are some obstacles to make it "reliable". but i will think of something i guess

I think you're right, power's a much more likely source of failure in event of an accident than the HD. Even if the HD did go, you can have your setup such that everything be loaded into memory anyway. To make power more robust, I'd consider putting in a small secondary battery right next to the computer - that way, if the main battery or the connection to it goes, you still have enough juice to do whatever you're going to do.

lawrence · 02-13-2005, 11:54 PM

I got hit by a drunk driver in a dodge ram doing 55 mph , I was stoped in a dodge caravan. i was then pushed into a chevy suburban about 40 feet in front of me also stoped. dodge ram and my caravan total loss by insurance.
myself and my passenger and both drunks went to the hospital. well getting my stuff out of my caravan ( i was on vacation in key west ) found that my carputer was now with a smashed case, was just waiting for me to enter a password. and all still worked when i got home.