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CarPuter: Computer in my car

Sync

By Sync,
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Sync

Sync

Neutral Newbie
(edited)

I am planning to slowly replace my stock ICE with a 1Ghz computer as my entertainment system. Before proceeding to tell you what I plan to do, I need to know if there is anyone(s) here who is familiar or have expertise in:

  • Car electronics
  • Simple electrical/electronics experience or skill
  • Ripping out car's interior to do wiring
  • Create custom case/shell/fascia/mounts with stuff like clay, resin, plastic, etc.

This is because I really don't have the skill to do any of the above, although I'd be doing the computer myself, it'll probably be a mess of cables on the glove compartment + an LCD mounted with putty on the dash [bigcry]. A shop that can do all of the above mod jobs at a reasonable price would be cool too.

 

Why Computer?

Nowadays, at most homes, computers can replace the TV, CD Player, DVD Player and many other functions as well. For cars, if you need those functions, you'd install an ICE that will need you to fork out tons of cash upfront. In my case, after buying a car, I can't fork out anymore cash upfront as I'm now a lot poorer. [nosebleed] So the only way to go is to do things slowly, until I can have the ultimate carputer, which will probably take me about two or three years. But the advantage is to be able to see it grow, as minor upgrades can make a person happier [:)].

 

The Plan

Since I'm going to have to start somewhere, my first investment would be the LCD display and the input devices. I'll be getting the Crystal Fontz black/red 20x2 LCD display, which should be enough for my displaying needs. I will need to write a program for it so that it can do simple things like song selections, volume adjustment, and radio tuning. There are other uses as well, like get readouts from the car, you know, RPM, speed, distance travelled, or even more exotic stuff like your fuel/air mixer readings, even failure codes, this is of course, provided that I can find that damn OBD II connector in my Waja (have not been able to open up the lower part of the dash).

 

For inputting data to the computer, there's four buttons from the LCD, I'll have to find a way to reuse the Waja's four buttons (need electronics people here) on the steering wheels too, and for the extreme coolness factor, I'll get this blue glowing programmable jogdial [:)]. There's also the possibility of voice recognition as input, and voice as output, for example, telling you what song the computer is going to play before playing

it, tell you the temperature, or just a random joke of the day.

 

All this programming will take me a while, and I'll do it on my notebook first. Once I get something working, and I can grab songs from the iPod, I'll then proceed to buy the next big thing. Which is:

Optional items:

  • Wireless LAN (so I don't have to connect the damn network cable when I have to do some changes on the computer with my notebook)
  • An AMP with SPDIF optical input[sly]
  • Relay controller so that you can control stuff like your power windows

Here's where I'll hit a snag. The power source will have to be from the car battery, and someone will have to get dirty with installing it. And I have no idea how to do the cabling and installation nicely.

 

The ITPS will have to be connected to the ignition and battery, and cables will go to the computer which will probably be located under the seat (need people who can do this) or at the boot. And the computer will also have cables connected to the dash for the LCD.

 

The computer will boot up linux, so as to ensure fast boot up times, as well as to guarantee stability, you don't want to have Windows crashing on your car, do you? [sly] It will have no hard disk, just Compactflash, all the mp3 songs will come from the iPod, which also acts as a storage device for data.

 

What can this grow to?

Ok, ultimately, since this is done at own time own target, the computer will be able to do a few things (and more) like.

  • Replacement for ICE, CD, mp3, CD ripper (limitless possibilities)
  • Gather statistic about your car
  • See how you drive on a particular day, show graphs of usage
  • Produce excel charts for analysis of your driving habits
  • Mileage calculations
  • Financial details - like how much money have you spent on your car
  • Car servicing, oil replacement, atf replacements alarms
  • Tell you your car's trouble code
  • Clear those engine warning light that normal mechanics can't switch off
  • Most importantly, sync with my Palm [sly]

The Future?

Ok, if I suddenly have cash falling on me from a tree, or I've collected enough, I can then invest on an LCD monitor, either 5 to 7" and from there, you've suddenly got the ability to do other cool things, like:

  • Browse the Internet
  • Gossip at MCF
  • Look up the weather reports
  • Check out the causeway cameras real time
  • Check out how your stocks perform
  • GPS to know exactly the distance from where you are, to the toilet
  • Get lost with GPS
  • See VCDs or DVDs
  • Write your email while driving [:)]

Do things that you would do with your computer. The possibilities are endless. [thumbsup]

 

Tell me what you think?

Edited by Sync
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Hitman

Hitman

Neutral Newbie

Aduhai abang ..... shocked.gifshocked.gifshocked.gif

 

I think u watch too much Mission Imposible movies lah. The idea is feasible but very very difficult to get it done right. Furthermore ... home is constant room temperature. nod.gif

 

In a car .... the heat buildup in your car , not to mention the constant vibration will cause havoc to your HD dah shakehead.gifshakehead.gif

 

It'll probably cause you more to install it and get it working than to put a downpayment for a new car dizzy.gif

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Sync

Sync

Neutral Newbie
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Eh, a lot of people have done it lah, like:

 

http://www.dashpc.com/

http://www.letscommunicate.co.uk/carputer/

http://www.mp3car.com/

http://www.via.com.tw/en/VInternet/carpc.jsp

 

Just slowly build up. Also, one shot cost is about $900 the most, for a 2 line LCD setup plus power supply and computer.

 

Hard disk? I'm not using hard disk bro, I'm using a compact flash setup (The world does not revolve around WindowsXP). Anyway, the ipod have served be well on my trips as it's somewhat shock proof, so this would do as my external storage.. There are shock proofing solutions if you need to install hard disk.

 

As for heat, I am not installing a PC like you do at home, and it will be turned on when the car is on, and off when you switch off the car.

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Sync

Sync

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Although the ideas sounds good, there's a lot of sweat as well, especially the programming part for data collection and statistics gathering, not to mention the user interface for the 2 line LCD display.

 

But's it's gonna be something I enjoy, and who knows, something I can sell and make a business out of as well [thumbsup]

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Sync

Sync

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Places to 'hide' PC or bare motherboard (note this is not like the PC we have at home, see http://www.mini-itx.com/ for ideas of small casings):

 

* Glove compartment (yes, some people do it), see http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/ice-unit/

* Under seat

* Boot

 

The VIA CPU with solid state drive and withstand lots of shocks as there are no moving parts.

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Firefox

Firefox

Neutral Newbie

bang, nice conceptthumbsup.gif think u 4get noise interferrance from engine n the other parts of the car. end product might not be gd gossip.gif cos u hv generator producing noise (not the audible type). btw ur supply will not be as stable as hsehold. hope u factor these in.sly.gif

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Hitman

Hitman

Neutral Newbie

Just like Mikey asked .... wat about CPU ??

 

As for heat, I am not installing a PC like you do at home, and it will be turned on when the car is on, and off when you switch off the car.

 

Yes but wat about the heat when its sitting there in the carpark in the 12 o'clock sun shocked.gifshocked.gif Can the CPU take it ?? confused.gif

 

 

Also, one shot cost is about $900 the most, for a 2 line LCD setup plus power supply and computer.

 

So cheap meh ... u sure or not ?? 900 US or Sing ?? U planning to DIY or get it installed somewhere ?? dizzy.gif

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Sync

Sync

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  Quote
Yes but wat about the heat when its sitting there in the carpark in the 12 o'clock sun Can the CPU take it ??

 

If the CPU is not running, yes, CPU itself will produce around 50 to 60 degrees when running. It will take over 100 degrees to fail a running CPU. BTW, there are a few people in Singapore with such setups, unfortunately, it seems that they are not in MCF. [bigcry]

 

  Quote
So cheap meh ... u sure or not ?? 900 US or Sing ?? U planning to DIY or get it installed somewhere ??

 

Of course DIY lah, programming and hardware parts I source myself one.. And in SGD of course.

 

It does cost more if I factor in my time for programming, but hey, it's hobby, and something I enjoy.

 

BTW, that VIA cpu & motherboard is a low powered one and is designed for such applications.

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Sync

Sync

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>> think u 4get noise interferrance from engine n the other parts of the car

 

Yup, I understand these issues, one of the reasons why I may need to get an SPDIF input capable amp.

 

>> btw ur supply will not be as stable as hsehold. hope u factor these in.

 

Yes, definitely not as stable as you can get voltage drops down to 5v and spikes up to 18v.. That's why need the ITPS voltage regulator and the DC-DC power supply, some people used even worse supplies, like DC-DC inverter, and *gasp* 12v DC to 110v or 220v AC converter.

 

Power supply requirements specially designed for car battery to computer will definitely cost more than the average one you get at Sim Lim, and since, the power draw from the system will max out to 60 or 70 watts (depending on what I put), it's a lot less than what we use at home (hopefully)

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Sync

Sync

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(edited)

>> If it works .... and u want to start a biz .... count me in as an Investor

 

Hehe, will do, will do :) Wait a minute, what do you mean 'if'? It will! [sly]

Edited by Sync
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Madarmour

Madarmour

Neutral Newbie
  Quote
Places to 'hide' PC or bare motherboard (note this is not like the PC we have at home, see http://www.mini-itx.com/ for ideas of small casings):

 

* Glove compartment (yes, some people do it), see http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/ice-unit/

* Under seat

* Boot

 

The VIA CPU with solid state drive and withstand lots of shocks as there are no moving parts.

BTW, keep all your blueprints. If it works, you can call it your invention and make some dough!thumbsup.gifthumbsup.gifthumbsup.gif

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Mavvy

Mavvy

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Although the ideas sounds good, there's a lot of sweat as well, especially the programming part for data collection and statistics gathering, not to mention the user interface for the 2 line LCD display.

 

But's it's gonna be something I enjoy, and who knows, something I can sell and make a business out of as well thumbsup.gif

 

 

yeah man... its gonna be some kind sounds 'BIG PROJECT'...

 

chimzzz..sweatdrop.gif

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