While it would be really cool to do many of the suggestions in this thread, you really need to keep a project like this under control. As I want to do a computer based instrument panel rather than a control panel for the cars functions, these are my thoughts:
#1.
The OS is pretty much irrelevant in the initial stages. Develop/test on whatever you are comfortable with, move to whatever is practicle (ie free) for a 'production' version (if we ever get that far).
#2. Ditto the hardware at this stage, use whatever you have/is cheap/you are familiar with or can find out about.
#3. Get a working demo going. This means keep it simple:
Here's a list of possible things to do (well it's my list anyway!)
Understand what circuits you need to replace (eg VSS signal divider) in any interface.
Understand what signals come into the ip, how to convert them to digital where required as in analog to digital for temp etc, simple on/off for the idiot lights, special processing for the VSS/tacho.
What do you need to build/what already exists (plenty of info on the net on both).
What hardware you need to keep (eg the original odeometer). You can do the trip on the PC
Build your application (in whatever language you are happy with that will do the job, don't forget you may need to access hardware to read your signals) that will read the signals, process them and display the graphics upon the screen.
What about a pocket PC running CE? I have one just sitting here, it has 32 megs of main ram and 128 extended storage. it’s a Cassiopeia Pocket PC. Has a USB cradle, I am sure that something could be setup to use the connector on the bottom.
IP: Logged
10:07 PM
ltlfrari Member
Posts: 5356 From: Wake Forest,NC,USA Registered: Jan 2002
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon: What about a pocket PC running CE? I have one just sitting here, it has 32 megs of main ram and 128 extended storage. it’s a Cassiopeia Pocket PC. Has a USB cradle, I am sure that something could be setup to use the connector on the bottom.
It really depends, What do you want to do with it and are you happy programming/interfacing etc in that environment or at least learning how to do it. Don't forget that there is going to be at least some hardware interfacing to do, wither directly in DOS say or via some sort of driver in 'higher' level operating systems (wether you consider windoze to be a higher level OS is debatable!)
Originally posted by KlaX: anyone ever heard of a ram drive? if you put a gig of ram in your computer you can actually partition off like 800 megs of it to use like a hard drive, this way windows boots in 15 seconds, no skipping and crashing hard drives, and all your programs load so fast you dont have time to blink.
Have you done much with RAM drives? They are sketchy... Then you have no operating RAM... plus the OS has to be copied from the HD to the volitile memory. Lengthening the amount of time it takes to boot by a LONG measure.
As we all know, Microsoft is not known for their stability in memory management. Most of the time when you 'crash' its a memory problem... not a HD problem unless you have faulty hardware.
I have never actually made a ram drive since I have never had a gig of ram or more, but from what a friend of mine told me, he had 768 gigs partitioned to ram drive and since it is like 300 megs a second while a hard drive is 20-30 megs a second, It sounded like a pretty incredible idea to me.
As For booting, if i was you guys I wouldnt put my vital systems threw the computer, I mean seriously, It would just be nice to have digital gauges for the normal gauges, controlloing fuel and what not with the computer starts to sound pretty sketchy, if your computer crashes you are SOL.........
Maybe the solution is just using a laptop, when you turn off your car it just goes to sleep and can stay that was for days without power, all you do is turn the car back on, it wakes back up, and your boot time is the 10 seconds it takes for it to get everything back up to speed.
An LCD controller can be purchased for desktop computers, and is already in a laptop, all you would need to do for the laptop is extend the monitor cable so you could mount it in the dash.
Back to the drawing boards......
I just wanna see what Joe pulls off since he is the only one in here that isnt "all talk"
------------------ Looking for mine........
IP: Logged
03:32 AM
PFF
System Bot
dennis_6 Member
Posts: 7196 From: between here and there Registered: Aug 2001
You guys are reinventing the wheel!!! Although having a computer control every part of the car is darn cool....but why? You've got wired systems for that that are 99% stable and don't need booting! Spend time on the fun stuff. Put some thought into the case(which could become a product for sale) and monitoring things....not controlling everything. Control stuff like door locks, windows, etc. It'll be much simpler...and it will get done quicker!
All you techies... You guys know how these I/O cards work exactly?
So far, I've got 6 functional COM ports going... COM1: Touchscreen COM2: TECII-Engine Control System COM3: GPS COM4: Wireless modem COM5: New G-Tech(future) COM6: Possibly Computer programmed EQ for stereo(future)
Might be running out of resources soon
Hey Watdge....I got a cheapie digicam for the alarm sytem(shhh), but I need one of those Motherboard USB plug in cable
[This message has been edited by Joe Torma (edited 09-13-2002).]
IP: Logged
11:38 AM
Sep 14th, 2002
ltlfrari Member
Posts: 5356 From: Wake Forest,NC,USA Registered: Jan 2002
Well I don't know about reinventing the wheel, I am just doing this for fun, learn a bit of new stuff, be different etc. It may or may not work, or even get finished, doesn't matter really (to me anyway).
Just for interest, here's the latest incantation of my insturment panel GUI:
Dave http:www.ltlfrari.com
IP: Logged
12:07 PM
AgaricX Member
Posts: 1165 From: A genetics lab somewhere in TX, USA Registered: Aug 2001
Are you saying that with Ram drives, you must recopy the OS every time you reset?
Yup. Ram is voltage volitile memory.
When you shut the CPU off... it's wiped clean. Therefore when you start the machine, you'd ahev to copy the OS to the RD. This makes boot times 3-4x as long.
IT's no big thing. My Max CPU has WinXPPro on it and boots in under 30 seconds including the CMOS self check, touchscreen software, Piviot screen rotation software, and girder IR remote control software.
Just flip the switch before you start the car... bu the time you get situated, it;s all good.
Now if we're going to eventually display dash gauges on the screens... you'll have to have the software initialized before you crank her up. This is why I have an Optima Yellow Top and a hard wired inverter.
IP: Logged
01:27 PM
AgaricX Member
Posts: 1165 From: A genetics lab somewhere in TX, USA Registered: Aug 2001
Interesting... I use a Cassopeia 100 slaved to a Lowrance GPS in another vehicle I operate. And frankley, it has revolutionized navigation like nothing else I have ever seen. Go to http://www.anywheremap.com to get an idea of what it does.
The Cassopeia is velcroed to the center of the yoke (steering wheel). It has a large full color screen that gives touch screen information reguarding any point on the screen. It gives constant DME (distance measuring) to any point on the screen, as well as course plotting, ete, fuel burn,etc.. It gives alarms for all kinds of situations, including obstacles.
Granted, this is a different kind of vehicle than a car, but it should give you some ideas of what can be done with some very simle hardware.
>>The PDA / GPS combo is quite cool.<< I like it. I've used handheld GPS for over 10 years, and it beats the daylights out of WWII technology VOR/ADF.
>>Quite expensive...<< Everything in an airplane is. A panel mount unit with same capabilities would run @ $10,000 installed. In reality, the GPS stays in the airplane and the PDA comes home for other use, so utility is a factor.
>>Quite a small screen...<< Once again, the PDA screen is bigger than the GPS I now have. My first GPS had a screen not even 1/2 of that size. Most panel mounts will have this size screen, split to show radio text info. Larger screen (kneeboard units, etc) are available, though.
>>Quite limited in scope (updates etc)<< I update the GPS once a year. I update the PDA even less. Fed Law requires a current sectional map onboard, and that is my final backup in all cases.
>>you can to CPU/GPS and have unlimited updates, and a larger screen.<< Total agreement. I was just pointing out how this hardware/software is put to use in this application.
For automotive use, you are quite right on track.
IP: Logged
06:16 AM
Sep 19th, 2002
Will-Martin Member
Posts: 1164 From: DFW, TX, USA Registered: Aug 2002
Put up or shut up time. I am far from Genius when it comes to Code / Mechanical stuff, but I have always wanted to do something like this and been good with my hands and brains. I am ready to start this project.
I am willing to host it (in a small country shop), put up a web site with semi regular (every couple of days) updates, and do the wrench work on the car. If you guys can commit to build the car with me "virtually" by e-mail, chat, or advice, or in the flesh, I will take it on, and we will all share the credit if it gets done, or the defeat if the project falls apart.
I have limited funds, but I do have a decent donor car I will contribute to the project and a couple of older laptops to start with. There is no way I can afford all of the LCD screens, Palmtops, or latest and greatest you guys are discussing, so if you want it incorporated in the car, you have to aquire it and donate it to the project. Perhaps as the project progresses, we can take up a collection or get Fiero and techno stuff noone wants (~Ahem~ anyone wants to donate an Archie kit or 3800SC will get a name plaque in the car, on the dash).
Key Project Notes -
A project "development line" will be established by key members of the project to track progress and keep us all on track.
Teams will also be setup. These teams will each be assigned a task at a time. i.e. We need to monitor engine coolant temp. Team A gets this assignment. Team A (Mechanical R&D Team) will develop a way to monitor engine coolant temp and interface it into the main program. The integration team (say Team B) will put the component into the overall project and Team A will get another assignment.
I will keep an online roster and team members will have to be formally admitted to the project. I have done some "open source" code development online, and if you do not have clear cut team lines established, personnel seem to fade away when called upon to do something they said they would do. This keeps everyone in check, and gives credit where credit is due. No one jumps in at the last minute and says, "We did it guys!" Likewise no one works out the tough problems and never gets kudos deserved.
At the end of the project, I am kind of amiss as to what we should do with the car though. If I build it alone, I will keep it of course. But if everyone else helps me big time, and donates to the project, maybe we can auction it off to fund another, display it at shows, pass the keys around - this needs to be discussed. In the end, we will have a very well documented open source project for "the ultimate Intel Inside Fiero", that anyone can do with readily available materials, after all, that is the ultimate goal.
These are the basic key points I have come up with. Any and all suggestions will be considered, but I am ready to get this thing rolling.
I was wondering if I am on a diferent page than most. Fact #1 the car is 17 years old which makes the computer tech about 25 years old, so my thinking is I can set up a system to compleatley retune the engine constantly for every enviormental change. Compleatly seamless. My oblective is more power when I want it better milage when I need it and longer lasting engine which will make less emittions and have better diagnostics that will let you know when some thing is starting to go out before it dies compleatly. Just my 2 cents worth (and all the bells and whistles will be cool too)
Martin
IP: Logged
03:01 PM
PFF
System Bot
AgaricX Member
Posts: 1165 From: A genetics lab somewhere in TX, USA Registered: Aug 2001
All I can say is KISS ( Keep It Simple Stupid) If I go with a engine monitor I am going to go buy a good scan tool that can read data in real time and take out the screen and mount it in a nice case above my vents in the center of the dash. So whenever I want to see my IAT or my block learn all I have to do is look no messing around! Maybe if I get a 3.8 i will look into fuel curves but you can already buy this softwear. The idiglow faces are awesome have you guys checked them out yet?
------------------ Stock 85 GT Bracket Racer My record so far is 1W 1L Fastest time 16.54
