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Mini car-computer server with WiFi Hotspot- gps and ELM327 (Wireless) OBD2.

Former Member

With pleasure I watched many of your shows. And it has inspired me with several projects for my self. Unfortunately they are way to complicated for the time, knowledge and equipment I have.

On top of my wish list a Mini car-computer server equipped with WiFi Hotspot, gps and ELM327 (Wireless) OBD2 dongle.

Supported with a 7" touchscreen

This as in a step-up to an open platform alternative for a BMW Assist,  GM's OnStar or Mercedes-Benz mbrace like service. I know that last part is a little ambitious. But well, you have to start somewhere.

And about the software maybe the community can help finish it.

Regarding it's services you can fill in what you like. I was thinking at:

  • media file server (and internet radio)
  • obd data reading (displayed in a web-interface or dashboard or both)
  • blackbox functionality (in a private way)
  • WiFi hotspot (with internet 4G)
  • Car camera recorder
  • some remote function (horn, lights, heater, camera)

Many more option are possible with a little bit of creativity.

And that it is about this project.Reusing an old smartphone as "weather" data collector would be my second project.

Will work that out a bit more next time.

 



Parents

  • you do know that a cell phone can do all of that, tho you will need a bluetooth obd unit.

  • in reply to william_hoffer

    Yes I know. It is basically what I use now.  But you have to swap between the functions.  And it consumes my daily phone. Besides that it is fun to do for a lower price, a more permanent solution dedicated to the job.

    A highend smartphone or tablet seems more expensive or at least not something  you want to leave behind in the car.  And missing  the gpo functionality as far as I know.  You may can use an old smartphone to use its gps and its data connection. The old phones I have laying around do not have enough cpu power to do it all. But enough to serve as internet router and to collect black box data. It can use its own battery as power when it is parked.  (Or stolen)

    Your own cloud in your car.

  • in reply to Former Member

    hardware is cheaper in the beginning but you are going to need to buy a Bluetooth device for the pi, a screen for the pi, speakers for the pi for the gps, a pi camera, a sim card for 4g and the sim card device to connect the card to the pi or a smart phone, the obd device, The power supply for the pi, and then write a program on the pi to interpret and display the info from the obd device in Linux. Probally close to 2 hundred dollars or more plus you can not easily put this in a pocket to take with you leavinf something tempting for thieves.

     

    Phone you need a dash cradle to use the camera and for it to give gps directions and maps, the obd device, and a power cord to power it. Now in the end it is still cheaper and easier to use a smart phone. I just got a samsung from  Straight talk that does all that for only a little over 100 dollars. Install for free dropbox and there is your cloud storage, plus when I leave I slip it into my phone pocket with my company phone leaving nothing in the car that thies will want to steal.

  • in reply to william_hoffer

    I'll agree the price is not the best argument.It is more about the fun in making it and I am looking for something more integrated in the car. As in a part of the car.

    It shout boot when you start the car automatically start recording from the dash-cam, logging desired information (like a blackbox).  While showing an interface where you can choose what to listen and what to see.  EG extra gauges (engine temperature or turbo pressure ect.). Or navigation or fuel and travel statistics. And a good wifi hotspot in the car using several sources (free wifi hotpots, g3 and/or wimax)  with it's own load balancer. Many big city's are full with free hotspots. Altough I am not sure if you can automate the "accept the terms" question.

    I found this:  Youtube-link   Some guy doing just this with a Raspberry.

    And for the car integration I found: carberry-link to there website.  But I am not sure if the Raspberry Pi 2 is capable doing this all at the same time.

  • in reply to Former Member

    No it should not be able to it only has 1 gig of ram and that will limit how many programs can run and you still have the issue of writing code for the Pi so it can do all you want.

  • in reply to william_hoffer

    I don't think the memory is the bottleneck.  The USB bus more likely. Since it should be able to serve media files and record video footage at the same time.  What is the data consumption of a typical 720p datastream (compressed ) I'll assume the compression can be done on the fly by the gpu  or am I wrong on that point?

  • in reply to Former Member

    for the 720 datastream, right around 128mb, another 500 mb for apps running, another 64 mb for the os, another 20 mb for the bluetooth connection, and at least 32 mb for each app's graphic interface of which that share from the onboard ram (the gpu has no ram of its own. That come out to about 870 mb out of 1000mb. Tjat does not leave the Pi with much ram for anything else. If you were to do this you would need another board running two gig of ram to have the function run smoothly and fast. The Hummingbird board would be a good choice since it has a built in bluetooth and wifi.

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  • in reply to Former Member

    for the 720 datastream, right around 128mb, another 500 mb for apps running, another 64 mb for the os, another 20 mb for the bluetooth connection, and at least 32 mb for each app's graphic interface of which that share from the onboard ram (the gpu has no ram of its own. That come out to about 870 mb out of 1000mb. Tjat does not leave the Pi with much ram for anything else. If you were to do this you would need another board running two gig of ram to have the function run smoothly and fast. The Hummingbird board would be a good choice since it has a built in bluetooth and wifi.

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