I saw news about this exciting project linked on Slashdot this afternoon:
OpenXC is an open source connectivity platform developed in tandem by Ford and open source hardware maker Bug Labs. Announced this fall, the platform is designed to allow developers the ability to use an Android- and Arduino-based module to interact with a vehicle’s in-car tech, such as vehicle sensors and GPS units. The OpenXC website succinctly describes the platform as “an API to your car”.
The OpenXC architecture utilizes a CAN bus translation module which was built using the Arduino-compatible PIC32-powered ChipKIT board.
http://openxcplatform.com/getting-started/overview.html
The CAN translation module is a device that reads proprietary CAN signals from the OBD-II port in the vehicle, converts from engineering units to a more human scale, and outputs a subset of the signals to another interface in a standard cross-vehicle format. There may not be a 1:1 relationship between input and output signals - i.e. raw engine timing CAN signals may be summarized in an "engine performance" metric on the abstract side of the interface.
I look forward to having a vehicle someday which supports an open system like this.
Cheers,
Drew