[cd85233]

Hey guys, after much consideration I have decided on what I want to have in my carputer. Here's a little run down.

Hardware:
2.1 GHz Laptop with 1 GB Ram. 120 GB Hard Drive
Bluetooth
GPS
OBDII Reader
Window Control Interface (Here's where I need the help)
7.5" Touch Screen
ATSC TV Card
Rear View Camera
(possibly More)

Software:
Ride Runner
Window Control (I plan on making this)

Here is my Vision.

The computer will know when the car is in On Mode (or what ever the key setting after accs is.) It will boot up with a cool custom Nissan screen.

I will have access to things like music playlists, movies, TV, and obviously Radio. I will be able to see real time car stats from the OBDII reader. Also, sync my phone for phone calls and also have a built in GPS for directions. Lastly, for when parking in reverse or backing out, a rear view camera.

The coolest thing that I want to integrate is a window control. Meaning, from the touch screen I can tell the car to roll all/one window down/up. This will be a very experimental and if I get it right I plan on adding other things like parking sensors and maybe having the computer know when the car is in reverse and switch over to the rear view camera.

what I need help from you, either by helping me find where the info is or just telling me , is the mechanical working of the window motors. Basically, I need to know what the voltage and current going to the motors is and also if up and down is just dictated by which way the current is flowing.

The plan is to use a micro-controller to do much of this. All that will happen is the that the microcontroller will send out volts out to a relay thus activating the current to the motor. This is my first time really working with relays so if my thinking is not correct please inform me.

Since this place is very homie to me, I do plan on posting the source code and a full write up on how to do it all. Just FYI, the current DIY price is about $500 but less than $600.

Please let me know what you think and if anyone is interested in seeing this happen. Positive (please note that I don't need to hear that this is a stupid idea) input is highly needed and welcomed!

-Cd85233

 

[nismopwr]

USB Interface Card Module VM110

I can't offer too much advice, but I have seen similar products to this in the past, and it looks like it might give the ability to interface several analog outputs, eg to control window relays, from software created on your computer.

This may not be the exact type of product you're looking for, but it gives you kind of an idea of what you'd have to do. The rest of your project sounds viable. Integrating into factory vehicle functions would probably be one of the most difficult parts.

 

[cd85233]

Thanks man!

That looks like what I want to do. I'm going to try to make the coding of the chip really efficient so I don't have to have as much stuff as they do, but it looks very similar. Mostly, I just like the idea of getting all of this done with a $1.50 chip! lol

 

[josh]

Not to take away traffic from here, but the forum members over at mp3car were a huge bed of ideas when I was planning and installing my system.

Might also check out fusion brain for i/o...

 

[NCFronty]

All this sounds cool, but I already have a car-puter in my dash. Not necassarily the specs you listed but still tons of mods for it. Since this is also my navi/radio with blue tooth, pairing my cell phone allows me access to a modem and the internet.

 

[cd85233]

All this sounds cool, but I already have a car-puter in my dash. Not necassarily the specs you listed but still tons of mods for it. Since this is also my navi/radio with blue tooth, pairing my cell phone allows me access to a modem and the internet.

Yea that is the plan here too. Except my phone can become a wifi router to share internet so that will be cool to have highspeed internet on the go! Why aren't you running a frontend software? RoadRunner is free and very customizable.

Not to take away traffic from here, but the forum members over at mp3car were a huge bed of ideas when I was planning and installing my system.

Might also check out fusion brain for i/o...

You're 100% correct! They have tons of good ideas. In fact, I will be buyin my screen and 2-DIN kit from them. But...I wanted to get specific input on the hardware for the current and what not. Though, I just kinda realized that I can just put a VOM upto it and find it all out. If someone has it already tho .

 

[f1ip]

Yea that is the plan here too. Except my phone can become a wifi router to share internet so that will be cool to have highspeed internet on the go! Why aren't you running a frontend software? RoadRunner is free and very customizable.



You're 100% correct! They have tons of good ideas. In fact, I will be buyin my screen and 2-DIN kit from them. But...I wanted to get specific input on the hardware for the current and what not. Though, I just kinda realized that I can just put a VOM upto it and find it all out. If someone has it already tho .

It looks like from the screens, he is running WindowsCE. doesn't look like a real CarPC.


also you might need this, Fusion Brain

 

[NCFronty]

Man you are on top of it. It is windows CE. Still not sure what the whole point of a full computer in a car is anyhow, especially when there are things like Iphones and Android 1Ghz smart phones. I guess unless of course you live out of your truck. LOL You could contact the Police dept. and see if they would let you take a look at the PC setups they have in their cars. I just don't see the point. Even if you spend that much time in your car driving, its about as bad as texting while driving.

 

[demondrive]

not that i know much on the coding end but, could you use something that could talk to a window control module that would be used with an alarm? most alarms only use a smaaaall output to trigger the control module so im sure you could use power from the computer for that, i know usb is typically like 5v right? sounds cool though man id definitely like to see your writeup once its done, i have a avic d-3 and think id like to go with a carputer with my next setup.

 

[cd85233]

Man you are on top of it. It is windows CE. Still not sure what the whole point of a full computer in a car is anyhow, especially when there are things like Iphones and Android 1Ghz smart phones. I guess unless of course you live out of your truck. LOL You could contact the Police dept. and see if they would let you take a look at the PC setups they have in their cars. I just don't see the point. Even if you spend that much time in your car driving, its about as bad as texting while driving.

If it's windows CE, try running a shell on it! that would look awesome. Not sure if it would run, but Mobile Shell 3.x is awesome looking.

not that i know much on the coding end but, could you use something that could talk to a window control module that would be used with an alarm? most alarms only use a smaaaall output to trigger the control module so im sure you could use power from the computer for that, i know usb is typically like 5v right? sounds cool though man id definitely like to see your writeup once its done, i have a avic d-3 and think id like to go with a carputer with my next setup.

I actually don't know about that. The trigger could be more complicated, but it does give me the idea to look up how they do it since I don't think they use as many relays as I thought that I would use.

My progress will be slow, but will eventually yield something pretty cool...I hope haha.

 

[steve500]

http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f24/2005-crewcab-nismo-computer-media-system-build-55245/