Thread
Carputer Idea
I have an idea of using a mac mini of course to be my in car computer. However my car has steering wheel controls and I'd like to at least some how wire the seek buttons so I can change tracks in iTunes or something. This sounds very tricky but I'd like to hear idea's.
It's a 2000 GMC Jimmy SLT with the standard Delco radio but with Bose speakers. It has a Aux button, but not external tape deck using it.
My idea to possibly get this to work is take a spare apple aluminum keyboard and relay the F7 and F9 keys to the switch somehow, but I don't think that would work because those keys are part of the keyboard circuit board....
I may use a spare iBook G3 white I have laying around instead of a mac mini since that's one less thing to buy.
So, what do you all think? ;D
It's a 2000 GMC Jimmy SLT with the standard Delco radio but with Bose speakers. It has a Aux button, but not external tape deck using it.
My idea to possibly get this to work is take a spare apple aluminum keyboard and relay the F7 and F9 keys to the switch somehow, but I don't think that would work because those keys are part of the keyboard circuit board....
I may use a spare iBook G3 white I have laying around instead of a mac mini since that's one less thing to buy.
So, what do you all think? ;D
someone on arduino is working on this for another carputer
arduino handles push buttons and simply feeds it serially over usb to the computer, which can do whatever you like
you could hack up a keyboard, but its a kludge and messy
arduino handles push buttons and simply feeds it serially over usb to the computer, which can do whatever you like
you could hack up a keyboard, but its a kludge and messy
I could hack a keyboard up and just use the parts I needed from it and it would work ok?
depends, if you just wanted to use the controller chip and knew the layout of the matrix yea, if your just going to wire tap the matrix then you have a whole stripped out busted keyboard to deal with over 3-5 buttons
but a 3$ chip, a hand full of electronic parts and less than a page of C sounds much easier to me than probing out a 20000000key matrix or shoving a keyboard under my dash (course I already have these items and experience with them, but I dont mind helping if you were to go that route)
but a 3$ chip, a hand full of electronic parts and less than a page of C sounds much easier to me than probing out a 20000000key matrix or shoving a keyboard under my dash (course I already have these items and experience with them, but I dont mind helping if you were to go that route)
Grab a generic cheapie USB numeric keypad and use software to assign the keys to whatever you want. Label them, pull off the keycaps for the ones you're not using and make up a plate to cover the holes.
@Osgeld That'd be cool but I'd probably do that when I move out so I wouldn't be bothered and stuff wouldn't randomly break.
@bunsen, that's a really good idea, now off, to find a screen and figure out where I'm placing it.
The front dash area is very tight and uses the space available to it fairly well, so I'm thinking for in the even of theft, making the screen slide out. Where? probably between where the passenger airbag is and the stereo and center air vents are placed, no idea what's behind there but we can always look.
@bunsen, that's a really good idea, now off, to find a screen and figure out where I'm placing it.
The front dash area is very tight and uses the space available to it fairly well, so I'm thinking for in the even of theft, making the screen slide out. Where? probably between where the passenger airbag is and the stereo and center air vents are placed, no idea what's behind there but we can always look.
Also the iBook G3 will be just fine if all you need is an iTunes player. With a bit of luck and creativity, you might not even have to buy another display.
What model is it?
What model is it?
no matter what you choose it the quality you put into it that would determine its lifespan, MCU's are put in a lot of "do or die" situations where 100% flawless up time for decades is required
A roll-up silicone numeric USB keypad may offer more flexibility for the installation.
True - and with a translucent one, you could even backlight it.
First gen 500MHz G3 w/ 8MB ati.
I meant it as in "people coming into my work area and messing with my layout when I'm not around".
You could TOTALLY make a serial adapter and hack an old 68k Mac to readout engine stats on an LCD mounted in the dash. That would be SO COOL. If these are normal serial signals, heck you could do it in RealBasic.
This wouldn't be a super-straightforward project, and it isn't my cup O tea, but I think it's worthy of a retro challenge for someone who's into that sort of thing.
This wouldn't be a super-straightforward project, and it isn't my cup O tea, but I think it's worthy of a retro challenge for someone who's into that sort of thing.
That isn't exactly the point of the project...
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This is a good screen: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AYG9F6/ref=nosim?tag=spajr-20&linkCode=sb1&camp=212353&creative=380549
Or this one: http://www.google.com/products?q=Xenarc+705TSV&hl=en&aq=f
If you got a new Mac Mini, with the IR remote, you can just strap that onto the steering wheel. If you are going to put all this effort into this project, you want something at least 1 ghz.
How about this for power: CarNetix P1900 Version 2.2
You could use Logitech DiNovo Mini Keyboards to type, without touching the screen...
Depending on the placement you might need IR repeaters and some extra long VGA cords, (DVI to VGA)
If you don't have Audio In on Car you could use an FM broadcaster...
Broadband card...
How about using an AppleTV?
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This is a good screen: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AYG9F6/ref=nosim?tag=spajr-20&linkCode=sb1&camp=212353&creative=380549
Or this one: http://www.google.com/products?q=Xenarc+705TSV&hl=en&aq=f
If you got a new Mac Mini, with the IR remote, you can just strap that onto the steering wheel. If you are going to put all this effort into this project, you want something at least 1 ghz.
How about this for power: CarNetix P1900 Version 2.2
You could use Logitech DiNovo Mini Keyboards to type, without touching the screen...
Depending on the placement you might need IR repeaters and some extra long VGA cords, (DVI to VGA)
If you don't have Audio In on Car you could use an FM broadcaster...
Broadband card...
How about using an AppleTV?
If that's all you need, an iPod would do.
It will be easier to power an iBook than a Mini. Car power adapters for laptops are easy. The weird voltage for a Mini, not so easy, but that doesn't stop people. Several Minis in cars are documented online at 123mini and other places.
But the Mac Mini would be the better choice...
btw, if you would have read my post you could of seen the power supply, that works with Mac Minis...
btw, if you would have read my post you could of seen the power supply, that works with Mac Minis...
Why?
@Christopher: Apart from playing iTunes,what do you want this carputer to do?
They're not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OBDII#OBD-II_Signal_Protocols
That said, it's not that difficult. Heck you can read them with a Gameboy
its just ttl levels which can be read by just about anything, but if you want to hook it directly into a computer port you will need a level shifter to convert the +-12v into 0-5v
I would imagine that a simple microcontroller + simple analog circuit could be fashioned to make any necessary conversions (even frequency measurements), then ship it out as serial data. I did a project for my college physics class that did something similar. I used a Motorola 9S12DP256 (68HC12 family) <-> Macintosh LC III modem port. I used RealBasic, which was very inefficient, but it was so easy it was like writing a HyperCard stack. All serial communications are already taken care of on both sides, I just called send and receive functions! Communications were able to go in both directions and it even used XON/XOFF handshaking. The LC III had a VRAM upgrade to take it to Thousands of colors at 640x480 for the presentation. This "machine" was interactive with the projector and the actual physical parts! Here's a page about it:
http://www.d.umn.edu/~bold0070/spymac_mirror/projects/goldberg/
http://www.d.umn.edu/~bold0070/spymac_mirror/projects/goldberg/
you dont really even have to go that far, a few transistors wired the right way will get at least 9600 baud (or better if you build it right) the shifter I am using now is based on a 7404 hex inverter, and handles upto 115k, but is a bit weird after that, and thats handling a real rs232 port running at 24v pp down to 3-5v logic
or you could go all nutty and use a maxium max232, which is really overkill, and kind of expensive when compared to a 7 cent 74xxXX ic
or you could go all nutty and use a maxium max232, which is really overkill, and kind of expensive when compared to a 7 cent 74xxXX ic
Well for now probably just music, but maybe later I'd like to hook it into the car's computer and be able to get all the stats of everything going on inside, and maybe add Satnav or something.
COOL!
Well the Mac Mini would be more powerful. You could hook up a dash cam and record video, and you could use more devices to control it, and it wouldn't skip, it would be quicker, etc...
I should probably also get a SDD drive to replace the record player style hard drive.
It would be nice to have it handle a hands free bluetooth thing for my phone.
It would be nice to have it handle a hands free bluetooth thing for my phone.
think'n maybe just using a netbook possibly so I can just pull it out at night or if I'm parking in area's that aren't so safe. Like my church parking lot. Car's are getting broken into alot more there it seems like. :-/
Well the mini has bluetooth...
You could put it in the glove compartment...
You could put it in the glove compartment...
I'm probably going to hold off on this for a little while, until I can actually have my name transferred over since technically my dad owns it, but it's in the "share with your sister" deal. But I keep the car clean(even in the winter which is a little tricky) and change the oil between 600-1000 miles before the usual 3,000 mi. The only things he pays for are the major things which so far has only been a coolant flush.
So until I can cough of $4700, and handle $600 every 6 months, it's dads car. :-/
But hey, soon enough I will replace the awful Delco radio with a touch screen and somehow tie into the stock speaker system. I'm thinking for that, I would run the high mid speakers off of another car amp I have in my closet(brother gave it be since he upgraded his audio system in his car after he bought it), and then just nab the audio directly off the mini, but also have an "aux" jack somewhere so if someone for some reason just wanted to plug their iPod or whatever in, they could. The Jimmy has a crossover and amp hidden under the center console, so I may figure something out and try and mod the second amp down there if there's room.
The other neat deal is when the rear seats fold flat and are in the normal position, there is space under the seat that looks to be big enough for a mac mini to sit. ;D So cargo area wouldn't be hindered in any way which is nice. That's what I'd probably do so that it would be hidden from criminal's and the like. You know, make it appear all stock, except for the touch screen.
I would like to get some sweet graphic EQ software so that I can make the most of the factory upscale speaker system.
So until I can cough of $4700, and handle $600 every 6 months, it's dads car. :-/
But hey, soon enough I will replace the awful Delco radio with a touch screen and somehow tie into the stock speaker system. I'm thinking for that, I would run the high mid speakers off of another car amp I have in my closet(brother gave it be since he upgraded his audio system in his car after he bought it), and then just nab the audio directly off the mini, but also have an "aux" jack somewhere so if someone for some reason just wanted to plug their iPod or whatever in, they could. The Jimmy has a crossover and amp hidden under the center console, so I may figure something out and try and mod the second amp down there if there's room.
The other neat deal is when the rear seats fold flat and are in the normal position, there is space under the seat that looks to be big enough for a mac mini to sit. ;D So cargo area wouldn't be hindered in any way which is nice. That's what I'd probably do so that it would be hidden from criminal's and the like. You know, make it appear all stock, except for the touch screen.
I would like to get some sweet graphic EQ software so that I can make the most of the factory upscale speaker system.
This thread brings back a memory from a long time ago...
Back before I was old enough to drive, I remember going downtown to the Carnegie Science Center with my mother. At a red light on the way down, I looked to my right at the car in the other lane and noticed something connected to the guy's power outlet, mounted where the passenger seat should be. It was an LC 520 (or other 500 series machine). I'm not sure if he used it for navigation, for directions, or to help with a disability (which I believe could have been the most likely scenario--perhaps he used it for speech if he was at, say, a drive thru or toll booth). I was impressed by the mounting job (the computer was actually mounted, not on a seat but probably from a base on the floor). This Mac sighting occurred in 1996.
Back before I was old enough to drive, I remember going downtown to the Carnegie Science Center with my mother. At a red light on the way down, I looked to my right at the car in the other lane and noticed something connected to the guy's power outlet, mounted where the passenger seat should be. It was an LC 520 (or other 500 series machine). I'm not sure if he used it for navigation, for directions, or to help with a disability (which I believe could have been the most likely scenario--perhaps he used it for speech if he was at, say, a drive thru or toll booth). I was impressed by the mounting job (the computer was actually mounted, not on a seat but probably from a base on the floor). This Mac sighting occurred in 1996.
COOL! I'd like to have seen that.