The Well-Linuxed Car

[Ted Ozolins]

Net Llama! wrote:

> On 11/29/03 12:07, Wade Barocsi wrote:
>
>> On Saturday 29 November 2003 03:04 am, Kurt Wall wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, List,
>>>
>>> So, yesterday, my 1993 Mercury Sable threw a rod, or was about to. I
>>> replaced it today with a 2002 Ford Focus. Here's the challenge: trick
>>> it out with all the Linux-powered whizzo-bango gadgets and technology
>>> I can.
>>
>>
>> ________
>>
>> Is this a a do-it-yourself project, or are you looking to build upon 
>> existing projects.
>>
>> www.tuxmobil.org is an interesting source of information on mobile 
>> type projects.
>
>
> Also depends on how knowledgable you are about auto electronics & 
> mechanics.  Another possible project that comes to mind is a MP3 
> jukebox to replace the radio in the car.
>
Checking catalogs at work I've noticed that there is a enormous models 
of very tiny camera's (digital) that would work great for blind_spot 
observation. Advantech (www.advantech.com) makes a great single board 
computer (we've used these in automating asphalt paving trains) It will 
directly drive an LCD display and has enough input (USB, serial, ps/2 
and parallel) to accommodate the most complex "linux_mobile. You can use 
an hd or memory card to hold the os or hd for the os and memory card for 
added features that can be upgraded on your desktop computer and of 
course implemented on the m_computer.  With proper interfacing one 
should be able to view left and right cameras at the same time (split 
screen)   or toggle from left to right.  The position of the cameras 
could be controlled using existing 2-axis stepper controllers or 2-axis 
voice coil controllers. If color is not an issue there are a lot of low 
light cameras that would work nicely for daytime or night. I'm sure that 
with some extra work one could add just about anything that the 
instruments on the dash can do ie: low fuel warning, close proximity 
alert and even such tings as ground speed indicators or road surface 
sensors (icy or dry etc) . the possibilities are endless.  There are all 
kinds of dedicated ic's that can be integrated into any computer to 
monitor or controll just about anything on this planet with freely 
available source code to accomplish it.  Heck there are components out 
there that could tell you your body temp and the body temp of the person 
sitting next to you.  The possibilities are endless, the most complex 
system can be accomplished.  Now it all depends on your wish list.  What 
are all the items or functions that you would like to see on the 
"Ultimate_Linux_Mobile"

-- 
Ted Ozolins(VE7TVO)
Westbank, B. C