The Well-Linuxed Car

[Kurt Wall]

Consuming 2.7K bytes, Ted Ozolins blathered:

[/me to build linux 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 

I'd supposed I'd end up using a small PPC-powered SBC hooked to an LCD.
Split the screen like so:

-----------------------------------
|                |                |
|                |                |
|                |                |
|  LEFT MIRROR   | RIGHT MIRROR   |
|                |                |
|                |                |
|                |                |
-----------------------------------
|                                 |
|          STATUS AREA            |
|                                 |
-----------------------------------

> 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 

For the cameras, I assumed they could be controlled using the existing 
mirror controls.

> 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 

Yup. The wish list might outrun my ability to put it all on, but...

> 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"

Still working on it. I'll post a list on my Web site when I get a round
tuit.

Kurt
-- 
Man is the only animal that blushes -- or needs to.
		-- Mark Twain