Nifty Car

1989 Honda Civic DX Hatchback

• Economy car -- 40mpg on average
• Runs well
• Very responsive steering (non-power)
• Nice handling characteristics
• Moonroof
• Lifespan of a tree
• 157000+ miles

Embedded Systems

I've been brainstorming with new ideas (best ones here):

• Several PIC microcontrollers will work together
• CAN (Controller Area Network) will likely be used for communications between microcontrollers
  CAN is commonly used in cars, but mine is so old that it uses analog data
• A PIC16F87x will run the security system
  The current version uses a PIC16F84 and all the I/O pins are used
• A PIC16877 will run VDAS (Vehicle Data Acquisition System)
• Displays
  • Operated by other microcontrollers
  • Get data off of the real-time feed from VDAS
  • Put a VFD (2 lines, 16 characters wide) in the middle of the gauge assembly in my car or a 2.5 inch TFT LCD that takes NTSC input and use a computer to drive it
  • Put a 2 line, 20 characters wide VFD on top of the dash for a HUD

• Security System
  Since my car was broken into and the stereo stolen (JVC KD-LX3 serial #10490138), I have suspened work on the HUD to build a security system. Version 2 has been installed and working since early August 2000.
• MPEG audio playback
  A device to play MPEG audio. I want to make a system to categorize my music that does much more than place a piece in exactly one category. MPEG playback will involve a PC, so additional gizmos may be added. Since mid December 2000, a custom unit running Redhat and CAJUN with a 6.4GB notebook harddrive has been installed (sort of) and working.
• Computer power control
  A device to control the supply of power to the MPEG playing computer that allows the computer to shutdown. It will also make the computer shutdown when it is too hot or cold.
• HUD (Heads Up Display)
  Displays like this can be very cool, especially if they do a little more than show the car's speed. Mine will do much more, but the display won't update too often in order to not be horribly distracting.
• Additional user interface
  A LED display, hopefully, and a keypad. Maybe something else, too.

Security System

Embedded System

• Being designed and constructed
• Progress
  • Digital tachometer works
  • Digital speedometer almost works
  • Display interfaces designed and built on breadboards
    • MM5450N (National) in use for 4 digit LED displays
    • LCD (Hitachi) synchronous serial interface
      • Will be used with the HUD (VFD with LCD interface)
    • PD2435 (Siemens 4 character LED display) synchronous serial interface for up to 4 display units
      • Considered for use in the clock display
      • 3 or 4 displays will fit for clock display
  • HUD
    • Have considered 7 segment LEDs -- not bright enough
    • Have considered bunches of LEDs to simulate 7 segment displays -- too large and bothersome to put together
    • Now considering a VFD with 2 lines, 20 characters each, and an LCD interface
• Microcontroller
  • BASIC Stamp 2 used now on prototype vehicle and engine speed display
  • PIC16F873 or PIC16F877 will be employed next
• Design requirements
  • Must aquire data
    • Vehicle Speed
      • Up to at least 160mph
      • Metric measurement secondary
    • Engine Speed
      • Up to at least 10000rpm
    • Temperature
    • Time
      • From GPS
    • Additional data (may be added later)
      • Fuel remaining
      • Internal/external temperature
      • Message output from computer
      • ECU inputs
        • Throttle angle
        • Others
  • Must process data
    • Vehicle Speed
    • Engine Speed
    • Trip distance (odometer)
  • Must supply all data to computer
  • Must operate a HUD (Heads Up Display)
    • Must be visible in bright daylight
    • Preliminary display format
    • Must be updated more than once per second
  • Must allow for removal of the HUD
  • May have additional display in clock location on dash
  • System must be hidden or removable
  • System must not interfere with car's computer
    • Operation of system should not affect car's operation
    • Failure of system should not affect car's operation
  • Must operate beyond room temperature
    • Down to -10C or less
    • Up to 50C or more
  • Will eventually provide user input to the computer

Computer

• Design requirements
  • Must fit into a small space
  • Must have at least 250MHz Pentium class performance
  • Must play MPEG encoded audio
    • Must allow a custom program, likely Java, to initiate playing of MPEG files
  • Must use a hard drive for storage (notebook style)
  • Must have a display (6in TFT is being considered)
  • Must boot fast
  • Must not turn on at extreme temperatures
    • 5C is too low
    • 45C (?) is too high
  • Must have ethernet & FTP server for audio transfer
  • Must be removeable
    • Computer
    • Display
  • Must have input device
    • Optional keyboard
    • Embedded system
      • Lighted qwerty keypad
      • Optional infared grid in front of display to simulate a touch screen
  • Must read in data from embedded system
  • Should be expandable to support GPS
  • Must not run MS Windoze