478 replies to this topic

[Jammy]

I plan on the computer doing the following:

Musac/DVD
Camera system
Sat Nav
MegaView once MegaSquirt is installed (I've also thought about making up my own GUI)
Integrating the alarm with the camera and GPS system.
Possibly a track system (will show lap times/position on track, etc).

I'm currently trying to figure out a way of getting a translucent LCD for a HUD idea.

[ed4ran]

I think the easiest way of doing a hud is to have a screen laying flat on the top of your dash and have it flipped, then you just see the reflection on the screen. Alternatively you could get one of those laptops that have a removeable back on the screen so they can be put over a projector, or you could look into pulling the back off a normal one to see if that works. think youll struggle with brightness though!

For your own GUI were you just going to have it PC based?
its easy to connect with MegaSquirt on a PC, I have managed to get the various settings into a simple program, but havent taken it any further. But with all the data you could do things like data logging and stuff.

I was even thinking of a Gear Indicator, or an accurate speed indicator.
For the gears if you know how fast your going you can work out which gear your in from the revs. or if you know which gear your in you can work out how fast your going (which should be as accurate as you can get it, similar to reading direct RPM from the wheel, but without the need for another sensor).

I think with some clifford alarms (and im sure some others) they have a com port on them so you can configure them, but i dont know if you can monitor and do other stuff with them.

Have you looked at the GPIO board for MegaSquirt? I might get one later on and have tons of sensors etc, and devise some software to monitor it all (ok the MS stuff can do it but its no fun) and work out other cool stuff.

[Jammy]

I haven't really looked into the MegaSquirt side yet, it something that will be looked at after the engine is in and the car is on the road, then I'll retro fit it, I'm just leaving the COM port open for interfacing the PC with MS. I've looked at the MS extra stuff, definitely going to go with that for things like ignition control and traction control. And yea, any programs I build will be done in VB.

I've also looked at the idea of data logging, mainly on the GPS side, but data logging the engine recordings sounds like a very good idea. I was looking at a showing rpms for gear changes. So if your in 3rd, there would be a display to show what the revs would be if you changed into 2nd or 4th, not sure how handy this would be though, and one of the last things I'll look into.

Interesting that the Clifford alarms have a COM port, although I was planning on making my own alarm system.

I had the same idea about the screen, been looking for an old PDA to rip apart, so I can see what the screen is like without a backing, didn't know you could get some that already have a removable back, do you have a link? Not a fan of using screens and mirrors, I just don't think I'd have enough control over the image, and I think the design of my custom dash won't make this option a great one.

[ed4ran]

Corvette have HUDs like i described, just using what looks like a VFD display.
No mirros, just the reflection on the windscreen.

Cant find anything on those laptops at the mo, but i know im not crazy, i have seen them before!!





CliffNet Wizard PC control



There is already log viewer software for viewing the standard logs made by the MS software,
which pretty much does all the different variables. So unless you want to anything other than look at the data then that should work as is, but you have the problem when using custom software for the GUI, but you may be able to make it able to output a log file in the same format.




Wonder what other features could all be intergrated with the system,
once the systems are all done we'll have to compare

When you build you alarm, where you planning on a keyfob?
You can by the RF transmitter and receivers to add to circuits so that could work! I also saw a circuit for a short range RF (433mhz) button transmitter where you had a sensor mounted where ever and you just had to rub the button on the sensor for it to activate a relay, and it was coded so not just any button would work.

Ive got a finger print reader on my computer so i was thinking that would be good for intergrating, something like the car will start but will shut down if it doesnt get the correct figure print within a certain time

[Jammy]

Yea, have seen the Covette HUD. I'm just not too sure on how well it will work for a mini, I think getting the angle right, as well as compensating for the curve of the glass, as well as mirroring the image will be harder than just ripping apart an LCD. Especially since I want to use it for graphical displays, not just characters (sorry, should of made that point earlier). I also know that the HUD windscreen on the Covette is different to a non-HUD one, how I'm not sure, I've just seen that there listed as two different parts, with the HUD one being about $50-70 more. But if ripping apart an LCD doesn't work I'll definitely look into it. Theres actually a very interesting thread over on MP3 car at the moment where some very clever chaps are trying to get a HUD to work like this. Clicky.

I had seen those finger print readers, although I want to have remote start, so these two things won't really be compatible. I'll probably have a battery cut off key hidden somewhere as well for when I leave my car in dodgy areas or for a long time. I'll probably just get an RF transitter/keyfob.

[ed4ran]

I understood you wanted a normal LCD for a more graphical display, i was just showing how i would do it.

With the LCD screens i have i know how to flip the image, just with 2 small jumpers, so i will see how well they work with just a reflection on the windscreen (will probably be this weekend, or tonight if i have time).

Have you seen the PDAs with Finger print scanners? I was thinking of have a modern PDA and writing the software for it to read MegaSquirt and other things so you could see the engine information from outside the car, and even tune it without being in the car , then you could do a remote start from that and use the finger print scanner

[Jammy]

Lol, I like the idea of the PDA reading MS and having a finger print scanner.

I was going to make the point of some colours washing out if I was to reflect a screen onto the windscreen, but I think this will be a problem I'll have as well. The only advantage I can think of so far using a backless LCD is this; With the reflected image, you may need to use a tinted film on the windscreen to get a bright enough image, which may pose problems come MOT time. With a backless LCD I intend to have it motorised, so it can go down into the dash when switched off. Also, I believe there is a law about having lights or images reflected on the windscreen or something (from what I've read about HUDs in cars (might just be America)), so this may well affect both of us.

[ed4ran]

I guess the next alternative would be SunVisor Monitors?
Then you only have to glance up.
Or the screen infront of you and clocks in the middle of the dash.

[Jammy]

Well I'm going to have another screen in the middle of the dash anyway for the sat nav/music/DVD side of things, the HUD was just going to be for warning messages, engine status, track stuff. Things I don't want to be looking down and trying to find at important times. Will hopefully get a LCD I can rip apart off Ebay this week and take things from there.

[ed4ran]

Have just stripped one of my screens, and they have 2 layers glued on,
The one on the front is the screen itself, the one on the back seems to be a blur and darkening filter, but trying to remove would probably break the screen as it is about 2mm thick glass.
Also the back light isnt clear so to see through it you would have to have no backlight so you probably couldnt see whats on the screen unless there was a white car in front on a sunny day.

Also with the screen in its normal horizontal position then you cant see through it,
but as soon as you start to rotate to a vertical position it gets clearer (still blurred)

So the only really way of doing it is the have screen flat on the dash and have some polarised glass over the top.

[pete]

I also know that the HUD windscreen on the Covette is different to a non-HUD one, how I'm not sure, I've just seen that there listed as two different parts, with the HUD one being about $50-70 more.

The screens have a special laminate instead of your standard type. It has a reflective coating on the inside to reflect the display. Standard screens don't work (i know because I fitted one in a 5srs beemer by mistake ). You could get one made for a mini but probably wouldn't be worth the cost.

Pete

[ed4ran]

You can buy small bits of glass with the coating on (polarized), like the ones for telepromters.
There is a link on the link that you linked to $9 or something like that.

$9.95

[Jammy]

Well I ended up finding the same thing as you Ed before I looked back at this post! Took my old Sharp GX30 apart and disassembled the outer screen, there were 2 or 3 filters on the back before I was just left with the two wedges of glass with the screen film bit in the middle, couldn't get the panes of glass apart, not surprisingly really! The pane of glass at the back has a metallic coating on the back, which is very reflective and stops alot of light getting through the screen, which buggers up my idea!

Think I'll be now looking at creating a display like your idea, Ed. Probably with the screen sunk into the dash, using a lense or mirror to project the screen forward (away from the windscreen) onto a very thin peice of plastic. This can then be motorised to disappear into the dash when not needed, and it also gets around the problem of not needing to tint the windscreen.

[Alburglar]

come on Jammy. If this is going to this ring you need to start fabrication of the frame yesterday.
LOL

[Jammy]

Been working on the frame for about 3 weeks now, although I haven't seen it since really so not sure how far Eddie has got with it. Thinking I may take a couple of days off work soon to get some progress sorted!