DIY power locks and GPS NAV

[zozie]

I've finally decided to put powerlocks and nav into my MK1 Jetta
The ingredients:

Pico ITX embedded computer board with 1GHZ CPU
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/px10000g

Powersupply to juice everything from the car battery
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/pico120wi_25

USB WIFI adapter
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/lr802ukn

bluetooth module - the most important piece
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/qbtm400_01

16Ch USB servo controller
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/390

Any USB GPS
12 to 4.8 Volt regulator for the R/C servos
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXSWL3&P=ML

4.3" touch screen LCD
http://gumstix.com/store/catalog/pr...products_id=195

The operating system;
Fedora Linux installed on a 16GB SSD HDD

4-5 standard size servos.
Any standard size R/C servos, they got more than enough power to pop the locks open.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVW84&P=0

RF ID tag you attach to your key
http://www.phidgets.com/products.php?category=14&product_id=2002

I use bluetooth in my case so I can open the car from my cell phone,but you can use the RFID tags, that way the locks will pop when you get close to the car.
I usually leave for work around 7:30 so the computer will turn on automatically around 7 ish and turn off if the car has been stopped for more than 2 hours.
(no worries about battery cause the whole setup will burn so little power that you can let it run for a week without a single start)
I just finished writing the program for it and it all works like a charm, so I'll start installing it this week. If anyone's even remotely interested I'll post pictures and videos
The WIFi is only there in case I park near a hotspot so I can have internet.....
If you wanna get REALLY fancy, you can attach temperature probes to the computer so it can display EGT or water as well for a few bucks.
If interested, I'll post the program you need to run it. (Doesn't have to be linux you can use Windows XP just as easy)
I'm also adding a radio tuner to mine to replace the good ol' tape deck.....

[catlin_cava]

I want that system in my wolfsburg lol

[Turbinepowered]

Hmmmm, I wonder if something like that would be able to power my idea of wireless AC control. Give your car a call before you leave the store or work, and the computer switches on the AC system and cools the car for you.

Wire up the compressor with an electric motor drive instead of on the engine, be able to switch the fans on and off on the condenser, and probably at this point run a parallel deep discharge battery with an isolator instead of relying on your starting battery.

[Possum79]

I definitely want to see pics video etc. I have always wanted to fab up a computer system for my car but never wanted to deal with more electronics. I have a degree in electronics and if I dont have to use them I wont.  Ha. mechanical is more reliable! 

[zozie]

I'll install all the stuff this weekend. The motherboard will easily fit in the glove box The LCD will go where the radio is now.
I hope I can get all the clips holding the door trim panels on. I know they'll all break. God 26 Y/o plastic

[jtanguay]

very interesting setup! a hibernate feature would be ideal for this setup, and something like a wake on bluetooth or something to conserve power.  linux is definitely the way to go... you don't want to 'crash'  

that servo system is quite interesting as well.  its definitely possible to make the whole climate control system powered by servo's, and just remove the selectors for an even bigger screen   $$$ though...  you could also control a latch system to open your door for you if you want them shaved, and also pop the trunk, etc.  if you want to get really creative, you can install a voice recognition program such as dragon and have code to control everything from wipers, lights, etc.  

the computer specs say its good till 0C, but i know they can run at temperatures below this... the only thing is how low can they go??? i know the LCD screens don't like the cold, but maybe technology has progressed enough to overcome this.  especially since most high end cars have nav screens and i don't hear too many complaints about them in the cold.

i'd love to see the end result!


http://www.gumstix.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=195  that link should work for the LCD.  not a bad price either!

[clbanman]

Below 0 deg. temps could potentially cause problems if the computer system isn't designed for them.  We had problems with the CCU's on our trucks at below 0 temps because the CCU wasn't designed for sub-zero temps.   You had to run the truck with the heater on to get the cab interior above freezing before everything worked.  This wasn't a 100% issue but definitely happened on more units than we wanted.

[Turbinepowered]

Man, what's all this "cold" stuff you guys keep referring to? 0C, what's that? 

Is that anything like cola? 

[saurkraut]

Man, what's all this "cold" stuff you guys keep referring to? 0C, what's that? 

Is that anything like cola? 

0° Celsius = 32 ° Fahrenheit

[Turbinepowered]

Man, what's all this "cold" stuff you guys keep referring to? 0C, what's that? 

Is that anything like cola? 

0° Celsius = 32 ° Fahrenheit

I know. Just trying to get a kick out of the fact that it stays above 12C almost year-round down here. SC winter is all of four weeks long, and littered with microbursts of freezing temperatures, and the occasional sub-freezing blast.

[zozie]

Well I'm getting a bit carried away.....
I'm actually going with a 10" LCD so I get more feedback about the beast.
The speed is GPS driven, just to compare to my speedo
The Tach is using an encoder, I just had to drill a tiny piece of magnet onto the crank pulley. (Will post a pic but left my camera at home )
Small stuff like water and outside temp
Tonite the original tape deck will come out and I'll hook up the speakers to the computer's audio out, but I'll prolly need an amp. We'll see
I'm also adding an EGT with a gauge. Anyone knows at what temp the EGT should redline on an N/A engine?
Maybe I'll do an oil pressure gauge as well cause the light on my dash is not working, I just have to figure out what voltages comeout of an oil press. sensor.
The map's powered by Google maps

[Possum79]

What are you using to program all this stuff C# or something? Almost looks VB. I really really want to see more. I have been interested in trying to interface to touch screen.

[zozie]

Yes it is C#.
The whole thing so far is only abooot 60 lines of code

[rabbitman]

That looks very interesting, people like to get a kick out of watching me lock all my doors and then making a big deal out of pushing the lock button on their key.

I wouldn't mind showin' off a bit with electric locks

The only problem is if the system could handle 6 months of well below 0F, last winter I drove once -54F and quite a bit of -40 not much fun, it tore both outer cv boots and both steering rack boots .

[jtanguay]

That looks very interesting, people like to get a kick out of watching me lock all my doors and then making a big deal out of pushing the lock button on their key.

I wouldn't mind showin' off a bit with electric locks

The only problem is if the system could 6 months of well below 0F, last winter I drove once -54F and quite a bit of -40 not much fun.

i bought one of those cheapie ebay lock kits (4 locks) and that worked at -20C and maybe a bit lower too... it shouldn't have a problem at -40 if your wiring is good.  the only thing i recommend is some of that dielectric grease on the connectors.