DashPC

[sinneD]

slashdot had a submission today about the dashboardPC project.

The show some good install pics in a Jetta.

http://www.dashpc.com/


"On this website we hightlight the Dashwerks, DashPC™ Carputer (CarPC) Telematics project. The DashPC™ Informatics system began it's development in 1999. At present, it delivers multimedia (DVDs, MP3s, CDs, Radio, etc), Navigation, Engine Diagnostics, Network and Wireless capability, Games, and much more. The system seen here was built using the DashPC™ human machine interface (HMI) software. The DashPC™ infotainment / informatics system is interfaced via multiple input methods - among them are a 6.5" Touchscreen VGA LCD display, wireless infrared remote control, and even a vehicle enhanced handheld wireless keyboard and pointing device. Dashwerks DashPC™ is the best automedia installations that can be found. Among the vehicle manufacturers that Dashwerks DashPC™ technology has been demonstrated in are:Volkswagen (VW), Ford, General Motors (GM), Pontiac"

it looks lithe the ULIMATE wardriving machine.
Linux based, mp3, dvd, it seems to have OBDII onboard and a telematics controller to initiate startup and shutdown via the key.

it would be really cool to have VAG-VOM on the console! i wonder how long before lito beats us to it.. /images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[PhilipM]

I've been planning something like this as well. There are 2 really cool and cheap VGA LCDs with touch screens I've seen that have very reasonable prices. One of them it made by lilliput, I can't remember the other. They are both well under $300.

My '03 has that small space in the dash where the cupholder is not. I've been thinking of fabricating a mechanism where I can slide one in. The media stuff is cool, but I really want it for vag-com and gps mapping.

 

[sinneD]

i thought of that too but that's not a lot of room to do it. i need to see dims on the lcds. however the partner sites were /.'d /images/graemlins/frown.gif

seems VAG-COM could be run under WINE, but not a lot of info on the VAG-COM list.

i did some more snooping there at dashpc. looks promising, but its pretty much a grass roots/roll your own endeavour.

i would love to have mp3 jukebox, ability to plug my sprint vision phone into it and do things like grab weather maps, get directions, etc... gps would be a plus and not too expensive to add i think. you can get the gps/gam/ant pretty cheap.

i actually don't mind the double din monsoon radio- i would hate to give it up. i need to look into the tv card they list for am/fm.

another plus would be to have radio streams scroll (sirius, xm). that would be the bomb.

as much as i like linux, it may have to be a winblo$ adventure to get everything i want. dunno.

i think you could also wire in additional displays, and hang them on the headreasts ala stealthtdi to play movies and games.

the gears are turning...

 

[penclnck]

I guess in a way I've got a lot of people beat on this... I had a carputer in my 86 Jetta back in 96. A full size desktop motherboard that had build in video and sound. Used a scan coverter to go from VGA to NTSC, a 130watt power inverter to go from 12V DC to 120V AC, right into a desktop power supply. Used it for my 100+ CD collection (MP3s using WinAmp).

At any rate, that system has been pulled and trashed. I've not got a mini-ITX board, VIA Epia M9000 board and 40G laptop harddrive along with a slimline DVD drive. Using the ATI USB remote to control the system.

mini-ITX news is a great site, there are tons of project people have submited on how they crammed a mini-ITX board into whatever (even a beercan). Some cars are listed there as well.

Making a carputer system wouldn't be that hard. Just run a sWINDOZe system and having VAG COM wouldn't be any problem. I guess one might be able to put a mini-ITX board just over that plastic tray that is in front of the pedal cluster. A New Beetle car has much more room right there at the top of the dash. USB, Firewire, and serial ports could be located in the glove box.

Later.

 

[PhilipM]

My first car PC was a Sinclair zx81 that I installed with a b/w portable tv in my '66 Beetle's glove box. Not that it did much of anything, but it was cool!

I always thought the nano and micro ATX boards are pretty cool, I'm just too power hungry to be happy with a via chip. It's not hard to find small form factor P4 and AMD boards that will easily fit where the changer would go. The VGA touch screens eliminate the need for a remote. My plan is to have 802.11g so I can download songs from the garage, GPS, and tuner card, and a permanent vag-com connection. I figured I'd run XP with myhtpc as the shell, since I have to stay with windoze to run vag-com. Now all I need is the money!

 

[Mahoutsukai]

Thought you all might be interested in this:

The long awaited prototype of the in-dash version of the 700TSV was introduced at CES this year. The monitor is a fully motorized, in-dash 7” touchscreen VGA monitor with 2 composite video inputs as well as a composite audio input. Xenarc also introduced a 7” roof mount flipdown VGA monitor with touchscreen as well as an 8” 4:3 aspect ratio VGA monitor with touchscreen.
in dash Xenarc VGA monitor
Mass production for both the roof mount and the in-dash monitors is expected in March. [That's March 2004, but no new news is on their site yet]

 

[david_594]

for anyone who is considering this, you must go to www.mp3car.com and read there. You can learn everything you ever wanted to know about doing a project like this, and pick up some great ideas in the process there.