My new CarPC Project - Honeycomb Here I Come
#1
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My new CarPC Project - Honeycomb Here I Come
Over the past couple years I've been running a Windows 7 micro itx setup. With it I've had full HU / steering integration using a Grom Car2PC adapter and some custom code I developed for media management.
I've been following the Android tablet market for some time and have finally landed on a replacement.
I'll be using a Dell Streak 7" 3G/4G as a replacement for my entire setup. The end result should be pretty impressive as I'll be replacing about 30' of cabling, the lilliput LCD, and my trunk stored mini-itx PC with nothing more than the tablet (mounted via cradle in my jdm retractable nav tray), a pdmi cable, a hidden multimedia dock (supplies power, 3.5mm audio, and usb), and the FTDI maintained Android serial drivers to control my grom car2pc adapter with some new custom code developed on my part.
Anyway, I'll keep this thread updated as I progress. I'll be tackling the project in multiple steps, initially taking a step back and loosing some integration -- namely HU control, but have no doubt I'll be back to where I am today upon conclusion -- likely 3-6 months out.
I've been following the Android tablet market for some time and have finally landed on a replacement.
I'll be using a Dell Streak 7" 3G/4G as a replacement for my entire setup. The end result should be pretty impressive as I'll be replacing about 30' of cabling, the lilliput LCD, and my trunk stored mini-itx PC with nothing more than the tablet (mounted via cradle in my jdm retractable nav tray), a pdmi cable, a hidden multimedia dock (supplies power, 3.5mm audio, and usb), and the FTDI maintained Android serial drivers to control my grom car2pc adapter with some new custom code developed on my part.
Anyway, I'll keep this thread updated as I progress. I'll be tackling the project in multiple steps, initially taking a step back and loosing some integration -- namely HU control, but have no doubt I'll be back to where I am today upon conclusion -- likely 3-6 months out.
Last edited by ShellDude; 05-12-2012 at 11:35 PM.
#2
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Various resources collected throughout the project:
Mazda JDM Retractable Navigation Box
http://japanparts.com/db/partslist.p...EY=091-030-004
Carnetix P2140 Intelligent Power Supply
http://www.carnetix.com/P2140/CNXP2140.htm
My own Communications & Control Library for the P2140
http://www.carnetix.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1963
Kensington K39224US PowerBolt Micro Car Charger
Dell Streak Product Page
http://www.dell.com/us/p/mobile-stre...025,901pdb6671
Dell Streak 7 Kernel Sources
http://opensource.dell.com/releases/streak7
SlipGrip RAM-HOL Streak 7 Mount
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...ount&_osacat=0
Dell PDMI Dock
http://accessories.dell.com/sna/Popu...onfig#Overview
http://www.streaksmart.com/2010/12/s...ll-streak.html
Grom Mazda Car2PC Adapter
http://www.indashpc.org/new/adapters/car2pc-maz.html
Grom Mazda AUX Bluetooth Adapter
http://www.gromaudio.com/store/aux_a...e_adapter.html
USB A Female to USB A Female Adapter (should assist with OTG)
http://ntcdistributing.com/products/usb-connectors.htm
FTDI Android Homepage
http://www.ftdichip.com/Android.htm
FTDI Kernel & Kernel Module Build Guide
http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Docu...to_Android.pdf
Blue Bluetooth OBD2 Adapter (this is the one I have)
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/elm327-...r-dongle-16921
libVoyager (open source Android OBD2 communications library)
https://github.com/gtosoft/libvoyager
OBD2 Wikipedia Page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OBD-II_PIDs
Mazda JDM Retractable Navigation Box
http://japanparts.com/db/partslist.p...EY=091-030-004
Carnetix P2140 Intelligent Power Supply
http://www.carnetix.com/P2140/CNXP2140.htm
My own Communications & Control Library for the P2140
http://www.carnetix.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1963
Kensington K39224US PowerBolt Micro Car Charger
Dell Streak Product Page
http://www.dell.com/us/p/mobile-stre...025,901pdb6671
Dell Streak 7 Kernel Sources
http://opensource.dell.com/releases/streak7
SlipGrip RAM-HOL Streak 7 Mount
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...ount&_osacat=0
Dell PDMI Dock
http://accessories.dell.com/sna/Popu...onfig#Overview
http://www.streaksmart.com/2010/12/s...ll-streak.html
Grom Mazda Car2PC Adapter
http://www.indashpc.org/new/adapters/car2pc-maz.html
Grom Mazda AUX Bluetooth Adapter
http://www.gromaudio.com/store/aux_a...e_adapter.html
USB A Female to USB A Female Adapter (should assist with OTG)
http://ntcdistributing.com/products/usb-connectors.htm
FTDI Android Homepage
http://www.ftdichip.com/Android.htm
FTDI Kernel & Kernel Module Build Guide
http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Docu...to_Android.pdf
Blue Bluetooth OBD2 Adapter (this is the one I have)
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/elm327-...r-dongle-16921
libVoyager (open source Android OBD2 communications library)
https://github.com/gtosoft/libvoyager
OBD2 Wikipedia Page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OBD-II_PIDs
Last edited by ShellDude; 04-14-2012 at 08:02 PM.
#5
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I tore down my center console today and pulled the lilliput screen and retractable tray. After a little bit of drilling into the existing center stand I got the $44 car mount I bought off ebay installed with no issues.
I'll put it back into the car tomorrow running a temporary 3.5mm audio plug to my car2pc adapter and a 12v lead (going to hijack the existing one I wired for the Lilliput) for the pdmi plug on the Streak.
The Streak 7s dimensions (width & height) exactly match the Lilliput 7". The depth is a little less than the Lilliput.. Basically a perfect fit for the tray.
Here are some pictures of the tray mounted:
And the mount itself (stole the marketing image from ebay):
I'll put it back into the car tomorrow running a temporary 3.5mm audio plug to my car2pc adapter and a 12v lead (going to hijack the existing one I wired for the Lilliput) for the pdmi plug on the Streak.
The Streak 7s dimensions (width & height) exactly match the Lilliput 7". The depth is a little less than the Lilliput.. Basically a perfect fit for the tray.
Here are some pictures of the tray mounted:
And the mount itself (stole the marketing image from ebay):
Last edited by ShellDude; 11-26-2011 at 09:11 PM.
#7
#8
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looks awesome!
can't wait to see how this ends up as I've been giving more thought to simply using a tablet device for a carPC.
can't wait to see how this ends up as I've been giving more thought to simply using a tablet device for a carPC.
#9
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Got everything mounted temporarily as I await the 12V pdmi power converter. Initial impressions are OMFG this rocks!
Audio integration is complete. My one big TODO is getting the FTDI Serial enumerator kernel module built and incorporated. Once that is done I can do full on HU integration. Currently all I've got is volume control (although all I existing HU functions still work as was the case with my prior Win7 setup).
Here's a nice shot of JDM nab tray coming together prior to install into the car:
All the front console "guts":
First test:
All buttoned up (head on view):
Drivers Eye View:
Audio integration is complete. My one big TODO is getting the FTDI Serial enumerator kernel module built and incorporated. Once that is done I can do full on HU integration. Currently all I've got is volume control (although all I existing HU functions still work as was the case with my prior Win7 setup).
Here's a nice shot of JDM nab tray coming together prior to install into the car:
All the front console "guts":
First test:
All buttoned up (head on view):
Drivers Eye View:
#11
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Google Navigation:
Android Camera:
All stealth like when not in use:
And my final shot for the day, Parmer DashCommand for Android connecting via my cheapo Bluetooth ELM adapter:
Android Camera:
All stealth like when not in use:
And my final shot for the day, Parmer DashCommand for Android connecting via my cheapo Bluetooth ELM adapter:
#13
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best place to get the nav tray is from japanparts.com It is a Mazda (JDM) accessory. Any code and/or kernel modules I develop / modify will certainly be open sourced and available in binary and source forms once I get to that point.
#17
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I'll be building a pdmi male to pdmi female cable at some point in the near future to allow for a connection to a docking station. This will allow me to move the audio connection down to the dock (likely stored in my center console, behind the HU, or in the glove box) as well as get access to Honeycomb's USB device enumerations (which also requires some kernel tuning and custom code) for HU/steering control integration.
#20
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This has got to be THE coolest car PC project.
Honestly, I contemplated building a car PC for a good while and put it away for various reasons... but if this gets done, I might become just a copycat and do the same thing.
Way to go, man. Thanks for sharing. Will look out for your future development news.
Honestly, I contemplated building a car PC for a good while and put it away for various reasons... but if this gets done, I might become just a copycat and do the same thing.
Way to go, man. Thanks for sharing. Will look out for your future development news.
#21
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Found it! For those in the future trying to find it, Mazda Retractable Navigation Box
That's friggin' EXPENSIVE!
#25
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Having failed to source, and not looking foward to "nano level" soldering, a pdmi to pdmi extension cable for integrated power, audio, and USB host mode, I have deviated a smidge plan wise.
I bought a GROM Bluetooth adapter (http://indashpc.org/new/aux_adapters/grom-aux-maz.html) and assuming all goes well I'll be discontinuing use of the car2pc adapter completely.
I'll be building some "hardening" code on Android to ensure the bluetooth link stays up... should simplify things considerably.
It's a little sad that I'm giving up on the car2pc interface. It was a treat to work with under Windows.
I bought a GROM Bluetooth adapter (http://indashpc.org/new/aux_adapters/grom-aux-maz.html) and assuming all goes well I'll be discontinuing use of the car2pc adapter completely.
I'll be building some "hardening" code on Android to ensure the bluetooth link stays up... should simplify things considerably.
It's a little sad that I'm giving up on the car2pc interface. It was a treat to work with under Windows.