A little update

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_S8uzCJ8g4

Totally sorry for the video quality, I will get a newer one soon

 

very smexy!

 

Well that looks a heckuva lot like it can tell individual tire pressures from that code list.

I asked the same thing about TPMS in another thread.

Also about the oil level (as opposed to the idiot light).

I swear you have me ready to buy the hardware pieces right now, especiually since the wife has a Mazda 6 in addition to my 8.

 

See below ...

That is an interesting idea, I will consider that as an enhancement once all of the base operations are fully done

I will have to take a look at my list of pids. As long as I have the address, I should be able to read it without issue

Thats my goal with the TPMS stuff, not just to show pressures, but also the temperatures. Again this part will take some thought since the system has no way of telling us which tire is which, just the id of the tpms sensor.

Well this particular device is mainly a prototype. Once I am satisfied with the hardware, I will most likely draft up a PCB that will house all of the components I need. To answer your question though, at the moment there is no dual CANBUS card that I know of.

 

Well my offer to help still stands.

This is just way too useful (and how I wish they would build cars in the first place). So, if you need a second tester, I can order and assemble the parts, debug code to an extent, or just tell you how excited I am about the project if you don't want/need my assistance (and I understand if that is the case).

 

Sorry guys for not keeping up with the updates. I have a project site currently set up with some bug trackers and whatnot, so if anyone wants to know the status of the project or what I am working on doing with the next version, you can check here: http://normalexception.net/redmine/projects/rxduino

 

Ack! You tease us with blue fonts on the versions! I was all set to download the files and order parts.

At least at version .9, it shouldn't be too much longer given the rate you are going through them.

Solid work all around.

 

Lol sorry buddy, no worries, I hope to have .9 done very soon, and at that rate I may send out the device to someone to test out with some sort of deposit to make sure I get it back.

We will see though. Having some trouble getting the extended can messaging to work, so we will have to wait till i get around that

As far as building the board yourself, that is surely something you can do, but the ultimate goal here is to get this arduino prototype going, and then design a custom pcb with only the components that are being used. This way I can just distribute the pcb's and they will be a lot cheaper than buying all the arduino junk.

 

Yes, but that entails waiting...

You know how they say, "patience is a virtue." Well, it doesn't happen to be one of mine. I am really excited about this thing.

 

I just found this thread and am excited to follow the progress. Really great work, read through the thread and your site, and get the basics, but you are on a different plane than I am.

The ability to log data sounds really cool, and the ability to display chosen data real time on the car display looks incredible.

Couple of questions, when logging data, is there a time stamp associated, what does the output look like. Curious, as I use an app for my droid at track days called trackmaster, that logs speed, accelerations, split times, etc, but obviously doesn't plug in, and can't get data like RPM, gear, etc.

Awesome work, you can add me to the list of future customers of this device.

If you need "everyman" types of testers at some point, i.e. not computer engineers, I would be happy to place a deposit and test as an average user.

 

Thanks guys, and no worries, the "everyman" is the best tester! As far as logging goes, the bluetooth logging doesn't show a timestamp at the moment as it is really just a dump of what is on the bus at the moment. However, when I do develop an actual logging app, whether it be for sdcard logging or bluetooth loggin, it will indeed have a timestamp, and most likely a configuration mode where you can design your own logging output.

Also, in the near future I will be replacing the bluetooth chip with a wifi chip. A new wifi module hit the market that I think will be a neat addition as it will increase range and also be able to connect to your home network, this way you can have the rxduino sitting in the car, and you can monitor your vehicle from your pc, or laptop, or phone via wifi. The great thing is that iphones are more forgiving with wifi vs bluetooth, and also provides people who dont have bluetooth enabled PC's to take advantage of the device.

I will be very busy with work these next 3 weeks so updates may come close, but I promise I will work hard to get a nice public build out asap.

 

Checking back in after 3 weeks to let you know that our support has not dried up.

 

Arite guys, just wanted to apologize for the lack of updates, this month has been very stressful with work and travel so I really haven't had much time to work on the device. Now that we are heading towards the fall, which is when work starts to settledown a bit, I am hoping to devote more time to this project. Thanks to those of you who have been sticking this out with me.

 

boomshakalaka ladies and gents:

http://youtu.be/Aaq4X64Yyc4

 

awesome progress!

 

Dude, every single autoX and track fan on this website should take a look at your work. That is one cool device. What's the plan from now on?

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence, much appreciated. Well, now there is only one thing standing between now and the full release, which is reading the cruise control switch input. As of right now you need to click the joystick on the device to switch modes and such. I plan on making it so that you can use your cruise control steering wheel buttons to toggle through settings (of course when CC is in the "OFF" mode).

Now that I have a handle on the extended mode messages (like where the TPMS resides), I am hoping that getting the CC signal from the ecu will not be too far off.

 

Definitely a cool display!

The tire pressures would be useful for both track and autoX. To greatly stabilize the pressures at various temperatures, get the tires filled with nitrogen. This also allows the tires to keep a given pressure over longer periods of time (fewer leaks).

The temperatures may not be as useful. For autoX, the runs are so short that the temperatures in the tires will probably not change significantly. On the track, the wheel can heat up due to repeated heavy braking. While this would give some indication of the temperature of the air in the tire, the sensor would need to be well insulated from the wheel to give a true reading. Still, it would be more useful than not having it and you could learn to use it despite possible flaws.

Race teams will take temperatures at various points across the tire tread with an infrared thermometer to judge how the tire pressures and suspension are working to maximize the useful grip of the tire.

I really like what you have done here. I just wish that automakers would make it easier to get and display this and other information from the computer (fault codes, etc.). It reminds me of a quote from Star Wars, [Han Solo] "How do you know the hyperdrive is disabled?" Answer [C3PO], "The ship told me."

Unfortunately for me, if I do manage to buy an RX-8 (I keep saving), one of the first things to go will be the tire pressure monitoring system as I think it is a (nearly) useless extra and I will be replacing the stock wheels. I do not want the extra expense of fitting TPMS sensors to the wheels and I can live with a warning light.

 

Very exciting, mappying to the cruise control switch is an excellent idea, too. I was wondering why you wanted that information.

Something like Set/- to scroll through the menus (Tire pressure, Tire temperature) and Resume/+ to navigate submenus (Tire1, Tire2)? Or will submenus auto-scroll and the switch control direction through the menus?

 

That's an awesome device. If you need another tester let me know.

 

Thanks for your interest. Once this project is suitable for a release, I will set up some sort of test across multiple users. I haven't figured out the details yet, but my plan is to send out the device to a few of you for a few days each. We will see though

 

Cool project paimon.soror! The thread title could have been sexier.
I was missing out! Subscribed.

I didn't even know about Arduino boards until now.

 

Yea I was actually thinking about that. Can one of the mods (if you are looking) move this thread over to the S2 section and rename it to "RxDuino: Development Chat"

 

Paimon...YOU are a genius!

Getting thread moved, as this is only for S2.

Just to confirm Series 1 LCD is not the same as S2.

 

I appreciate it sir, i was wondering when your S2 brain was going to comment lol :-p