Sensors for Automobile Computers?

Posted by Cliff on Tuesday December 30, 2003 @04:55AM from the computers-and-automobiles dept.

Bombcar asks: "I'm going to be installing an EPIA mainboard in my car, using a DC-DC power supply. It is mainly for playing music, but it has the potential for so much more. I know I can get LCD displays, and I know that various sensors are made for automobiles, but I want to combine both these with the computer. Most car sensors are analog, so does anyone know of an easy way to interface with analog (and perhaps some digital) sensors? Anything used would have to be able to stand up to the rigors of automobile use. The EPIA board has 4 serial ports, a parallel port, and some USB ports, along with a PCI slot. I plan to use this for display purposes only (not control any important vehicle functions), but am also leaning towards some 'fun' improvements, such as playing certain songs when the pedal is floored."

1 of 40 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Re:What Year is the Car? by karnal · 2003-12-30 05:11 · Score: 2, Interesting

That's exactly what I was thinking -- get a converter from ODB(1 or 2) to serial. You could then poll for any data you would want... (play Nelly's "hot in heere" if the engine coolant is low, etc) It would make for a heck of a fun project, if you're in to tearing apart stuff.

Aside from that, however, if you wanted to tinker and not spend any money, why not just put a switch either under the gas pedal ( but not impeding travel) or near the intake (where the TPS is anyways) so you don't drag down any of the on-board sensors.... wouldn't want to skew any of the information sent back to Master Control (the ECM...)

--
Karnal