A Hacked WiFi Router, an API, and a Toy Bus: It's the Ambient Bus Arrival Monito

JohnGrahamCumming writes "In this simple project, a hacked Linksys WRT54GL talks to a public API to get real-time bus information, and displays the times of the next buses on a model bus. Never miss the bus again! 'It's possible to reflash the Linksys with a custom Linux installation that lets me control the box completely (and still use it as a wireless router). There are various project, but I used OpenWRT. With OpenWRT it's possible to SSH into the box and treat it as any Linux server (albeit a rather slow one). But there's plenty of power to grab bus times and update an LED display connected to the WRT54GL's serial port. "

Comments

Hmm...

[girlintraining]

You can only unlock the Achievement "I Put My Toaster On the Internet!" if it's using Arduino. Sorry man.

Re:Hmm...

[snookums]

I know you're joking, but in a lot of large cities a car is unnecessary, and commuting by car is a very expensive option even if you have one (due to high fuel price, $20+/day parking, opportunity cost of driving yourself when you could be reading Slashdot on the bus, etc.) My wife and I earn enough to keep a nice car, but choose not to own one. We both have bicycles for commuting, and sublet our appartment's car spaces which more than covers membership in a car share program and rental cars when we go on holiday.

Transit providers should sell these

[hawguy]

The San Francisco Muni already has NextBus powered LED displays at bus stops that show arrival time of the next few buses - they should package them up like this and sell them to transit riders as a quick and easy way to see the arrival time of the next bus at their stop. Much more convenient to look at the bus-shaped sign by the door to see that I have 2 minutes 'till the next bus than to pull out my phone, unlock it, and load up the app.

Re:Transit providers should sell these

[Eponymous Hero]

filing a patent that puts this guy's tech into a standard wall clock. happy now?

that'll be $49.95 plus shipping.

$59.95 for the harder-to-read binary version.

$79.95 for the version that automatically shares on facebook the time you left your house for which bus number, along with stated destination and links to the profiles of facially-recognized facebook members seen leaving the house with you. add an additional $19.95 for the clock to automatically post pictures of you looking at said clock before you leave.

$149.95 for the version that integrates a kinect and guesses your weight, health problems, objects in pockets, and amount of money in wallet or purse -- and posts all to facebook. will not tell your fortune, because we respect your privacy.

FYI

[Anonymous Coward]

In the 80s the Toronto bus system had a phone number on every stop. You dialed that, and got a quick automated voice telling you the next three bus's times of arrival. ETA was based on pickups across the city, so was very accurate.

So yeah, pick up the phone and hit speedial every morning and I knew exactly if I wanted a brisk or slow walk out the door. Absolutely great system.

Re:FYI

[Beardo the Bearded]

The Victoria bus system is based on a "fuck you, we show up when we want... and fuck you" system.

Re:Must be an American

[xaxa]

Countries with a real investment in public transport have these at most bus stops.

You exaggerate with "most", but they do exist at many stops in London. 2,500 according to the TfL website, out of 19,500 bus stops (!) used by 700 routes.

The interesting bit here is
1) The information is also on the web.
2) There's an API so people can access the data and use it themselves
3) He put it in a model bus