Idea #10582: Ubuntu in your car

Written by toucher5 the 1 Jul 08 at 19:48. Category: System.
Related to: Ubuntu mobile edition. Status: New

Description

I would like to see a version of ubuntu that can be installed on a portable computer like an iPAQ that can connect to your car and give you updates on what going on in your car and reminders for keeping your car in check. Also this would allow you to diagnose problems with your car (i am tired of seeing mechanics have to pay outrageous prices for the software and equipment). This should also come with the same features the come with your desktop (music, video, etc). However keep it minimalistic so that the footprint is small. Maybe even allow for a remote desktop feature for when connecting to your computer for updates so that you can drag and drop documents and music into the directories. So that you can also use in the business/college world. Possibly merge this idea with the MID project as a branch off.
I have a hp iPAQ 1700 and am willing to give any working rc a test run.

Tags: (none)

Attachments

No attachments.

Duplicates

[Report a duplicate and merge its votes to this idea]

Comments

jvin248 wrote on the 1 Jul 08 at 21:44

Hey, I've been looking for something like this too... here are a few links:

USB to OBD-II connectors:
http://www.obd2allinone.com/
http://www.autotap.com/product_multi_family.asp?MultiFamilyId=47
http://www.obdpros.com/
http://www.tactrix.com/

Other sites
http://toblogornottoblog.co.uk/blog/hardware---gizmos/1/obdii--check-engine-lig hts-and-fun-with-car-diagnostics.php?blog=112&page=1&order=d&mode=i
http://sourceforge.net/search/?type_of_search=soft&type_of_search=soft&words=OB D
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=212009

O'Reilly "Car PC Hacks" book

Auzy wrote on the 1 Jul 08 at 23:25

yeah, I was going to use ubuntu mobile, but it doesn't look ready. I've brought it up dozens of times.

Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be a completely skinnable media player that supports watchable folders yet (waiting for songbird). And haven't seen any real good OBD2 interfaces either for Linux. Those are my main concerns (I am actually trying to donate $100 to songbird towards the cause of getting watched folders happening sooner, then I can integrate a OBD2 interface directly into songbird maybe and solve all the probs).

Also, there is gesture recognition.. No good programs out there. GPS is also a bit still crappy. I tried using OSM and navit, and navit kept crashing whilst loading the data.

At the moment, there is simply no denying that we don't have the applications in place to make a better car PC then Vista is capable of. Its a pity, but we have to get working

mprince wrote on the 13 Jul 08 at 21:42

ubuntu zoom-zoom

Auzy wrote on the 14 Jul 08 at 00:58

Actually, just gave it another try yesterday, and gave up when there didn't appear to be hardware acceleration of my X3100 GPU.

Its not worth the pain and effort if there isn't even any accelerated graphics.

Auzy wrote on the 14 Jul 08 at 01:17

btw, for some reason it also didn't like the touchscreen too either, but I could have probably gotten that working if I tried

tommynz1975 wrote on the 28 Aug 08 at 05:59

what would be great is to tap into the car engine market as a computer of sorts controls some modern cars.

If the end user can setup a ubuntu box to talk to the onboard computer and diagnose their problems.. as said at the top... great idea..

Post your comment