Using an Android tablet as the brains of the car, the plan is to have it communicate with an Arduino that is hooked into all the cars key systems allowing everything to be controlled via remote control or via the touch interface of the Android.
Turning a 1978 Datsun/Nissan 280z into a future car. Inspired by Night Rider
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Using an Android tablet as the brains of the car, the plan is to have it communicate with an Arduino that is hooked into all the cars key systems allowing everything to be controlled via remote control or via the touch interface of the Android.
So things have been slow coming, but I was given a rust free frame to transfer the project to. The current one is dangerously rusty on the frame rails... So that's the next part of the project... taking a LOT longer than expected...
Well I've been working on the center console and have finally fabricated a permanent setup for the Nexus 7, images have been added to the gallery. I used 3/4" aluminum plumbers tape to create the mount, worked really well, very sturdy. I then used 3/4" marine foam seal strips to more snuggly hold the Nexus 7 in place.
Not a lot of updates, atm, things are picking back up though. Automatic windows and locks are permanently installed now. Got my hands on a L28ET engine and turbo, so we're also in the process of cleaning that up to put in, which means we'll be installed a MSD ignition and Megasquirt as well.
So we finally got the transmission pulled and are hoping to get it back together this month -- finally can get back on track with this thing!
The engine in the 280 started making a weird sound, so we've had to pull it and do some work on that -- nothing to special in regards to the N.I.T.E Project... Though I've also recently acquired a 2000 Yamaha R1 that I'm going to be turning into a Decepticon -- so I'll post a link to that project when I get it up.
Nexus 7 is prototyped into the car, works well - feels much much more responsive than the DOPO. I'm running Cyanogenmod 11 on the Nexus 7 and with the DSP application I've been able to up the sound quality of the audio system a great deal.
I've made it very treble heavy so the 4" Rockford Fosgate speakers don't have to try to produce the lower frequencies with the base boost setup on the 12" Rockford Fosgate Sub. This has made the highs a lot more crisp with mids and lows not suffering since you mostly get them from the sub anyway.
Working on getting a USB mic installed so voice commands will work without having to talk into phone -- still needs a bit of tweaking.
Might need to invest in a quality DC->DC inverter to get more amperage than any of the Cigarette lighter to usb can provide...
After messing with the DOPO 7088 for so long (they' don't root well) I've decided to just bite the bullet and switch it out with a Nexus 7 -- The Nexus 7 does not have a dedicated charge port but their there are some kernels that support OTG + Charging through the same port, going to play around with that.
Can't do much with one hand, but I'm trying to stay busy. The tablet I use in the car does not have gps and the dongle I have connected for gps requires a 3rd party app to get info from... Sadly the software leaves me wanting so I'm in the process of building my own app -- I'll probably build a whole interface app for the entire thing at some point instead of tying everything together with tasker.
I (Michael) was in a pretty serious motorcycle crash and can't use my left arm atm. Project is sadly on hold until I recover...
Radius and Colles fracture of my left wrist... Cant be crawling around the car...
Automatic windows are installed -- everything still needs to be cleaned up and the doors need to have the interior piece fabricated -- but the electronics work, and that's the important part!
So to date:
1. Automatic Locks = Installed
2. Automatic Windows = Installed
3. Custom Subwoofer and hatchback flooring = installed
4. Custom Tablet mount fabrication = done
5. Tablet installed = done* (still revising this one a little bit)
6. Wireless QI charger = installed
7. Security System = not done
8. Remote start system = not done
9. Conversation AI = partial written
10. Arduino slave control (allows android to control everything) = not done
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Why don't you start with an Arduino Mega 2560 - you will need lot of io pins and will have some of them left for future expansion.
Speaking of engines, are you planning to add EFI and/or solid-state ignition systems?
Luckily android already has 90% of the stuff I need for the voice recognition, it's just getting the commands programmed and external mic setup that's a bit tough.
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this was my first car. It was silver, and it had a custom added automatic transmission. This car deserves all the attention.