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Planning my CarPC

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I've been contemplating installing a PC in my car for a long time. I've decided that since I'm getting a new car soon, then would be a good time to do it.

I've been thinking of how I could make my CarPC awesome. So far I've came up with:

Hardware
Intel Atom 330 Mobo/CPU (Already bought)
2GB DDR2-667 RAM (Already bought)
Onboard Graphics
Onboard Sound
USB Wifi Card (With Windows set to automatically connect to any unsecured network)
USB GPS Receiver
140 Watt Automotive PSU (Already bought)
7" In-Dash TouchScreen

Software
Either Centrafuse or Streetdeck. Though I've also considered spending some time learning some more Visual Basic so I could customize the open-source RoadRunner application to my liking. (Note: RoadRunner is no longer open source, and is now called RideRunner, but an older version of the source is available)
And the always reliable slimmed down version of Windows XP.

What I want it to do
Firstly, all the basic stuff nearly all CarPCs do: Music, Videos, Web Browsing, GPS, etc.

But I want to take the next step, I want it to pull diagnostic / engine status information from the OBD-II system. I'd like it to gather temperature information, and warn if my engine rises above a certain threshold. I want it to be able to tell me how many miles per gallon I'm getting. I'd like for it to remind me every 3,000 miles to change my oil and perform other maintenance work.

Other than engine status reporting, I'd also like the computer system to be able to control all the windows, and the air conditioning/heating, in a way that keeps the temperature is maintained at a set level.

For example, if the temperature is only a few degrees above what is the set level, the computer would automatically roll down the windows (but not before downloading the weather information to verify it's not going to rain). If it's 20 degrees higher than it should be, than it would kick on the air conditioning.

If the temperature is below the set level, but only by a few degrees, it'd turn the heater on low. If the temperature is far below that level, it'd turn the heat on high.

A couple other nifty thoughts:
-Warn me if I'm driving into a area where a storm is occurring, or will soon occur.

-A little sensor that can detect whose driving the car. Perhaps a small passive transmitter that only works within a few inches of the ignition. So I'd have a small chip on my keychain, and so would my girlfriend. If I put my keys in, it loads my playlist. If she puts her key in, it loads hers.

-Voice commands

-A small text LCD screen put in a place more easily viewed by the driving that can show information such as current song, location, weather, etc. Also, if a call is received it could act as a caller ID.
Safety:
-A system that can automatically connect to my cellphone via bluetooth and phone the police with a pre-recorded message informing them of the accident, and then giving them the coordinates. (think of it as a free emstar)

Well that's all the ideas I can think of for now. Anyone else got some ideas?

2 Comments On This Entry

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V1ncent Icon

05 December 2009 - 11:42 PM
Turn on sleeping gas, in case of authentication failure. :P
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Xtreme2damax Icon

06 December 2009 - 02:09 AM
Pimp my car, install a PC and browse the internet from your car PC. Just don't browse while driving, we don't want you to be replying to a post and nearly end up on a head on collision. :P
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