NEProwler

I'm interested in using something like a tablet or UMPC as an additional instrumentation panel. Actually, a sufficiently hackable GPS unit might make an ideal platform.

Anyhow, I'm looking for tips/pointers regarding any of the available interfaces. For instance, does anyone know if it's easy to support the Ross-Tech serial protocol (i.e. from their HEX-COM+CAN interface)? Is it fairly self-explanatory? How about their USB interface? What about under Linux (esp. given that my USB programming experience is limited to HID)?

Andy@Ross-Tech

Windows only.<ul><li><a href="http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-scope/">http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-scope/</a</li></ul>

NEProwler

There are some realtime gauges and instruments I'd like to write that combine multiple data streams.

I'd also like to implement it on a compact device w/o all the baggage of Windows (i.e. long boot times, size, power requirements, etc.).

If I can't find something like a GPS to use as a platform (some of Garmin Nuvi models look promising), I'm thinking I might use a gumstix-based setup or some other sort of SBC (maybe ITX?) + a small LCD monitor.

So, can you at least answer my question about the serial protocol? Do you have any docs for it? Is it pretty self-explanitory? Can I get sample-rates &gt;= 10 Hz from a sufficiently modern ECU?

Thanks!

Andy@Ross-Tech

There are no published docs for Audi's "protocol". Look forward to thousands of man hours of work.

NEProwler

What I'd see over the serial interface - is that translated or abstracted by your interface in any way, or is it just acting as a low-level bridge between transports?

Andy@Ross-Tech

Then there is other proprietary communication going on between the hardware and the vehicle.

NEProwler

I appreciate the clarification.

Do you guys hear much interest from people wanting to add instrument panels? Given that I don't want the bulk, long boot times, poor support for small screens, etc. of a full Windows PC, do you have any thoughts, suggestions, plans, or ideas for alternate approaches?

NEProwler

See link for an example of what I'm looking for. The app is called Carman, and it's running on a linux-based tablet computer.

FYI, the main carman site is here:

http://openbossa.indt.org/carman/


This is based on ODB-II and, as the video shows, the ODB-II sample rate is too low. Actually, I understand that it's vehicle-dependent, but I'm assuming it's not significantly higher, in Audi's.

BTW, the reason I'm posting this is not to advocate Carman, but to try to make the case for somehow supporting embedded apps to the fine folks at Ross-Tech.<ul><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTwYn1ZP9EY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTwYn1ZP9EY</a</li></ul>