I thought this video was appropriate for DriveTek.net, given the explanation of the in-car interface. There is a preorder form on aptera.com. Definitely keeping an eye on this. The price is around 30k from what I have seen online. It’s a 2-seater, but what electric car isn’t?
The Vehicle Network
February 13th, 2010 by mike.schoon 2 comments »I’ve been doing some light reading lately about vehicle sensor systems and such, just trying to understand how it all goes together. I see a large amount of parallelism with the natural flow of computer networking.
For example, Bosch developed the concept of a Controller Area Network several years ago. In this system, wiring harnesses that carried several individual connections were replaced by a network and signalling protocol to reduce the number of wires running around the vehicle, much like the transition from star topology (mainframe) to mesh networks (Internet and Cellular).
National Instruments Controller Area Network (CAN) Overview
I wonder where this will all lead. It would be nice to have the ability to replace control components as a user instead of having to take your vehicle to the mechanic, upgrading vehicle systems via your home computer, and having your car message you when a part fails.
Disney Magic Highway (1955)
December 10th, 2009 by mike.schoon No comments »Disney’s interpretation of the future is not far off. I love watching these old animations.
So Wrong! So Funny!
November 2nd, 2009 by mike.schoon No comments »From the Completely Wrong, but Hilarious Department: Roomba Frogger in Austin Don’t try this at home!
My Mobile Daydream
October 10th, 2009 by mike.schoon No comments »I am sitting in my office with 3 computers and a netbook, a gps plugged in to make sure it is up to date, an mp3 player syncing my latest songs and podcasts for the next drive, and six thumbdrives to carry files around. My cellphone is in my pocket, waiting to beep at me for the next text message. I am armed to the teeth with gadgets, getting them ready for when I need them. Sometimes I feel like Batman with all this junk. It is definitely time for some simplification and elegance.
I often daydream about outfitting my car with it’s own computer, complete with the ability to sync audio with a home server over wifi. This would get rid of several devices that I carry with me on any given day. “Why not hook up the netbook or cellphone to the car stereo?”, one might ask. It’s real simple: POWER. I want the audio in my car to sound like I am in a symphony, just like it does when I take the time to burn a cd. I want to have a nice soundcard pushing the audio to an amplifier. I want it fixed in my vehicle and not as an accessory.
I have found several articles about this topic from a few years ago, but I think the state of the economy has hindered projects such as these. For reference, I will leave you with a couple that I found interesting and keep everyone posted if I decide to proceed on the endeavour.
Computerize your car – CNET 2005
Put A PC In Your Car – InformationWeek 2006
Distracted Driving: Cell Phones
September 17th, 2009 by mike.schoon No comments »The issue of distracted driving has become a major concern throughout the United States and most of the world due to the proliferation of cheap cell phone devices and all the features that go with them. Mobile devices are by design alerting us to the fact that something is going on outside of our vehicles. This is resulting in a large amount of rear-end collisions that would be otherwise avoided.
States have begun enhancing distracted driving laws which have been on the books since the radio became a popular vehicle accessory. Regulations vary from state to state regarding cell phones and in some cases ban their use on certain segments of road or define situational limits. Looking this information up ahead of interstate travel will help you avoid an out of state traffic violation, something no one enjoys dealing with.
Earlier this month, the Governors Highway Safety Association released a table outlining the rules of all 50 states with very detailed information.
While technology can benefit us and aid in our feeling of connectedness, we need to also be careful and courteous of other motorists. I created a list of tips for driving.
- Inform callers that you are on the road to keep conversations brief.
- If you are expecting a text at a certain time, notify that person that you will be driving and temporarily unable to text.
- Use a handsfree device such as a headset or an in car speaker like the Blue Ant.
- Do not text at all on the road, not even at stop lights. Intersections are very difficult for emergency vehicles to navigate through and drivers not paying attention to them are the last thing a fire truck or ambulance driver needs to contend with.
If you have any other suggestions for tips, please let me know in the comments section. Keep it safe and arrive alive!
Motorola LTE: Does this mean data in our vehicles?
September 11th, 2009 by mike.schoon 2 comments »Any time I see real-time streaming data solutions, I get goosebumps. The thought of this powerful technology coming to vehicles makes my mind completely wander towards what we could be capable of. Keep in mind, there are a lot of bugs to work out with regards to implementing fast network connections in vehicles, primarily interfaces that prevent distracted driving, Still, I wanted to share this video with you:
Imagine realtime traffic reports sent from vans actually driving on the roads at the time of the report. Imagine online radio stations which only play the music you have preselected. Imagine cars streaming accident information to a server for analysis by traffic enforcement, eliminating the need for interpretation.
Okay, the last idea will raise tons of privacy issues, but maybe if data was submitted with authorization of the drivers or warrant to alleviate disputes, we would see a drastic reduction in insurance rates.
From a benefit perspective, having reliable data streams is key to evolving the automotive industry. This seems to be what Motorola is after with LTE.
What Exactly is SYNC?
September 9th, 2009 by mike.schoon No comments »It has been almost 3 years since Ford and Microsoft announced the release of the in-car entertainment system known as SYNC in Ford Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. This system incorporates as many features as a swiss-army knife, and perhaps that is why it can be confusing to understand. Perhaps thinking of it more as a standard or certification that a vehicle has certain components will help. I will outline some of the components here:
Connections: Bluetooth (for cell phones), USB 2.0 (for MP3 players)
Interfaces: Voice-commands, Car Stereo Interface, Steering Wheel Controls
In-vehicle Computer: ARM 11 Processor, 256MB of RAM, 2GBFlash Memory running Microsoft Auto Operating System
Features: Turn-by-turn directions, Integration of controls and audio for mobile devices, Traffic alerts, etc. The features are rapidly expanding.
In effect, Ford is putting a computer in your car that is as upgradeable and flexible as the one in your home. The added benefit of this kind of system is that applications can be improved regularly.
I will leave you with a youtube video that quickly explains two of the main features of SYNC without all the forward-looking statements that usually turn consumers off to products such as this.
Using Government Resources to Plan your Drive
September 7th, 2009 by mike.schoon No comments »
There are infinite statistics out there regarding traffic, transportation, and congestion. I don’t want to research. I want to just hop in the car and go, right? With a little online planning, I can save money and time.
There are several quick ways to obtain information that can prevent extra windshield time for my area. First stop, the Federal Highway Commision. Every state has a Department of Transportation. The Federal Highway Commision maintains links to all state departments of transportation. These sites provide tons of valuable information. Ever wonder what the busiest roadways are in Texas? Check this out. . Avoiding these areas can reduce your fuel costs and idle times, as well as reduce your impact on the environment.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Garmin nüvi 205
September 6th, 2009 by mike.schoon 3 comments »
Gone are the days of printing maps. Vehicle navigation systems have been growing in popularity in the past couple years. Almost every major car manufacturer has options available for nav systems, but what if you have more than one car? What if you aren’t buying a car? Are you left out? Of course not! I passed up the navigation system in my 2008 vehicle because I couldn’t see the sense in financing around a thousand dollars worth of over-glorified car-stereo.
There were two realistic options available to me at the time. I could’ve spent countless hours handcoding waypoints into the eTrex that sparked my interest in GPS to begin with, or I could bite the bullet and purchase a new device.
I chose the nüvi 205 for many reasons, including the Garmin name and the cost. This device has many features which drew me to it. It has the Garmin ecoRoute technology, which actually coaches you on efficient driving practices through a simple percentage system. It has the antitheft features of the higher-end models. It does an exceptional job of getting me from Point A to Point B without several trips around the block.
After 7200 miles, I can say that I am very happy with this product.
