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Thread: OBD-I Dash Logger Project

  1. #1
    LT1 specialist steveo's Avatar
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    OBD-I Dash Logger Project

    this idea came about because i really want a vacuum gauge on my dash, but it's kind of hard to find a high quality one.

    i really want a readout that shows open/closed loop, map, rpm, and some other useful stuff that the dash just doesn't do. it could also display real error codes if they occur.

    i'm sure some of you have seen those cool little on-dash displays people have for their OBD-II cars. basically a little TFT with a configurable dashboard.

    for a winter project, i'm going to make one, but a hacked together OBD-I version.

    my idea for hardware so far, which so far seems to be very low budget:

    - the normal usb aldl interface i use for whatever else
    - raspberry pi for the computer part, running linux. it's credit card sized, needs no cooling, takes little power, and it's 12v.
    - some small cheapo 'backup camera' grade tft for the screen (there are some for $45 on amazon) using just straight analog VGA

    this puts it in the sub $100 range if anyone else wants to build one

    and on the software end:

    - write the software (in c) that takes serial data and runs the necessary commands
    - reads tunerpro's ADF format for specs
    - the 'dashboard' will first be oldschool console graphs using ncurses so it looks hax, but could easily run xwindows or a framebuffer with fancier gauges later

    obviously this has potential to be more in the end, the pi has powerful multitasking and graphics, and a usb interface, so it could be expanded into a carpc or whatever later down the road.

    has anyone else tried to build somethin' like this?

    this is a brainstorming thread in case anyone has any ideas to contribute, obviously i'll release build plans and the source for the software in case anyone else wants to build one too...

  2. #2
    Super Moderator Six_Shooter's Avatar
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    There are these already:

    I have this one, though I don't recommend it, because the software guy doesn't seem too keen on adding things that the GM tuners actually want:

    https://www.moates.net/tunerview-ii-....html?cPath=97

    It also has limited support in the GM area, for $8D, $59 and $0D. It started as a Honda display for the many Honda tuning devices out there, which is much more supported.

    Those crazy guys down in Australia from pcmhacking.net have created this:

    http://pcmhacking.net/forums/viewtop...t=aldl+display

    Will support any OBDI (and possibly OBDII) application that has a Tuner Pro ADX, very customizable.



    That being said, I do want to build my own based on an Arduino, or Teensy hardware (I have both), and display to an character LCD. Eventually it would be nice to use an LCD that can display colour images, like the popular screens pirated from Nokia phones (I already have a couple), but I'm not that good with writing C or C++ yet. My biggest hurdle is how to get the initial handshake done, then after that, I'm pretty sure I can get the rest of it.
    The man who says something is impossible, is usually interrupted by the man doing it.

  3. #3
    LT1 specialist steveo's Avatar
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    see that shit is cool but i really want one on a TFT that's a bit more than that.

    the aussie one is really cool, but those lil' numerical lcd displays aren't too great at a glance

    i want bargraphs and colors and stuff, and the ability to do whatever you want with it.

    and mine will be way cheaper

    wait n' see

    the fact it'll be an actual little pc instead of an embedded platform will be really cool too, it'll be able to do so much more so easily. if i give it datalogging ability, i can plug a usb wireless interface into the thing and it'll be a fileserver with almost no extra code necessary. if i want a music player, it's just a matter of figuring out how to switch songs (since mine wont really have a keyboard). and i can log in with ssh wirelessly and hack on the thing.

  4. #4
    LT1 specialist steveo's Avatar
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    im pretty good with c, if you want to trade some ideas around for your own project, i can help you out.....

    also i know a guy that wrote a freeware aldl scanner, im going to hit him up for some info on how the handshake works.
    Last edited by steveo; 09-18-2013 at 06:37 AM.

  5. #5
    Super Moderator Six_Shooter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by steveo View Post
    see that shit is cool but i really want one on a TFT that's a bit more than that.

    the aussie one is really cool, but those lil' numerical lcd displays aren't too great at a glance

    i want bargraphs and colors and stuff, and the ability to do whatever you want with it.

    and mine will be way cheaper

    wait n' see

    the fact it'll be an actual little pc instead of an embedded platform will be really cool too, it'll be able to do so much more so easily. if i give it datalogging ability, i can plug a usb wireless interface into the thing and it'll be a fileserver with almost no extra code necessary. if i want a music player, it's just a matter of figuring out how to switch songs (since mine wont really have a keyboard). and i can log in with ssh wirelessly and hack on the thing.
    I used to think the same thing about wanting a bunch of colours and such and that character LCDs wouldn't be great at a glance, but I couldn't be more wrong. The character LCD is GREAT at a glance, even with 8 different items displayed at the same time. I can quickly glance and see what I want to see.

    Remember keep it simple, you have a VERY short period of time to gather information with your eyes, while you're driving down the road.

    I have found after playing with many dash layouts in Tuner Pro, that the digital numeric gauges are always easiest to gather information from at a quick glance.

    It has to do with the brains ability to be able to pick up and process patterns quickly. Numbers and letters the brain has an easier time with than dials and pointers, because they are more common for conveying information. Now using diffetent colours for each gauge would help keep the different readings separated easier. This is part of the reason you find character LCDs on many new products, not so muc consumer products, but industrial, and similar devices, where information has to be gathered quickly. The other reason is the cost, the character LCDs are generally cheaper as well.
    The man who says something is impossible, is usually interrupted by the man doing it.

  6. #6
    LT1 specialist steveo's Avatar
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    my idea is for it to be entirely character based anyway.. something more like:

    MAP █████████████████████ ~84 KPA
    SPK ████ ~18 ADV
    MAF
    █████████████████ ~108 AFGS
    [ Clsd Loop ] [ IAC: 32 ] [ CELL: 02 ]

    now, that shit will easily fit on a small LCD, but at the same time, i think having thresholds with things that are dull when normal, but then turn bright red when they're beyond a threshold is the most useful visual aid ever. you instantly see that red color change in your peripheral vision and go !!!

    im just going to use a color tft and a real multitasking computer to do what those other things do.

  7. #7
    Fuel Injected! JeepsAndGuns's Avatar
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    Everytime I data log, I'm always looking at the dash on the computer screen and thinking, how cool it would be to have a color screen in the dash of the vehicle displaying this data all the time. I wonder if one could use some type of a smaller tablet to run a program that could connect to the ecm and display data. I suppose the only thing would be finding some way to connect it to the tablet, then making a program to connect to, and then display the data.
    79 Jeep Cherokee, AMC 401, T-18 manual trans, hydroboost, 16197427 MPFI system---the toy

    93 Jeep YJ Wrangler, 4.0L, 5 speed, 8.8 rear, homebrew hub conversion and big brakes, hydroboost, 2.5in OME lift, 31x10.50's---the daily driver

    99 Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee limited, 4.0L, auto, 2wd, leather and power everything, 99% stock---the long distance highway ride.

  8. #8
    Super Moderator Six_Shooter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JeepsAndGuns View Post
    Everytime I data log, I'm always looking at the dash on the computer screen and thinking, how cool it would be to have a color screen in the dash of the vehicle displaying this data all the time. I wonder if one could use some type of a smaller tablet to run a program that could connect to the ecm and display data. I suppose the only thing would be finding some way to connect it to the tablet, then making a program to connect to, and then display the data.
    I don't know how much info a guy I know wants let out, but there is a program that is in development right now that will run on Android devices, and uses Tuner Pro files. ;)
    The man who says something is impossible, is usually interrupted by the man doing it.

  9. #9
    Fuel Injected! JeepsAndGuns's Avatar
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    Sweet
    79 Jeep Cherokee, AMC 401, T-18 manual trans, hydroboost, 16197427 MPFI system---the toy

    93 Jeep YJ Wrangler, 4.0L, 5 speed, 8.8 rear, homebrew hub conversion and big brakes, hydroboost, 2.5in OME lift, 31x10.50's---the daily driver

    99 Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee limited, 4.0L, auto, 2wd, leather and power everything, 99% stock---the long distance highway ride.

  10. #10
    RIP EagleMark's Avatar
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    Has to be on the Android backwards so when you set it on dashboard it reflects onto windshield!

    1990 Chevy Suburban 5.7L Auto ECM 1227747 $42!
    1998 Chevy Silverado 5.7L Vortec 0411 Swap to RoadRunner!
    -= =-

  11. #11
    Super Moderator Six_Shooter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by EagleMark View Post
    Has to be on the Android backwards so when you set it on dashboard it reflects onto windshield!
    Already part of the app. ;)

    I'll send him a message and see if he wants any details released yet.
    The man who says something is impossible, is usually interrupted by the man doing it.

  12. #12
    LT1 specialist steveo's Avatar
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    so far i have 3 developers (which is as many as i want)

    i'll do a 'display module' which is total knockoff of datamaster in gtk eventually, and hopefully this will be useable as a decent OBD-I datalogger for xwindows

    an android one sounds awesome too, guess it'll just use a bluetooth SPP or something

    i guess what it comes down to for me, is reeeeally just want to use this raspberry pi for something, unfortunately there are no stable android builds for it, and im way too lazy to dig into that kind of project

  13. #13
    LT1 specialist steveo's Avatar
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    for some reason i was completely ignoring the fact that the pi has a fully functional gpio header

    if i can make this thing read aldl data fairly reliably, and i build an output module with some basic scripting language built in, this little thing could function as a piggyback ECM to do practically anything, whether you decide to attach a screen to it or not.

    could easily do things like:

    - control a waste gate (turns it straight into a boost controller)
    - get direct sensor inputs if for some reason the aldl isn't fast enough for a particular function (such as the above)
    - 3d table of map/rpm/speed to automatically pop open an exhaust cutout
    - shift lights, blinky lights, automatic james bond smoke screen, whatever

    i guess at this point, scope creep will kill it, or it'll be really awesome.

  14. #14
    LT1 specialist steveo's Avatar
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    just an update, despite my rusty c skills, i've managed to make this thing maintain ALDL comms and get packet data, with checksum verification and everything, although at the moment it just spits out raw packets in hex; that's a big step.

    http://resfilter.github.io/aldl/

    now to turn it into something good

  15. #15
    Fuel Injected!
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    Hey man, nice project. I know how much work it is to create something like this. I did sort of related but for MegaSquirt. It was bluetooth and had a battery so totally wireless. The code is here: http://github.com/sebgiroux/MegaCluster. Feel free to steal whatever you want. It's nothing really amazing but you might be able to reuse some of the widgets to do a basic display. Here is a video of it:


    You probably have seen my GM ODB I project on this forum, but this is for Android, and unfortunately not open source.
    http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...2318-ALDLdroid

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