One Computer to control them all….
I have been toying around with the idea of utilizing a single board computer as info centre in my truck for a while now. The idea was born when I saw the usability of the raspberry Pi.
The purposes I am considering are multi-fold:
dash camera with recording capability, keeping the last ten minutes of recording, capability of copying the recording onto an external medium.
reverse camera with in-cab display
making all the gauges I would need for all the modifications I am planning to this truck obsolete, as I can have everything displayed on one screen. Also amounts to significant cost savings.
I am currently running an edge programmer on my truck which allows me to display 4 values about the condition of the truck. I am planning to dispose the edge programmer. This is to use a multi position chip for tuning the PCM (Powertrain Control Module), as this is the only real possibility to customize the programming of the PCM to my requirements. This means I am loosing the four values I am getting displayed there right now and I need an alternative way of displaying.
A computer interpreting the data for me can easily show the health of components and maximize the usage of fuel filters for example.
A computer is easily adaptable to the custom solutions I am planning to develop for my truck. The fuel system I am working of right now is one of those. Others that I am considering are water-methanol injection for fuel-mileage and performance increases, auxiliary fuel tanks and air suspension on four-link control arms for both axles, replacing the automatic transmission with a standard transmission and replacing the interior with a post ’08 interior (I was never happy with the grey interior in my truck and would prefer the tan colour one, so why not go all the way and upgrade to the nicer looking, more modern at the same time? Should get interesting) among some others.
The plan is to have a computer that can collect data off the CAN-Bus (the vehicle internal communication network and protocol) and additional sensors.
The concept right now is to used an UDOO quad board, a 14.1″ led touchscreen.
Most of these changes are for the following purposes:
degreasing fuel consumption. I would like to get better then 10.0 l / 100km (approx. 23.5 mpg) fuel mileage. With as high as manageable content of used veggie oil.
building a customized truck for what I prefer. Yes, I could buy a newer truck with more modern technique, but I would not get the fuel mileage I am looking for, nor is the truck that I would like to have available. It would always be a compromise. Just don’t feel for these types of compromises anymore, so I take the money a replacement truck would cost and upgrade the one I have and make it to the one I want.
learning about vehicle technique, electronics and computers. My son is seriously considering to study electrical engineering, so I have somebody in the family I can challenge with building the custom electrical components and interfaces. Building and programming the computer should be an interesting exercise and practice.