Thursday, September 16, 2010
Open Model Developers Interface
Proprietary Product is licensed under exclusive legal right of its owner. The purchaser, or licensee, is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, but restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering
It was analyzed ,designed and developed by a team of people or companies with a limitation by the employees or company policies. The output of a product will be under a unspecified circle which extents depends on the people working on. But it can satisfies the planned output of the product.
Open-source Product is opposite to the proprietary product, by which the purchaser or user can freely analyze and modify or redistribute the product in any form. Which gathers lot of peoples with a pure interest to work on what they like. Which would bring a whole new piece of product customized for everyones needs.
Lot of ideas creates more secure and stable system which the product evolves through the life-cycle. We cant manufacture a product with a satisfaction of everyones needs, by it can be done by themselves or by their friends who has a knowledge in development of the product.
I am not going to say about release the Blueprints and software to the open-source community of Volkswagen. What i mean to say is develop a system which developers can make use of it and give more usability of the product.
For example I bought a E61 manufactured by Nokia, The phone is not open-source hardware but its software can be freely developed by making use of hardware. It has a blue-tooth, WIFI, camera, Display Screen, Keypad, GPRS Connectivity , etc which can be freely accessed by developers by using the API provided by Nokia. Either by Java , Python, C++. these entire hardware can be make use of specific applications. It lacks with GPS, but Blue-tooth GPS can be connected for navigating Applications.
I got an idea about controlling the home electrical with my phone using blue-tooth, then bought a Blue-tooth SPP module , integrated Blue-tooth module with micro-controller and relays. And programmed the phone with python for controlling the electrical and achieved the desired result. And till now my phone and my Electrical control works fine.
What i mean is open-source is good for scalability.
Proposal for Open Model Developers Interface
According to my thoughts there was lot of lacking in the auto infotainment . If it was perfectly planed and implemented lot of safety features can be build at a low cost.
We want to implement a computer system in every car as like a normal computer with Touch screen monitor on dash board which could easily accessible and viewable by the driver with complete subsystems like
6 or more USB Ports
2 CAN port
1 Interface for Connecting to ODBI
4 or more Serial Ports
I/O cards connected to vehicle electrical systems
Built in WIFI
Built In GPS
Built in 933 MHZ Transceiver
GPRS/3G connectivity
4 Ethernet Switch Port
HDMI Ports
Flash Drives for Storage
Linux OS
6 or more USB Ports
These USB ports are used for future enhancement Devices.
For example the user can connect a backup drive and download entire logged data's and clear the default storage in the car.
Plug in a I pod and watch and listen to musics. Even connect a Rear view camera
if the company has upgraded the windshield with advanced display system they can simply launch the windshield with USB support and Drivers to integrate with existing systems.
Or if user needs to watch some satellite channels he can simply buy some USB DTH Receivers and plug-in to the system and install the softwares.
If the rear seat user needs a Remote for movie System they can install a simple USB remote and driver for that.
Some day some developers can build a USB night vision system which we can simply buy and install in the front bumper and install firmwares and make use of them.
Simply USB is Plug and Play so Limitations are high you have full support for that in your car.
2 CAN port
For the monitoring the status for the On-board Devices and status of them. Even for adding Users CAN Devices
1 Interface for Connecting to ODBI
For capturing the Engine , Transmission , speed , and all engine Parameters available for Programing.
Even Open-source Developers creates different types of Gauges for speed, Temperature, Pressure, Fuel, Airflow, EGR, which the user can download and use them as their convenient.
Even the developers can give a trouble shooting flash Movie for ODBI error codes, if a problem occurs on a specific part which the user can repair their car , where there is no repair facility on the long trips.
The ODBI data's can be stored on storage device and the Vehicle efficiency report can be viewed by generated to the drivers and the reports can suggest the driver for optimal performance habits. Its good for the global warming too.
Even we can calibrate the speed meters based on the GPS data's available on the computer to the Dashboard Display.
Some Developer could create a application that allows the cars computer system can be accessed remotely by manufacturers helpline or engineer sitting on desk to diagnose the problem through Internet or telephone and suggest the driver for recommended approach to diagnose the vehicle.
Even the vehicles computer and Vehicle manufactures Servers can talk each-other a week and say hello to check their status and can update the bug-fixes them-selfs when a advanced firmware available , and the Vehicle Manufacturers Servers can suggest a recommend Periodic check or intimate a change of spares before the vehicle could stop on road which requires a tow.
We cant imagine what the geeky developers will do when they have a these kind of data's having in their hands
4 or more Serial Ports
Developer can use these ports to interface new devices like wireless Transceivers for vehicle to vehicle communication and can display the from and rear vehicles speed and intention of the drivers or for even driver to driver communication , when the same application is installed on both vehicles.
I/O cards connected to vehicle electrical systems
These I/O cards plays the important role in the vehicle electrical sub systems, the all electrical systems of the vehicle and sensor systems should me interface to this IO card
Here with list of devices should be interfaced
Digital I/O
Engine Run/Stop controller
Head lights
Parking Lights
Turn Indicators Left /Right front/back
HAVC Systems
Windshield Wipers Controller
Horn Controller
Interior Compartment Lights
Reverse Lights
Sensor Interfaces
Engine Pressure
Engine Temperature
Alternator Voltage
Intake Pressure
Accelerator Pedal Sensor
MAF Sensors
Exhaust O2 Level Sensors
Rain sensors Dynamic
Daylight sensors Dynamic
With the help of these Interfaces the Developers can play with their imagination here with we will discuss in some of the scenarios in the practical real-time applications
First thing major accident will occur because of the careless mistakes done by drivers in blind turnings , cross roads , staggered intersection. and Intersections this is due to the drivers has lack of new road structures and upcoming conditions of the roads
Though the transport departments keeps the roadsigns , the drivers concentrating on the roads will not concentrate on the signs. This may be a cause for major accidents at intersections and blind turning at nights. And also rollovers when the driver pushes the vehicle to the extream extent overriding its dynamics at turns.
To overcome this kind of scenarios the developer will bring up the Smart signs or virtual Road signs . The vehicle will show the upcoming road signs on its dashboard warning with a beep or audible voices if necessary for the driver with the approximate distance from the turnings or intersections. These virtual roadsigns will never bother about the signs on the road. It simply get the signs when you plan a trip or on the go form the central server that the community or the government body maintains . These signs will flash in the dashboard screen by measuring the direction of the vehicle ( heading in GPS words) and GPS Position on the road. These data's will be compared to the local off-line database which was retrieved and stored from central server. When the comparison results any sign based on the location , speed and direction of the vehicle then the sign would be flashed before 100 mtrs or 200 mtrs . These all details will be maintained on the server and synchronized when ever necessary automatically bu the cars. No manual inter-version is needed.
By using this virtual signs the Authorities can update the details of road workings and bridge construction , or take diversions from their desk to the whole world. These can save lot of time for government bodies. Even this can be used to intimate the driver that the accident statics of the road by which he is traveling, and accident prone zones.
Finally one day the roadsigns will be virtual rather than physical.
Some of the accidents will occur when miss communication from driver to another vehicles driver. For example on a high way your exit is in next few hundred meters. Your are at speed way if you don't put a indicators for lane change or exit , the will be definite crash. In Indian roads everybody drives the vehicle mostly don't use indicators for signaling other vehicles. Even they font use horns on blind turns
Developers will come with a solution for lazy drivers. Thats the new learn and do system what this systems will do is when driver puts the Key in the computer wakes up and greet the Driver and informs the status of the vehicle and ask him to select a user predefined location to go, he can select from the list of routes available or can select a point from the map and confirms. If it is a new location the system will dive into learning mode. From that mode the computer stores the drivers activity on the Indicator lights and Horn systems etc. Relative to the GPS location . From that data the user can strip out unwanted events and can save the daily routine habits on that road. The next day when the Driver Confirms the stored route the vehicle will itself assert indicators and use horns at turnings at the required events relative to its GPS data stored. This may be a nu-sense today but once a day some car companies could adopt this New Sense for lazy drivers.
And even for the virtual Signs Data in the server some developers could create the road layout from the desk. Without physically visiting on the road by a computer program intercepts the roads points from the map and applies the curve angle and altitude variations and create a virtual sign data's within a minute for all roads rather than physically visiting. This save lot of money and time for the government. And saves lot of peoples from accidents.
The current technology in Windshield wipers is not enough to operate automatically. For example it has 2 to 3 speeds can be used depending upon the rain speed. But rain has not 2 to 3 speeds when raining. There should be a dynamically adjust knob for the speed of the wipers so the Driver can adjust this knob to get the desired wiping speed based on the rain from 60 seconds to 1 second either by computer or a knob at steering .
According to daylight sensor input the developers can provide a program to customize the headlight on and off according to the different visibility of drivers.
Built in WIFI
This can be used by the driver of the car to access the cars Data from the Home PC and Synchronize the Data's and efficiently plan and tune the Car. Without held in the vehicle.
You are sitting inside the office. Your friends and you planning for the long trip. You want to know the fuel availability of your car. you can inquire your cars computer to tell you that how many liters available in the tank. Or check the tire pressure. Or check the Oil change kilometer reading and many more from you smart phone you have. Or your office Desk.
Or the traveling business man connect to the wireless of the car to check emails while on the go sitting relaxingly on the back . Without connecting to modems or cables.
Built In GPS
GPS Plays an important role in todays navigation systems. Even for flights they use GPS for zero visibility landing and take off . And the military using for guided bombs'. Why cant we use that technology for day-to-day life.
There are lot of application available in market already for navigation, to alert traffic ahead the way. to locate a required restaurant or fuel refill station. For planing your trip etc.
To locate where you are in a new city or state.
For corporate vehicles they can simply write a application to update GPS position to their Server and can keep track of vehicles without need for external tracking device need to be installed.
Built in 933 MHZ Transceiver
For key-less entries .
Security alerting systems.
For remote wake up of HAVC systems
GPRS/3G connectivity
For connectivity to the world.
For downloading the applications , security updates, bug-fixes of applications,
Remote management, SIP telephone applications.
Weather forecasting applications are readily available on the market.
Or you can access the security devices of your home from your car. So you can travel where ever without worried about your Home security
4 Ethernet Switch Port
For Connecting SIP or VOIP phones inside the Car.
Or any of the Ethernet gadgets.
HDMI Ports
There is no need for external audio players installed after-market.
Entertainment can be on the Go with live videos , News, you-tube Movies etc.
Linux OS
Open Source to be good
last year 75% of Linux code developed by programmers working for corporations many corporate company choose Linux for what is expected to be the worlds most powerfully Real-time Operating system
Linux powers the 446 of the worlds top 500 supercomputers
95% of the servers used by the Hollywood large animation studios are powered by Linux
The first major film produced on Linux server was 1997 titanic
Director James Cameron again choose Linux server for box-office smash Avatar.
Google runs its servers on Linux
Linux has the strong following in smart-phones and other devices in consumer electronics.
Palms Webos, Google Android, Nokias Maemo are powers by Linux
Tivo uses a customized version for Linux for its appliances
there are over 300 distributions of Linux actively developed today
Linux contains more than 283 million of code which would cost 7.73 billion to produce that amount of code in commercial environment
Finally what the request behind is there should be a system with complete programing flexibility and security. If this happen this could change the entirely automobile market.
I have bought a 1997 model contessa classic Diesel for my R&D , currently i am working on this technology and dismantled the entire electrical system and doing new electrical wiring which could support for this project and entire dashboard was removed and new dashboard was on progress.
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