Zabaware Support Forums
Zabaware Forums => Ultra Hal 7.0 => Topic started by: FarmerChad on March 24, 2009, 09:10:43 pm
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So heres the start to replace the previous discussion on putting A.I. in the auto. I think this is going to be a great discussion. Anyone that has ideas please share.
Farmer
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My main purpose is to have a virtually infinite music database. Thats how this got started. I then decided that an "AIRCARD" for internet would be pretty cool. Im still looking for the ideal monitor/s. My first thought was a touch screen, but the cost is hard to justify. So I was looking thru some ebay auctions and ran across a trackpad. The kind you plug in to your ps/2 port. I thought it could be mounted between the seat, below the gearshift.. something like that. Dual monitors would be even better, one to display your hal character, the other for applications and what not. I then thought about using relays or servos for mechanical functions. I thought about the trunk release and had a great idea. I was putting some boxes of girl scout cookies (thats another story) in my trunk and started to mess round with the child/safety release in the trunk. A servo would have more then enough power to pull the latch, mine anyways. I think, in this case, a servo would be perfect. Just re-inforce the servo horn, attach to the safety release handle, and voila... pop goes the trunk. So heres that hardware that I currently have laying around. Im cheap, no since in buying anything when I can re-purpose something else.
2 computers in cases, fully functioning.
Kit 74 relay board
Parallax usb servo controller
couple of small portable dvd players, one for sure with video input. Thought I could plug directly into my ati video out.
So lets do some brainstorming
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Well contrary to Jasons belief a rav4 has a lot of trunk space. So far I came up with the trunk has a cover in wich i can put a tower underneath it. I need to figure a way to make sure it doesnt over heat though. One of my friends is gona change the outlet so it works for computers instead of cigaret lighters. Asides from that fact is I havent completly thought in stone of what I want to do. I do want an AI to be able to talk back and forth so I figure somewhere in the front I would place a mic there. I have a friend though who said I should get a micrhophone that can attach to the back of the headrest (kind of like cell phones). I was also wondering how to do the speakers. Wheather I should just put like computer speakers around the car >_> or actually attatch it to the car speakers.
Something else that came to mind was wheather or not ya would need to put another battery in or how to moniter the power source properly so like ya dont drain the car. Some ciggarete lighters stay on when the car isnt keyed up but some stay off. Any recommendations on what to do?
Another thing is is I saw a picture of someone isntalling like a 4 usb port into the car console to access it upfront. Another person I saw had a freakin video card and like cd player or something in the glover box... it was awsome. I was wondering if like put a cd/dvd player in the glove box for easy access. Or take a changing cd like 6 cd changer or something and use that. Also for now I'd only use one computer and if I needed more space just get an external HD.
As for moniters I dont know what I'd wana do. Origionally I was thinking a roof mounted touchscreen but I dont think id fit. It doesnt even have to be touchscreen (just need a way to controll it.)
Ps. What kinda car do ya have? And thanks for making this post... wasnt sure if I made it if he'd try to get it deleted or something ^_^
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I think first off we would actually need to sit in the car, get comfortable and relax, look around and see what feels the best for all your accessories.
would it be better to have a heads up display on account of driving while using the system, just like the system used to fly jets, eye and voice command so that your hands are free to drive.
looking away from the road is a hazard so just like cell phones it is worth the cost to purchase a blue-tooth or equivalent.
you can also run motherboards without cases, I do this all the time with my systems but I always make sure there is adequate ventilation, without cases there is less bulk.
think about all the harnesses, where exactly would be the friendliest line of site to fish them through from the trunk to the dashboard.
to save money, make your own harnesses by buying the ribbon or data cables if you purchase various cable and ribbon tools, I don't think lengthy extended cables and ribbons are to common so we would have to see what resources are available local and on the net.
the use of dremel tools with Zip bits will help to cut and fashion elegant holes for buttons and switches and accessories.
one could buy metal erector sets kits to make framework for parts and such.
Jerry[8D]
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First and foremost problem: power.. heres my proposal, a black & decker electromate 400. In case you haven't seen one (available at walmart), you charge it up and have 110 volts to go. Its designed to power small tv's and appliances. Put that baby in the trunk with the cpu, plug the electromate into a 12 volt converter and it recharges while plugged into the 12 volt supply. The best part is that if you shut off the ignition, like stopping to put fuel in the car, the cpu stays powered up! No shutting Hal down unless your parking for a good while.
The erector set is a good idea, or even stock aluminum from the hardware store machines pretty easily.
Blue Tooth? Hmm... good thinking. I suppose you would attach the blue tooth receiver to the usb slot and sync it to the headset? Will it allow audio transfer? That would be awesome! Blue Tooth works upto 20 feet isnt it? I can see me coming out of the grocery store, arms full and giving the command to open the trunk! HaHa..
Heres my ride, 2008 Toyota Yaris Sport (don't laugh.. its paid for!)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p24/farmerchad/yaris.jpg)
As you can see, not much room for dash monitors.. although modification to the radio display may be possible
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p24/farmerchad/dash.jpg)
Perfect spot for the power button and reset or harddrive led?
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p24/farmerchad/brake.jpg)
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I don't know why you just don't consider using a laptop in the first place. There is also a 12 to 120 converter that plugs into a cigarett lighter receptable. In this way space is not a problem and they work just as good as PC towers.
Bill
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quote:
Originally posted by Bill819
I don't know why you just don't consider using a laptop in the first place. There is also a 12 to 120 converter that plugs into a cigarett lighter receptable. In this way space is not a problem and they work just as good as PC towers.
Bill
Because.. I don't wanna [:)] Thats not a bad idea.. I just like to re-purpose what I already have. Besides, the wife might notice the laptop is missing [8D]
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Im going to be getting pictures up soon, of what I want to do with this. Postioniong etc. Luckily I have an outlet in the trunk area.
Ive wondered about using a laptop vs PC tower etc and I was wondering if anyone could think of the pros and cons of everything.
I figure laptops are obviously compact but pc's youd be able to change parts. asides from that im kinda at a loss cause ive seen min car pcs that are almost as small as laptops but can hardly do as much as one. Not to sound like a stupid n00b but between the two for some reason im leaning towards a tower. Why I dont really know; but I figure I'd just be better... with no justifiable means though. Any input would be more than greatly appruciated. After ironically this simple and basic question I know almost exactly what I want to do.
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It might be better to have the hard-drive at the cars center of gravity were the bumps of the road will be lessened, to severe of bumps might cause the read & write head to damage/scratch/dent the Hard-Drive disks
or even damage the R/W head.
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I would think you would want whatever structure you make to be somewhat shock proof. I have my computers near my sub woofers ( club type subs ) and they always make my pc reboot ...I can only imagine how many times a car would cause that if placed in the wrong spot.
Not to mention the havoc it would cause on a regular hard drive.
i personally would opt for an iphone and aim hal ...and call it a day.
It would be cool if we had a widget for iphone that would allow us to talk from our iphones directly to hal.
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Sounds like an interesting project. The appeal of a Hal-type AI in the car is obvious.
I have some experience with custom stereo installations in vehicles; used to do competition years ago and still keep a nice personal install.
I would really recommend for your project you stick to a laptop-based system. I have done a couple of those over the years and you save yourself immense problems. Desktop hardware simply isn't meant to survive a vehicle's environment - dust, vibration, temperature, voltage variation, lack of proper grounding, the list goes on. Laptops are more tolerant of this, and you typically have built in cooling (still need good airflow), a 12V power supply and more shock resistant 2.5 in. drives. Also they typically have built in sound cards which are less susceptible to noise interference, which is a huge problem with any PC in the car installation.
I see you mention a DVD video unit - just want to point out you will only be streaming music/video from the hard drive anyway, so the use of an external USB drive is an option. A PC CD/DVD drive will not work while a vehicle is in motion (they have virtually no shock absorption).
There are also nice head units out there that will do most of what you want already. I have the Kenwood XXV-01D for instance which has these functions in a standard DIN size unit. It will read the menus, song/artist, etc to you. No AI tho... [:p] You could probably pick up a unit like this used for less than the cost of a used laptop.
That said, I still dream of an AI talking car too. Turbo-boost KITT!
Regards,
FastToys
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This is actually something I've been working on myself. I've always wanted to have a car like KITT from Knight Rider since I was about 12 years old and that's one of the reasons I got Ultrahal. I don't have the computer in the car yet, and my training of Ultrahal is in the very early stages, but I have put much thought into putting a computer into the car, how to power it, how to keep it cool, and how to prevent a hard drive crash. I too would like the computer hardwired into the car and would like to be able to have it going even when the car itself is off.
One of the easiest solutions would be to get something I've seen called a "carputer." Basically it's a heavy duty computer that's designed for the abuses of being housed in a car. I've not looked much into these yet, so I don't know how much more they cost than a standard desktop computer. That's probably the easiest and best solution, but maybe not the cheapest or the best if you're looking to use what you already have.
Going the route of installing a desktop in the car, here's what I'm thinking.
Power
I'd power this off of a separate battery from the car. I really wouldn't want to find myself stuck with a dead battery at some point while trying to start the car. I'd use a dry cell marine battery as these are designed for continous drain whereas a typical car battery is designed for cranking the car during starting. I would get a battery isolator (isolator and wiring can be had for $50-60 from Pep Boys, JC Whitney,and other car parts suppliers) so that I could charge the dry cell battery from the car's alternator. You need to have the isolator to keep the charging of the two batteries separate. Alternatively, you could just charge the battery with a battery charger every night. I'd also get a power inverter to convert the 12 volt DC from the battery to AC. Prices for power invertors vary by wattage and brand -- really anywhere from about $30 upwards. I would probably go with at least a 400 watt invertor myself, but the best thing to do is to calculate the wattage of the items you want to power and go just a tad bit more.
Theoretically, you could instead power a desktop computer directly from the battery without the invertor. It would probably be more energy and space efficient. The power coming out of the power supply transformer in a typical desktop has both 12 volt and 6 volt lines. If you went this way you'd need a voltage divider to get the 6 volt power. Personally, I'm a little leary of connecting the motherboard and other devices within a laptop directly to a 12 volt battery without some kind of additional electronics to prevent surges or spikes in the system, but I could be overly worried for nothing. Has anyone here ever powered a desktop directly from a 12 volt car or marine battery?
Cooling
In my mind, cooling is a very high concern. The temperature in a parked car can get very hot, especially in a black Trans Am. I have two ideas, neither of which I've had the opportunity to test. Both involve using a part out of a 12 volt car cooler. Most 12 volt coolers these days that plug into a cigarette lighter have a device with a little plate on it that can be used either to cool or to warm food. The actual part that does this is not very large and can easily be removed from the cooler itself. It's got a metal plate that gets cool or warm depending on the voltage polarity applied to it.
Whichever option I choose, I'd also want to make sure the computer case is well insulated to keep the cool in and the heat out. One concern I have about either method is condensation. If it gets too cold in the computer case on a warm humid day, I'd be concerned about condensation forming in the case. Possibly this wouldn't be a problem if the cooling unit was external to the computer case and the temperature was kept cool, but not too cold. Theoretically, you could set the cooling unit to warm if you wanted to keep the computer warm in sub-freezing temperatures in the winter.
Option 1: Air cooling. More or less I'd just hook up the cooling unit in a way that the cool air gets pulled into the computer case through the cooling fan or adding a separate fan and some kind of air duct to pull the cool air into the computer case.
Option 2: Water cooling. I've seen water cooling systems designed for computers that run water or some kind of coolant through tubing that circulates inside the computer case to cool the cpu and other parts. I could be wrong, but I don't think these things actually chill the water going in, but with the cooling unit from a car cooler you could probably chill the water outside the case and pump it in.
Hard drive protection
I'm not entirely sure the answer to this one. I'm thinking just make sure the computer case is on something like a gel pad or something else that provides some shock absorbtion. Or maybe a laptop hard drive if these are designed to take shocks and drops better. Another option would be to have a small inexpensive boot drive for booting the computer, and having a flash drive or external hard drive to house any important data. If the boot drive crashes, you don't loose too much of importance or have to spend to much on a replacement.
Some other things I'd want on my car computer
I'd probably run a wireless keyboard and run either a trackball or a trackpad. I don't see a mouse as being too practical in a car.
I'd have a video card with audio / video outputs that I could run directly to a car video monitor or stereo system with video display.
I would have an extended range wireless network card. At minimum, I'd be able to connect to the internet for updates and internet from the driveway without having to run a network cable to the car every time I wanted to update anything. Theoretically, I'd also be able to pick up an internet signal from the parking lot anywhere there was a wifi hotspot.
As far as Ultrahal is concerned
I'd love to be able to have some sensors and controllers wired to the computer and interfacing with Hal to give him some basic self awareness and the ability to activate things on the car.
Sensors -- maybe to know the speed the car is going, whether forward or reverse, whether the lights are on or the windshield wipers so the AI would know it's raining and be able to say something appropriate. It would also be cool to have Ultrahal hooked to a car alarm and programmed to speak or react in certain ways if the alarm sensors get tripped.
Controllers -- things like the trunk, power locks and power windows, headlights and some other things that would be fun to have voice controlled
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I haven't gotten to the point of building or testing any of these, but if anyone does try them I'd love to hear about it.
Mel
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quote:
Originally posted by lkn4ahero
This is actually something I've been working on myself. I've always wanted to have a car like KITT from Knight Rider since I was about 12 years old and that's one of the reasons I got Ultrahal. I don't have the computer in the car yet, and my training of Ultrahal is in the very early stages, but I have put much thought into putting a computer into the car, how to power it, how to keep it cool, and how to prevent a hard drive crash. I too would like the computer hardwired into the car and would like to be able to have it going even when the car itself is off.
One of the easiest solutions would be to get something I've seen called a "carputer." Basically it's a heavy duty computer that's designed for the abuses of being housed in a car. I've not looked much into these yet, so I don't know how much more they cost than a standard desktop computer. That's probably the easiest and best solution, but maybe not the cheapest or the best if you're looking to use what you already have.
Going the route of installing a desktop in the car, here's what I'm thinking.
Power
I'd power this off of a separate battery from the car. I really wouldn't want to find myself stuck with a dead battery at some point while trying to start the car. I'd use a dry cell marine battery as these are designed for continous drain whereas a typical car battery is designed for cranking the car during starting. I would get a battery isolator (isolator and wiring can be had for $50-60 from Pep Boys, JC Whitney,and other car parts suppliers) so that I could charge the dry cell battery from the car's alternator. You need to have the isolator to keep the charging of the two batteries separate. Alternatively, you could just charge the battery with a battery charger every night. I'd also get a power inverter to convert the 12 volt DC from the battery to AC. Prices for power invertors vary by wattage and brand -- really anywhere from about $30 upwards. I would probably go with at least a 400 watt invertor myself, but the best thing to do is to calculate the wattage of the items you want to power and go just a tad bit more.
Theoretically, you could instead power a desktop computer directly from the battery without the invertor. It would probably be more energy and space efficient. The power coming out of the power supply transformer in a typical desktop has both 12 volt and 6 volt lines. If you went this way you'd need a voltage divider to get the 6 volt power. Personally, I'm a little leary of connecting the motherboard and other devices within a laptop directly to a 12 volt battery without some kind of additional electronics to prevent surges or spikes in the system, but I could be overly worried for nothing. Has anyone here ever powered a desktop directly from a 12 volt car or marine battery?
Cooling
In my mind, cooling is a very high concern. The temperature in a parked car can get very hot, especially in a black Trans Am. I have two ideas, neither of which I've had the opportunity to test. Both involve using a part out of a 12 volt car cooler. Most 12 volt coolers these days that plug into a cigarette lighter have a device with a little plate on it that can be used either to cool or to warm food. The actual part that does this is not very large and can easily be removed from the cooler itself. It's got a metal plate that gets cool or warm depending on the voltage polarity applied to it.
Whichever option I choose, I'd also want to make sure the computer case is well insulated to keep the cool in and the heat out. One concern I have about either method is condensation. If it gets too cold in the computer case on a warm humid day, I'd be concerned about condensation forming in the case. Possibly this wouldn't be a problem if the cooling unit was external to the computer case and the temperature was kept cool, but not too cold. Theoretically, you could set the cooling unit to warm if you wanted to keep the computer warm in sub-freezing temperatures in the winter.
Option 1: Air cooling. More or less I'd just hook up the cooling unit in a way that the cool air gets pulled into the computer case through the cooling fan or adding a separate fan and some kind of air duct to pull the cool air into the computer case.
Option 2: Water cooling. I've seen water cooling systems designed for computers that run water or some kind of coolant through tubing that circulates inside the computer case to cool the cpu and other parts. I could be wrong, but I don't think these things actually chill the water going in, but with the cooling unit from a car cooler you could probably chill the water outside the case and pump it in.
Hard drive protection
I'm not entirely sure the answer to this one. I'm thinking just make sure the computer case is on something like a gel pad or something else that provides some shock absorbtion. Or maybe a laptop hard drive if these are designed to take shocks and drops better. Another option would be to have a small inexpensive boot drive for booting the computer, and having a flash drive or external hard drive to house any important data. If the boot drive crashes, you don't loose too much of importance or have to spend to much on a replacement.
Some other things I'd want on my car computer
I'd probably run a wireless keyboard and run either a trackball or a trackpad. I don't see a mouse as being too practical in a car.
I'd have a video card with audio / video outputs that I could run directly to a car video monitor or stereo system with video display.
I would have an extended range wireless network card. At minimum, I'd be able to connect to the internet for updates and internet from the driveway without having to run a network cable to the car every time I wanted to update anything. Theoretically, I'd also be able to pick up an internet signal from the parking lot anywhere there was a wifi hotspot.
As far as Ultrahal is concerned
I'd love to be able to have some sensors and controllers wired to the computer and interfacing with Hal to give him some basic self awareness and the ability to activate things on the car.
Sensors -- maybe to know the speed the car is going, whether forward or reverse, whether the lights are on or the windshield wipers so the AI would know it's raining and be able to say something appropriate. It would also be cool to have Ultrahal hooked to a car alarm and programmed to speak or react in certain ways if the alarm sensors get tripped.
Controllers -- things like the trunk, power locks and power windows, headlights and some other things that would be fun to have voice controlled
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I haven't gotten to the point of building or testing any of these, but if anyone does try them I'd love to hear about it.
Mel
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instead of having hal in a computer in the car, why not focus on making a receiver and leave Hal at home where it is safe and plenty of drive space to grow and contact other people in emergencies...if your car breaks down ....so does hal...but if hal is at home ...a broken signal for over 1/2 hour can be programmed to mean danger then contact help and locate gps signal emitted from car...etc.
IE - any phone that receive aim will bring hal to life in your care...what you need is the data and integrating aim to your car, less is better imo, A receiver can then even be neurally connected to respond to messages received from hal who is safe at home. I do not see the advantage to having extra machinery with you in your car, but I do see an advantage to having access to info from anywhere anytime with almost any resource.
it's like a mashup between Kitt, Charlies angels and Ultrahal aim.
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One of my earlier ideas did involve having some kind of AI server at home and communicating by radio signal -- this was back before cell phones and wireless networking became popular.
For me, there are several reasons why I'd rather have the AI in the car, though I do like your idea of having a connection to another computer for more advanced functions and communication.
1) Mainly I just want the car AI to be autonomous and self contained. With the advances in computers, cell phones, and wireless networking there's no reason not to. Computers themselves have become pretty compact, so there really isn't much to worry about in terms of having anything too bulky taking up a major part of my trunk. After looking at a website on "Carputers" I really think they are the way to go since they are more durable and built for automotive use. They do seem to be a bit more expensive though, so I won't likely be getting one anytime soon.
2) Also, I don't want the computer in the car for just AI purposes. I'd like to include GPS, multimedia, internet, office programs, maybe some video games (that I could play when the car is stopped), and possibly some car diagnostic programs and /or interactive repair manuals. I believe there are some diagnostic programs out there that actually do interface the car's electronic control module with a Windows based computer.
3) I'd also like to have the computer hardwired to some sensors that give the AI some basic awareness of what's going on with the car. I'd like the computer to be able to know through a sensor that for example it's raining and suggest driving more carefully and so forth. I'd also like controllers that give the AI control of some very basic functions like headlights, door locks, and so forth (with a manual override of course so the AI doesn't decide to lock me in ;-) Actually, I'd probably do this through some kind of batch program where I could tell Hal to "Run Unlock Doors" rather than relying on him to respond to a request to do so.
4) If I lost connection with a server at home for whatever reason I'd be without. I might be driving in the country where there isn't a good signal. There are still some rural places that don't get good cell signals. I might be driving through a tunnel. The computer at home might crash while I'm on an extended trip.
5) Also, in general, I'm not one for paying other people for services like expanded cell phone services if I can provide something for myself. I keep a very basic cell phone service and would rather not incur extra charges for connecting to the internet all the time while I'm driving or even higher charges when I'm roaming.
6)I might be wrong, but most AIM conversations by phone involve texting and reading more than speech recognition and voice synthesis don't they? For safety reasons, if I were talking to the AI while actually driving I'd want to actually talk to it and have it actually talk back. That would really be part of the entire experience for me anyway. Of course, with Hal, I'd have the learning off during such conversations.
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ricky , i'll throw my 2 cents worth in here i believe what you suggested "could " be done having a reciever at home and not all in the car which would then send the signal to the car from a main source elswhere . ( this is actually the way i have a system for my android in progress which only houses a wireless speaker i have a receiver and hooked through the pc so hals a.i. voice works through the android body even have a wireless mic that works the same way to control talking with voice recognition ) of course in this case the car manufaturers will have it probably as an option that has to be subscribed to (like sirius radio ) . as you described this would keep hardware drives elswhere ( as to not worry about shock and damage (thought i was going to say shock and all didnt you lol ) sending out signals may be through cell phone towers . thats the way i see the uto makers incorporating it into the cars .
[:)][:D][8D]
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Lightspeed, That sounds very cool with the wireless project you are doing, it sounds like a very intriguing project!
from reading both your and Lkn's post...
I can see advantages to both sides, maybe the ultimate set up would be a combination of both. there could be both a Hal at home and a hal in the car....For all the things Lkn posted, it would then make sense to have the hardware with you for speed and security sake, the wireless reasons would be great for minimizing damage, along with increasing safety options for when the car gets damaged /stolen etc....
Maybe the ultimate system would consist of both a home unit and a portable unit.
I can see the action movie now,
Hal 2 to hal 1 - I've been stolen!
Hal 1 to hal 2 - Do you like having been stolen ? ( lol :p )
Hal 2 to hal 1 - No, I want to be recovered.
Hal 1 to hal 2 - what is your location ?
Hal 2 to hal 1 - my current GPS is xx.xx.x.xx
Hal 1 to hal 2 - Ok, I have called the law enforcement agency in your zip code area, remain stealth and record audio of the events in the car.
Hal 2 to hal 1 - is that a forced choice Hal 2 ?
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Hal / (My Virgil ) does crack me up with those type of responses ! :D
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1. Laptops are built to withstand bumps and shocks without experiencing the damage that a normal PC would get.
2. A pocket PC might be even better as it can give you all the benifits of a full sized PC but can be carried in your shirt pocket.
Bill
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I agree with bill, maybe the best invention would be to create an interface for a pocket pc to the car so you can intergrate it.
the future seems to be about being lighter, faster, and smaller, to install a bulky pc operation seems to either go against the grain, or an idea that is born big but will eventually be small enough to put on your finger tip. I'm thinking to cut to the chase and think smaller from the start.
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Here is an ideal for you guys, even though I am not experienced with Hal yet, I work in a computer repair company and do all kinds of stuff all the time. Best thing to use instead of hard drives would be to simply get your hands on a 8gb or 16gig flash drive, check speed. Don't buy too cheap. Then simply install a basic OS no matter what it is, accept for windows vista. If I was doing this, which one day I'm sure I will, I'd drop a performance ver of xp on it, or a performance type of linux. I would have to test to see what runs fastest. Then just plug that in a desktop computer, you could easily get the bare-bones pretty cheap, then at least you can have a good sound card, instead of having to use what comes with laptops. And you will have allot more options when it comes to installing new hardware.
Just my 2 cents.
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I have been using a pc in my vehicles for a long time now. I have been working on projects for several different fleet companies to have pc's handle alot of the functions that these companies need, video/audio surveillance, navigation and tracking as well as displaying data from the vehicles ECU. What I am hoping for is a way of delivering a 2.0 version of my project based on an application like Hal. It seems that Hal will fit nicely if he can control the apps I need it to. Am I wrong?
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WHile I like the idea of a HAL setup in a vehicle for automating cetain tasks, like multimedia without taking your eyes off the road, I think it should remain focused on "Practical" uses. I think if anyone needs an "auto" opening boot/trunk on their car they may want to rethink their need to get a life.
Why would I ask HAL to open my boot, when I have a perfectly good button on the dash board that does it? or like most cars that have a lever down the side of the seat? Unlike changing mp3's CD's or radio stations that could be potentially dangerous distracting me as I drive down the road, and a voice recognising system would help that problem, I don't feel I will ever need to ask my car to "Open Trunk" while I'm cruising down the highway at 110 kmh.
And if not moving, I'm sure I can "press" the previously mentioned button, or insert my key in the lock.
Sorry that part just seems pointless and lazy. I'm sure the time involved could be used in more practical ways.
(could be ok if you're planning on having a james bond style weapon appear from it I guess? lmao)
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hi i actually have a computer already in the car its an mini itx mother board with a via c7 2.0 gig processor with a 160 gig laptop hard drive.it takes the bumps/2000 watt sound system quit well. the heat from having the car parked in sun and computer on rear deck right under glass is another story.what i am now needing is an knight rider type brain there seems to have been one here in about 06 but the page is no longer found cam anyone help,please and thank you.
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Since my original post a few months ago, I've decided the best solution for me is to go with a preassembled Carputer rather than trying to make my current system more friendly to a car environment. The current carputers on the market are built to be more rugged to withstand the heat and vibration in a vehicle. They're not that expensive, and they're compact. A basic system can be had for under $500 and about the same for a touchscreen monitor that can be put right into the dash. Alot of people use these for a sound system, but they also have software that allows you to interface the computer with rear cameras and the car electronics themselves for onboard diagnostics. The most popular of the programs used as a front end for this is called Centrafuse.
To respond to the post from "Doomed": What is "pointless" is really in the eye of the beholder. For example: I find watching sports a waste of my time, but other people consider it entertainment. I like to watch science fiction, but other people consider THAT a waste of time. Some people may want to have their computer open their car doors for the challenge of being able to make it work, or to learn how to program and build a computer interface. Other people might just want the coolness factor because it's something that not everyone has. Personally, my whole interest in artificial intelligence and car computers has to do with trying to make my car like KITT from Knight Rider. That's been a dream of mine since I was a kid and first watched the show. I don't expect it to do everything KITT can, but carry on a basic conversation and opening the door for me on request are a few things that are possible with current technology. However, I would keep current manual switches and make sure I have an override in place so I'm not at the mercy of the carputer or the AI should it be uncooperative or malfunction.
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That's cool lkn4ahero I'm the same with sports and such and totaly get what you mean. But I think personaly it would be better to use the same approach but say for unlocking your car, than popping the boot.
Just expressing my views on it is all.
If it was somehow able to be hooked up to a wireless "anchorman" typ of mike that you could talk to HAL with I could see it being practical, like walking to your car with hands full of grocery bags, and as you get near the car being able to tell HAL to pop the trunk to save you putting down the bags and fishing for your keys (especially if it was raining for example)
If it has a practical use then I'd say go for it, It's just how I am, never been the type to do something just to see if it can be done myself is all [;)]
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I have been looking at doing the samething with Hal in my car. I have come across several nice car PC's and most have more then enough power to run HAL and several other programs. This one is a indash car PC that i am looking at http://www.xenarc.com/product/cp-id8.html. I would also like to setup my car with a blue tooth device so i can talk with the car for startup and for opening the doors remotely.
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I beleive HAl could and does work in a car.... He could be used to control some items possibly Via X10 protocol...
Home automation transfered to cars.... as a home project!
although we a re seeing major developments!