Raspberry flavour D3?

[sheerluck]

As I'm expecting to have a fair bit of time on my hands over the next 2 and a half months or so (spinal surgery next week.....joy), I thought I would get myself an indoor, lie-on-your-back kind of project to occupy the mind while the body is recovering.

So, inspired by a couple of posts on Disco3 and elsewhere, I'm going to attempt to build a Raspberry Pi based Android in car computer that will integrate with the D3 touchscreen (thanks Sneigy!) and baseline audio.

(For the the Luddites amongst you the Raspberry Pi is a credit card sized computer capable of running full HD video :p)

In line with the old phrase of aiming for the stars, and being content with hitting the moon, the "stars" list is as follows:

GPS
Music Player
Bluetooth phone control
Internet connection
Reversing camera integration
Touchscreen control
Maybe digital TV


The moon list is as follows:

Getting the bloody thing working

:D

I'd had a look at installing the LR OEM Sat Nav kit, but the price was a little more than i could justify, given the sum total of the hardware costs for the Raspberry Pi are only just over $140:
The computer itself $40
Case $6
Mini Bluetooth dongle $9
64gb 1.8" SSD and cable (for storing music) $60
Bluetooth GPS $15
Assorted cables for power, video and sound $15
Already have a digital TV dongle and various SD cards floating around

A lot of the software and apps already exist for free on the Android market, but getting it to all play nicely together should be fun. If nothing else, it should keep me sane when I'm allowed a maximum of 30 minutes per day sitting or standing for the first couple of weeks:(

[lt8x7]

I'm interested and can't wait to hear more.

[schuy1]

Could be interesting when frustration causes an item to go airborne! Then you discover you threw it just out of reach and you cant get up to retrieve it :D But that aside I think you should have an interesting and practical build there :) Will stay tuned!
Cheers Scott

[Eevo]

i have a raspi
i dont use it

[Judo]

Great idea for a project mate. G/f bought me a raspberry pi and I haven't used it yet. (Whoops!). I've been thinking of installing xbmc on trying it as a media centre, however I already have a media centre! A do it all in-vehicle computer would be a much better use! :)

Maybe this will motivate me enough to at least install some software and boot it up. :D

[Ferret]

Interesting idea. My my son has a pi, I might have to steal it if you can get something like this up and running.

Hope the op goes ok.

[nathank]

So... i thought i'd post onto this with some more specific info. I'm about to tackle exactly the same thing.

I have a rpi running xbmc and the wifi dongle in broadcast mode (need that so i can use the iphone app to remote control xbmc). That bit works fine. I purchased the following bits:
HDMI screens (and IR headsets- $30 from the same mob) @ $100:
L0611 9 Car Standalone Digital Monitor Screen Touch Button VGA Port HDMI Speaker | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290849631851)

HDMI splitter (i've opted for a cheapy passive for ?$5) from ebay too to run both screens simultaneously.

and i got a RPI 12v hardwired power supply too.

I'm curous, have you found a 12v or acc line under the drivers or front passenger seat?

And i'm also trying to work out the easiest way to to hide the cables, any ideas how to go from the headrest to bottom of the car seat, neatly?

I'll post some pics / diagrams once i've got it connected up on the floor for all to see :c)

-nat

[1976_michelle]

must admit I came in to this thread expecting a custom paint job lol

[sheerluck]

So... i thought i'd post onto this with some more specific info. I'm about to tackle exactly the same thing.

I have a rpi running xbmc and the wifi dongle in broadcast mode (need that so i can use the iphone app to remote control xbmc). That bit works fine. I purchased the following bits:
HDMI screens (and IR headsets- $30 from the same mob) @ $100:
L0611 9 Car Standalone Digital Monitor Screen Touch Button VGA Port HDMI Speaker | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290849631851)

HDMI splitter (i've opted for a cheapy passive for ?$5) from ebay too to run both screens simultaneously.

and i got a RPI 12v hardwired power supply too.

I'm curous, have you found a 12v or acc line under the drivers or front passenger seat?

And i'm also trying to work out the easiest way to to hide the cables, any ideas how to go from the headrest to bottom of the car seat, neatly?

I'll post some pics / diagrams once i've got it connected up on the floor for all to see :c)

-nat

I'm placing it in the upper glovebox, and will be wiring a couple of USB power supplies at the back of it. Will all fit into 2 small cases to keep it neat. It sounds like you're wiring up the rear seat entertainment, where I'm wiring the Pi up to the screen in the centre of the dash. I'm trying to keep the OEM look, but with extra (and free) features.

[sheerluck]

must admit I came in to this thread expecting a custom paint job lol

I would have got in trouble with Ron then for putting the thread in the wrong forum!

[nathank]

I'm placing it in the upper glovebox, and will be wiring a couple of USB power supplies at the back of it. Will all fit into 2 small cases to keep it neat. It sounds like you're wiring up the rear seat entertainment, where I'm wiring the Pi up to the screen in the centre of the dash. I'm trying to keep the OEM look, but with extra (and free) features.

Yer nice! i'm waiting for everything to arrive and will post some pics of how i got it all to hang together and what exactly i bought.

Love to see the same!

-nat

[defender_i_hardly_know_er]

As I'm expecting to have a fair bit of time on my hands over the next 2 and a half months or so (spinal surgery next week.....joy), I thought I would get myself an indoor, lie-on-your-back kind of project to occupy the mind while the body is recovering.

So, inspired by a couple of posts on Disco3 and elsewhere, I'm going to attempt to build a Raspberry Pi based Android in car computer that will integrate with the D3 touchscreen (thanks Sneigy!) and baseline audio.

(For the the Luddites amongst you the Raspberry Pi is a credit card sized computer capable of running full HD video :p)

In line with the old phrase of aiming for the stars, and being content with hitting the moon, the "stars" list is as follows:

GPS
Music Player
Bluetooth phone control
Internet connection
Reversing camera integration
Touchscreen control
Maybe digital TV


The moon list is as follows:

Getting the bloody thing working

:D

I'd had a look at installing the LR OEM Sat Nav kit, but the price was a little more than i could justify, given the sum total of the hardware costs for the Raspberry Pi are only just over $140:
The computer itself $40
Case $6
Mini Bluetooth dongle $9
64gb 1.8" SSD and cable (for storing music) $60
Bluetooth GPS $15
Assorted cables for power, video and sound $15
Already have a digital TV dongle and various SD cards floating around

A lot of the software and apps already exist for free on the Android market, but getting it to all play nicely together should be fun. If nothing else, it should keep me sane when I'm allowed a maximum of 30 minutes per day sitting or standing for the first couple of weeks:(

Raspberry Pi would need to have a USB GPS receiver, blue tooth dongle, wireless adapter and TV tuner to cover all the things you want it to do. Which I think won't be possible unless you run a powered USB hub, then you'd have to ensure to get compatible devices (and software)

You've also mentioned a 64gb SSD which won't work because they have sata interfaces, something a raspberry pi lacks, they do make usb flash drives that big.

You would be better off with something like a Nexus 7 or 10 tablet with a sim card. That has blue tooth, internet, GPS with navigation, music, hd file playback and audio out (3.5mm jack or streaming via bluetooth) . They also can read usb sticks with an adapter cable.

Sorry to ruin your plans but it seems way too ambitious and likely to fail. I've got a raspberry pi and a nexus 7 (with a custom rom) - I know what I'd rather be installing.

[sheerluck]

Raspberry Pi would need to have a USB GPS receiver, blue tooth dongle, wireless adapter and TV tuner to cover all the things you want it to do. Which I think won't be possible unless you run a powered USB hub, then you'd have to ensure to get compatible devices (and software)

You've also mentioned a 64gb SSD which won't work because they have sata interfaces, something a raspberry pi lacks, they do make usb flash drives that big.

You would be better off with something like a Nexus 7 or 10 tablet with a sim card. That has blue tooth, internet, GPS with navigation, music, hd file playback and audio out (3.5mm jack or streaming via bluetooth) . They also can read usb sticks with an adapter cable.

Sorry to ruin your plans but it seems way too ambitious and likely to fail. I've got a raspberry pi and a nexus 7 (with a custom rom) - I know what I'd rather be installing.

I've had to change some of my bits, as they weren't on the approved list. But the Bluetooth GPS and dongle that I have are on the list.

The SSD is SATA, but with a USB-SATA adapter. And yes, it is also on the approved list. I will also be running a powered USB hub.

Given that I want to use the OEM screen in the dash, the Nexus will not achieve what I want to do. If I wanted to have something hanging from my windscreen, no doubt I would have gone that way from the outset.

And given that there are 2 Disco3 users in the UK who have managed to achieve what I want to do, I don't think it's unachievable at all, but thanks for your concern ;)