Ben heckendorn, engineer and one of the pioneers of the console video game modding scenes. Really smart and entertaining guy, has a show called the ben heck show on youtube and various other sites.

He basically just does insane projects every episode.

 

Yes, I'd use an app on my phone that I will write to send the lock/unlock command to the Pi.

I really do like doing stuff like this, it's fun to do and really adds your own "touch". I just hope I can think of other stuff I can add. Maybe I can add a feature to where once it's within range of my home network, it starts offloading log data and the like. Maybe even record front camera feed and store it on my home server. Just things like that.

 

Once you pull the center stack where the radio is out you will see there is lots of dead space under the radio behind the hvac controls. There is also good space behind the panels right below the steering wheel so one could have a good amount of wiring zip tied under the wheel and then the electronics below the radio maybe. Just a thought.

 

That'd be a nice place to hide wire harnesses and everything, but I'm not sure if it's the best place considering how time consuming it'd be to add/modify/remove wires or the overall setup.

 

That bit about the offloading data would be super useful. I log my cars fairly often, but its always a pain to get said data onto something to read it. Would be great if you could have the Pi interface with something cheap and easy like the ELM327, have it log parameters (a la 'torque' for android) and then on wireless detection/connection, send over the logs via samba to a server.

Good thinking!

 

I'll have to get an OBD II BT module to try it with, but that should be doable.

Do you know if it's possible to have two things plugged in to the OBDII and "stacking" them? I have a device I use for insurance cost cutting purposes, but only because I'm cheap that way.

Ignore the above, I found splitters.

I will go ahead and order the ScanTool MX to start developing software that can offload everything to a network once it's within range. The problem, however, is time. If you have a battery for the Pi and it charges only while the vehicle is on, you can turn the vehicle off. However, if you're planning on running power only while the vehicle is on, then you run into the issue where you'll need to have the truck/car running until you know when the thing is turned off. If enough people are interested, I can get started programming an android app as well as the rasp pi software. I can't guarantee it'll work with everything, but I'm hoping that a Pi running windows IoT and a BT sensor can connect to the Scantool MX.

 

Should be able to use something like this:

Not sure about running them simultaneously, though. Looking at the reviews, someone tried doing exactly what you described and it appears that only one device can function at a time.


If you still wanted to do it just for the sake of doing it, I bought an ELM327 off amazon for 5 dollars and it works great.

Also, as an aside, looking more into the GPIO of the Pi...it looks like that 3.3v gpio is going to be a huge limitation (as you im sure are aware) since it seems like any relay you're going to find/use is going to not work and/or damage the pi. Think that's going to be a big hurdle in using the pi itself for switching.

 

an arduino with a proper resistor and transistor should be able to work with a 5v relay/12v LED, no?

 

did you see this?

http://www.susa.net/wordpress/2012/0...ay-using-gpio/

 

I went ahead and order a Scantool OBDLink MX:
I found splitters, but I'm not sure how accurate the "only one working at a time" is. I'm really hoping I can have both running, as one tells my Insurance company, whereas the other tells me.

As far as the Pi goes, I'm aware that it's an issue running the 3.3V into a relay. I may go ahead and just plan on using an UNO. The problem now is, I need lights to test it out. I was waiting for Christmas to be over so I could know what all I needed to buy, and there's a long list. Light bar for the front, reverse lights, and even my backup camera. What I do have, however, is interior lighting I can try wiring everything with. I'll setup a pi & arduino hookup, with BT access, and then see if I can get all that working.