car computer- feasibility, functions

[ThomasG]

Note to self (or whoever is reading this, and someone IS )

Try keymapping apps for android- it is possible to map standard USB keyboard keys to mimic or activate android-specific buttons (home, back, menu etc)
Check is it doable with scroll functions.

HUD display:

Lenovo 7" tablet not bright enough to be used in daylight.
Assumption is that most of screens, either empedded in tablets it phones or standalone displays will not be bright enough.

Search online gives several 5-7" high brightness displays, unfortunately prices start around £800 mark.
Approach abandoned.

Research possibility of employing a simple/cheap projector to throw image onto windscreen
Most provably won't work on a principle that windcreen is a mirror-like reflective surface, and therefore what would be seen wouldn't be proper image but a reflection of projectors lens.

Research possibility to fit projector below the dash (within cavity)or just above rearview mirror and project image onto screen fitted flat on top of dash, and that image to be reflected off windscreen.

Possible issues with brightness and contrast with this solution.

BMW (again, damn!) has a factory unit that fits into cavity/opening in the dash.

Research signal input and image specifications versus ability to remove bmw original circuit board and projector in order to be replaced with cheap laser projector.

Working unit of BMW dash display costs £200+, find damaged (electronically damaged, shell/mirrors needed) unit.

[ThomasG]

One possibly acceptable solution

Pros:
No holes in dash.
Whilst it is a while system, it seems to be able to display video feed from, for example, reversing camera.
Maybe could be made to display something else as well?
It is said that the driver sees it as quite big image (approx 1*0.5m) about 2-3 metres in front of windscreen.

Cons:
I don't know where to buy it.
It may be pricey, as system includes OBD2 connection, its own GPS and FM antennas etc.
That pesky piece of glass glued to windscreen.

Checks:

What system is it built on
What video input will it accept.
Can it be hacked/operating system changed.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Manufacturer: E-LEAD
Model: smartHUD2

Interested parties: check YouTube.

[ThomasG]

Ebbeh...

Hi.
I'm interested in that smarthud2, and have few questions:

1:
Where/how do I buy it? As for now the only shops/websites I've found are Taiwanese. I'm in London, UK.

2:
Can I provide 3rd party video signal to projector? I know it supports rearview camera, for example, so it should be ****ible- how is that signal connected? HDMI? Analogue line? VNC server?

3:
What actual operating system is it based on? Linux? Android?

4:
What is resolution (in pixels) of display?

5:
What is OBD dongle connected as? USB device? Can I use different OBD connector? (Volvos have specific OBD system)

Waiting in anticipation and thanking you in advance

Tom.

Dear Tom,

Good day.

Thanks for your interest in our smart HUD2 product.
We are very sorry that the model is only for Taiwan market.
We didn't sell to overseas.

Best Regards,
Grace

[ThomasG]

Not that I can spare a lot of time to this, but from time to time I do check things.

Found some interesting read:
https://www.kguttag.com/2018/01/29/c...p-display-hud/

[ThomasG]

Word for canis, assuming he is reading this (we had words in another thread, and since these were about this system...):

By now, I could possibly do away with centre screen.
Me, as the driver- I'm not likely to need it.

But then again, I may leave it for passengers benefit.
So let's say wife wants to change radio station- she can.

Me, myself- no need for one. Not if HUD works fully as it should.

[JamesN7]

[ThomasG]

A bit of an overkill

What movie was it for?

[MikeGMT]

Originally Posted by ThomasG

A bit of an overkill

What movie was it for?

Looks like KITT from the Knightrider TV series to me. Now that did have a good voice control.

[ThomasG]

someone used brain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0peO...ature=youtu.be

now to give it a joystick from BMW..

and at some stage, move display over to HUD..

[ThomasG]

And taking into account that my old V70 issimply too expensive to get it back on the road, and "new" XC70 has adead HU-850..

Hunt begins.