Probably lol..

Im still learning with programming but its very very time consuming is this.. That program i wrote wouldnt work.. I finished it and simulated it working fine, but when i compiled and assembled it it failed..

looks like im going to have to do it from scratch stage by stage- try and find out what it doesnt like...

 

A bit of progress with the dash display..

Not alot though.. Im having some big problems, unfortunately you have to start communicating with the equipment using 9200bps, but then you need to speed it up to draw the screens without flickering.. Unfortunately the programming software im using doesnt have a function which will increase the rate on the fly.. big problem lol

In the mean time, ive been putting the image together... I have already had the system play stored audio so the voice warnings all work.. Its just a case of getting familiar with how it works and going slowly..





The hardware is a bit messy at the moment, the video converter board is dead so im waiting for the new ones, so the base is incomplete, the lid has the controller board on it- for now its just got the PSU... Im a little worried though, just 1 graphics engine and 1 video converter is enough to get it up to 90 degrees.. I need to put a fan in there for sure!!

 

Small update for today, been making slow progress with the software, managed to find a fix for the serial rate but its not easy lol..

Started slowly working through the macros ive made to prevent having to duplicate code, but there are some funny things happening here and there so im plodding on..

The monitors arrived this morning so i stripped them down and cut out the display for the monitor. These will be attached to the rear of the ali plate using a piece of perspex (to prevent dust getting into rev counter). The circuit boards will be tucked in behind it all.. The space on either side at the top is for SVA warning lights (such as indicators, brakes .etc)



* the image is simply from my reversing camera hooked up as a source until the new VGA to video cards arrive...

 

That looks awesome. Those should give you an amazing read out.

 

I hope so mate- at the moment im having alot of problems communicating with the graphics components..

 

Wow I am impressed and blown away by this. This is cool stuff.

 

probably the best build thread i've seen on any forum! cant wait to see this finished

 

Thanks alot chaps..

Ive been side tracked on a few things recently, so im hoping to get back to work..

Managed to get the voice warnings all working, at least the audio side of it anyway.. Going to take a while to build it all up but were getting there..

 

i just read this whole thread and wow is about all i can say.

just one question is are you not worried about your drive by wire system doing what the prius system has done?

 

Thanks alot mate...

Im not worried at all, the problem with the prius was a bit weird. In fact some of the reported problems were caused by the carpet getting stuck under the pedal..

The difference is that mine isnt designed to be a normal passenger car. Although ive built in redundancy into the CPU, there are manual overrides preventing any silly business..

Also, ive kept audi's self checking system, where it compares the 2 sensors in the throttle pedal. Im also keeping the TPS as an additional fail safe, although its not embodied in this software yet...

Speaking of development, it has been slow progress with the dash controller. Ive had to change the design of the computer to compensate for some hardware and software limitations, but i think ive cracked it..

Here is a very geeky video- alot of people will probably never read this thread again after hearing it..




The voice says; Warning fuel pressure low, reversionary fuel mode active.. it basically means that the fuel computer has detected that the fuel pressure has dropped below a set limit. It will then use the "reversionary" method of control. Instead of using MOSFETs to throttle the fuel pumps, the system will attempt to maximise fuel flow by closing 2 relays, bypassing entirely the fuel computer and running the fuel pumps at the maximum..

Its just a safety system i designed in case my complicated computer control goes wrong..

 

she sounds sexy

 

The Prius dbw issue was a pile of media hyped BS anyway. If you speak to anyone who works on Toyotas, they'll tell you that almost every car that came in with the "issue" was equipped with several layers of floor mats.

Not to mention, its pretty damn easy to turn a car off if it does run away from you. Pretty sure that was one of the first five things I was ever taught about driving.

Anyways, your video didn't geek me out here, I'm still in!

 

Chris, you were right about one thing. It is geeky, but you are probably wrong in saying that people will never visit this thread again.

 

Thanks alot for that chaps..

And yes, I agree, she has a rather pleasant voice lol.. The sorta voice you dont mind telling you your engines about to blow up lol


The felt came today so i finished the fasica covering. Bear in mind that the whole dash will be felted (apart from the vents and the cluster surround..







Need to make some shims for it and bolt it all together- almost done.. The lights are all missing but the holes are there.. Just need to order them, but as theyre SVA safe theyre like £3.50 each lol stupid!

 

Just time for another update!

Because the steering controller i designed needs to know the steering position. Because it puts the pump in standby if the car is stood still for more than a few seconds (unless you turn the wheel).

Ive done this using a robotics / model aluminium timing pulley, which i bored out and attached to the back of my steering boss. I then whipped up an ali plate (its not finished yet hence the unfinished look lol) to hold a 10 turn potentiometer. I put the smaller timing pulley on this and used a 200mm timing belt..

The outcome is pretty good, im not happy that i overbored the small pulley slightly so it isnt locating properly- ill have to buy another and fix that.. But its perfect, testing with a meter it has really good resolution too.. In the future i could even connect it to a datalogger of some kind...

 

haha man this thing is going to have so many contraptions by the time its all said and done, id hate to buy this car off of you without being able to raid your brain when ever needed.


with all the work involved i hope shes special to ya.

 

Lol yes, yes it will mate!

Im trying to hide them (if that makes sense). I dont want it to look like its has loads of gadgets, i just want them to do their jobs hidden..

I know what you mean, but i doubt ill ever sell it, at least not whole anyway.. When its finally done, theres time to mess with it..

 

nice cant wait to see it finish....

 

ive just spent a few hours reading this...at first glance i thought rice due to the wing and side skirts but now i am completely speechless and very impressed with your build, keep it up and the updates flowing

 

It's cool to see so many projects happening so quick! Personally I like to keep it as simple as I can. Just remember a house of cards only needs one piece out of place before it crashes.

If you keep the additions flowing, just make sure you document them thoroughly. If not, the car will never find another owner (unless you strip it for parts, maybe).

 

Me too mate... without a doubt lol..


I know what you mean about the skirts, glad i got rid- the problem starting it as a 17 year old lol (what an idiot)..

Thanks for your comments mate- ill keep the updates coming lol

Youre right mate- usually i would like to avoid unecessary complexity. But when im trying to use the car daily, its nice to put things in that help you out a little.

For each of the things i make, i have a full set of technical drawings in my car file as well as all the software i wrote on file too..

I dont think ill ever sell it in one piece, i would never get back anywhere near whats gone in.. I just want to tinker with it .etc

 

Sweet baby Jesus!!!

My brain is officially overloaded! I'm at a loss of words man. Can't wait to see the finished product! This car will have nothing to envy of the BTTF DeLorean

Best of luck with everything

 

Thanks mate!

Nothing could beat the back to the future delorean (BTTF II)!!

 

Okay, the cluster is now pretty much done.. Just got to get the lights and do a little tidying round the edges, but for the most part!



DONE

 

very impressive. i am definitely a fan of your cluster.