Suzuki Swift Car PC - Intel Atom Car Automation

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omair1981 (omair1981) 2012-01-29 05:13:59 +0500 #1

I'm working on a custom built car computer for my Suzuki Swift 2012. It will have all the functions that are available in any 2 DIN entertainment system and more.

Hardware:
Intel Atom 1.6 Ghz, 2 GB Ram, 320 GB HDD
8" Indash custom bazel touch screen
USB Radio
USB GPS
OBDII USB Reader
Fusion Brain 35 input/output sensors
Remote Control

Software:
Win XP SP3
Centrafuse 4.0 Front End App to control everything
Trakker NAV Maps (Sygic for WIN CE 6)
Voice Control and Commands

Need comments and feedback on this. Work log soon to come...

ifoo_786 (ifoo_786) 2012-01-29 05:23:53 +0500 #2

Good !

cooldevil (cooldevil) 2012-01-29 05:31:44 +0500 #3

good work! Its fitted in a coure atm!

omair1981 (omair1981) 2012-01-29 05:36:33 +0500 #4

Yea that was the system from my previous car, this time around i'm putting the screen "in dash" rather "on dash" Just bought a replacement 2 din cover part from Suzuki, fitting my 8 inch screen into it now. The CPU will probably stay in the Pioneer casing... everything is concealed so only the screen is visible.

sial_ali (sial_ali) 2012-01-29 05:58:12 +0500 #5

@omair : bhai cooling issue to nahi hongy ?

chinyoti (Murtaza Shahid) 2012-01-29 07:48:02 +0500 #6

A touch screen would be even more nicer wouldnt it?

margallar (margallar) 2012-01-29 08:03:55 +0500 #7

all is good but you must fill the gap in the casing in the place where the ports are

madhouse12 (madhouse12) 2012-01-30 02:45:17 +0500 #8

lovely work bro. how have u tackled the issue of powering down/up on car startup? or do u have to wait each time for the system to start up when u start the car?

tilsim (tilsim) 2012-01-30 02:58:14 +0500 #9

I worked on the car pc project as well.. not this good.. i left it for two issues:
1. availability of touch screen that fits the dash with option of vga input
2. boot up / shut down time..

Anyhow, seems like you're going gr8.. good work. love the changer case CPU idea..

junaydmirza (junaydmirza) 2012-01-30 03:16:04 +0500 #10

whoa man!!! i have been dreaming of doing this carputer thing for last.....say 5 YEARS!! never got around even starting it though

mostly stuck due to non-availability of vga touchscreen. where did you get it from?? and what about other components source?

omair1981 (omair1981) 2012-01-30 03:28:39 +0500 #11

Hmm, i didn't expect to receive that much feedback Let me answer as much as i can.

Yes its a 8 Inch VGA USB Touch Screen monitor. Imported it from China almost 2 years ago, you can also get most of the stuff online from LightInTheBox - Global Online Shopping for Dresses, Home & Garden, Electronics, Wedding Apparel (trust me, they deliver and wont cheat you.

For windows startup/shutdown time, what i do is to use Nlite XP (thats a cut down version of XP around 500 megs) add EWF (Extended Write Filter) and HORM (Hybernate Once Resume Many) options from Windows XPE/Embedded. That way once i hybernate in a perticular set state, no matter how many times i reboot, it always come back from that last saved state. Hence startup/shutdown = less than 15 seconds.

In addition, i have added 2 12 volts non reverse battery pack with save my car pc from rebooting on engine start up. One can always use a laptop to overcome that issue anyways

I'll upload a few pictures today to make things more clear. Also, lemme know if anyone is interested in doing this for his car, would sure like to help.

junaydmirza (junaydmirza) 2012-01-30 04:06:31 +0500 #12

I got M2-ATX (160w) Intelligent DC-DC Car PC Power Supply for powering the thing. Hopefully I will someday muster enough courage to get the touchscreen too

Are you planing to do custom fabrication to fit that screen into the bezel?

I think 8" won't fit in a standard double din and you may have to do some cutting on the edges.

omair1981 (omair1981) 2012-01-30 04:18:56 +0500 #13

Thanks a nice PSU, 160 watts I'm running mine on a 120 watt PSU. But then i removed the HDD and now have a SATA to Compact Flash converter with 8 GB Compact Flash as my HDD. Saves some valuable watts from the PSU.

I did cut the Suzuki Swift 2 Din covering, added the original bazel from the screen and then get it modified from saddar. Check my previous post images, the screen fits like a glove now

For me its more of a time issue than actual work, real hard to work on personal projects when you are employed

junaydmirza (junaydmirza) 2012-01-30 06:49:43 +0500 #14

tell me about it

I have so many projects on my mind but haven't got time (read money, time bohot hay :D)

CarPC, Home Automation, CNC.... sab personal projects adhooray choray huay hain. Well, after retirement may be

junaydmirza (junaydmirza) 2012-01-30 06:52:34 +0500 #15

By the way, where in saddar did you get that modification done? Looks pretty decent in pics

omair1981 (omair1981) 2012-01-30 06:57:06 +0500 #16

It was from maxiline. Behind plaza. Go on a Sunday, the guys there would charge you an outrageous price any other day. I got it done for 300 bucks, but that's just the fitting of the original screen bazel. Rest i had to do with "magic epoxy" and fine sand paper Still not satisfied with the finishing, think i'll redo it this Saturday.

i'll also post some pics of my friends Civic that we did a while ago. He used a 7 inch screen and an acer laptop permanently wired to the car.

Baleno1300 (Rashid K) 2012-01-30 07:16:22 +0500 #17

Why don't you install a Samsung Galaxy tab 7" in the car dash.
No need for a complete PC or anything else.

It will give you every things like:
sound system, movies, software, GPS Navigation, etc.....unlimited applications.

Check it out here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9H54r6AUNA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRjC_EJK8Ng

aliqadri (aliqadri) 2012-01-30 07:16:56 +0500 #18

Good one)...

omair1981 (omair1981) 2012-01-30 07:21:26 +0500 #19

Galaxy Tab is a android based device, not much room for "customisation" and other things. Plus it would be a mission to connect various peripherals to it. I've seen a few guys do this though. Me, i'm more of a advance user who wants way much more than just music.

@ aliqadri, thanks for the advise mate, did all of those. Not going for a laptop as that again restricts ports and accessibility.

Hover over to Centrafuse | Connected Car Applications, you'll understand then what the front end is like. Another useful link is Mp3car.com: Providing the latest news on in-car entertainment, and a community to connect people.

junaydmirza (junaydmirza) 2012-01-30 07:35:42 +0500 #20

moreover, its kills the fun and adventure out of it