New gauge project...

[robot]

EDIT: Older cruft is bellow the line

Github: https://github.com/stirobot/arduinoModularTFTgauges

Demo video: [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIIwZtxxgqY"]Modular arduino TFT gauge mode switching - YouTube[/ame]



Parts used:
arduino mega (I actually use a clone): $15 - $45
assorted wires: $free-$10
a button $2
a 1.8" tft (http://www.adafruit.com/products/358 or clone): $10 - $20
a micro SD card: $0-$texas
an OBD II UART thing (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9555): $60
a case to make it look pretty: $0-$30 (if you bought a specific case or two or had your own laser cut or 3d printed)

Total: Somewhere around $90-$182

__________________________________________________ _____________

Some of you (maybe 1 or 2) may remember me from iwsti (sti robot). I had this gauge project that went in many different directions over the years. I'm considering reviving it and figuring out a way to mount in cleanly in the BRZ/FRS.

It is arduino powered, the source is open, and most of the sensor code is written. Here is the original thread from eons ago: http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gd-inter...setup-out.html

Here is the google code page: https://code.google.com/p/robotmeter/

To add to the confusion I've written various UI's for it in the past:
1. 2 line x 16 character LCD - this fit perfectly in the clock bezel of the GD impreza and the code for this is the most mature.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNwBDjoZ7mY"]robotmeter clips - YouTube[/ame]

2. A small touchscreen - this never worked out due to a very buggy api for the touchscreen.
3. A 7 segment display

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bqscDTiXdY"]Simple 7 segment boost gauge - YouTube[/ame]

4. A small 1.8" LCD - nice graphics, good api, some charts written, etc. Also has a micro sd card and a good api for logging to it.





So, questions:

-How would I go about mounting something like this in the BRZ/FRS? I was thinking that if I used the 1.8" screen, I could mold something into the corner of the cluster that occludes the analog speedo. Then I could scan it and 3d print it.
-What essential readouts is the BRZ/FRS missing? I was leaning towards oil temp, oil pressure, and accelerometer.
-I was also toying with the idea of custom making an analog look meter driven by a stepper motor. I've found several companies willing to print or etch gauge faces that I like/draw/etc.
-I also though that if I ever make this a kit of some sort I'd power it via the obd II port...although I have no plans to read from the obd II port...and no plans to make a kit...

Basically if you could make it, what would it look like and what would it do?

For the mods: I'm not selling anything (at least yet)...all of the code is open source...etc.

[wparsons]

Oil pressure is only "ok" or "trouble", not an actual pressure sensor, so that would require more additional hardware/wiring than sensors already in the car stock.

[robot]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Oil pressure is only "ok" or "trouble", not an actual pressure sensor, so that would require more additional hardware/wiring than sensors already in the car stock.

Yes, exactly. I've written code for several off the shelf (autometer is the best) sensors to work with the arduino.

[SirBrass]

@nelsmar, you and the OP should collaborate .

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by robot

So, questions:

-How would I go about mounting something like this in the BRZ? I was thinking that if I used the 1.8" screen, I could mold something into the corner of the cluster that occludes the analog speedo. Then I could scan it and 3d print it.
-What essential readouts is the BRZ missing? I was leaning towards oil temp, oil pressure, and accelerometer.
-I was also toying with the idea of custom making an analog look meter driven by a stepper motor. I've found several companies willing to print or etch gauge faces that I like/draw/etc.
-I also though that if I ever make this a kit of some sort I'd power it via the obd II port...although I have no plans to read from the obd II port...and no plans to make a kit...

Basically if you could make it, what would it look like and what would it do?

For the mods: I'm not selling anything (at least yet)...all of the code is open source...etc.

The BRZ/FR-S/GT-86 (hereto referred to as "the 86" or "the twins") isn't really missing much, but it doesn't display everything. With custom PIDs, accurate (Very accurate... the factory primary 02 sensor has turned out to be very accurate and effectively a good wideband for NA useage) AFR, coolant temp, oil temp, and (iirc) IATs are readable from the ECU. Basically, depending on powerplant application (NA, SC, or TC), you still need boost and MAYBE EGTs, and (only if you really want to) oil pressure.

For turbo: coolant and oil temps, IAT, AFR, and boost. For SC: boost with failsafe if running a wastegate, coolant and oil temps, IAT, AFR. For NA: coolant and oil temps, IAT.

Anything else is pure personal preference and DBL (das blinken lights).

[robot]

I've never done OBD II...but there are several bodies of code to work from if I wanted to do that.

I'm really just looking for a project.

So would OBD-II -> analog A/F be cool, maybe OBD-II -> digital A/F?

This guy has some interesting stuff: http://arduinodev.com/

[SirBrass]

I'd be more interested in digital oil/coolant temps, digital IAT, digital afr, analog boost, analog oil pressure. But that's just me. Me staying NA, and maybe later going to SC, I'm more concerned about temps if I'm going to be running the car hard in the heat to make sure it doesn't get too hot or is cooling down properly afterwards.

I'd definitely want this screen on the right side of the gauge cluster in that blank spot on the bezel.

The nice thing with ODBII readings is that you don't need to add extra sensors and a controller to read certain items. So it eliminates clutter and complexity of install.

[robot]

I'm intrigued about this spot to the right of the dash. Can you really read stuff there without the wheel getting in the way?

http://arduinodev.com/hardware/obd-kit/

The API is very very straightforward.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by robot

I'm intrigued about this spot to the right of the dash. Can you really read stuff there without the wheel getting in the way?

http://arduinodev.com/hardware/obd-kit/

The API is very very straightforward.

Yeah, you can. Not without some obstruction from the wheel, but enough to get the general idea for the data.

If I wanted a clear, unobstructed view for a guage, I'd go with A-pillar mount or defrost vent pod mount. For general "info at a glance", the space to the right of the cluster on the bezel is just fine.

[2SeeKU]

One of the projects l'd love to do is to replace the clock near the gear shifter with a simple gauge display (similar to the 7 segment example). I don't need constant vision of the data but it would be nice to see AFR, G's.

I'll have to look at your code and mess around with it! Thanks for the link and your work!

[CarzCarzCarz]

Please make something to cover up the analog speedometer, it's basically useless. I've been contemplating something, two gauges or a LCD screen, to cover it up and make that space useful.

I miss the gauges my RX-7 had, four little round gauges off to the left that actually worked and showed a lot info.

[mabviper]

I like your idea but I suggest looking up OBDII. Most of the info you need is there. I also have a few projects in the pipeline for this car that uses OBDII. Now if I can just make a functional prototype... goodluck!

[robot]

The suggested location doesn't suck. I spent some time fiddling with where it might look good in this car and that location is probably the best:

[robot]

I'm thinking of making this more modular this time around. How about a config file where you name your sensors per page and set warning and colors and stuff in there?

Something like this...

#splashimage
splash:brz.bmp

#logging - log all sensors to SD card, interval in ms
logging:no
loginterval:2000

#colorscheme (will use color codes)
outline:white
fill:green
textdefault:red
alert:red

#pin config
#sensorName:pin
#legal sensor names:
#	oiltemp
#	oilpressure
#	boostpressure
#	temperature
#	accelx
#	accely
#	obdoiltemp
#	obdvolts
#	obdltf
#	obdstf
#	obdcoolant
#	obdafr
#	obdiat
#obd sensors don't have pins associated with them

#page (aka mode) config
#as many pages as you want...the sketch will flip through until EOF and start again
#each sensor is configured per page
#obd sensors don't have pin assignments after them
#page types:
#	twobar - two horizontal bar graphs with text
#	onebar - one horizontal bar graph with text
#	cross - cross chart for accelerometer
#	round - 1 round gauge for one sensor

page:1
pagetype:twobar
sensor1:obdoiltemp
sensor2:obdcoolant
sensor1text:Oil Temp
sensor2text:Water
sensor1max:300
sensor2max:100
sensor1alert:190
sensor2alert:0

page:2
pagetype:round
sensor1:oiltemp:9
sensor1text:Oil T
sensor1max:300
sensor1alert:190