Small Computer..

Thermostat!

I don't recall the name/manufacture, but there are OBD II readers that connect to a laptop.

They are used extensively by people trying to tune or reprogram their engine management systems. In your case you just need to develop algorithms to carry out specific tasks with that software running on the laptop. That would probably be a good development platform...

However, for your specific application you will need to build your own OBD II reader and on-board embedded microprocessor to run specific software of your design. Nobody wants to have to be saddled with a laptop in every car, assuming you are creating a commercial product.

Then you could control the specific apparatus on your car to do the auxiliary tasks you desire.

I guess I question the value of the needs you cited. For example, turning on an auxiliary pump to cool the transmission fluid is something that has been around for many, many decades and is already cheaper (and easily as effective) than your proposed solution. They are simply auxiliary transmission fluid radiators available either from the auto manufacture or after market sources. They contain a simple thermostat and divert fluid through a radiator when the fluid temperature exceeds a limit. People use them as part of a towing package.

As for spraying salt on tire, well, I can't see that as useful because the salt takes time to melt ice. By the time the reaction takes place with the ice you would be long gone down the road. The only instance where that might have a good impact would be if you got stuck and were stationary. However, once again, there has been a solution in place for over 50 years. That is to carry a bag of salt or sand in the trunk with a shovel.

I am sure you may have other ideas that may be valuable, but my point was that in order for new ways to skin the cat (sorry Dell) to gain acceptance they need to have a tangible benefit over the current paradigm in use and they need to be cheaper and save time (for the most part). If you have already done analysis along those lines, then my comment is mute. If not, go ahead and brainstorm all your ideas and then go through each one, one by one, and perform a cost-benefit analysis. Once you have that you can start with the ideas that are the low hanging fruit and produce the highest rate of returns on your investment.

Good luck!

Hero,

These were just simple examples of things that would not actually done but just illustrations.

And no we do not need the expense of a full laptop system on board the truck attached to a USB connection.

I guess I'm prolly looking for a small form factor 80x86 system with an OBD II type connection potential using a PROM and some FLASH memory.

If you know of such an animal or a direction to search..I'm all ears.

--Duck

I did a quick search, but I don't know of anything that will fit that description as you describe. Ideally, it would be nice to buy something off-the-shelf and slap your label on it, but I suspect you may not find that easy.

If I were going to do this I would ask myself how many units I expect to sell each year, what the target selling price would be, and deconstruct backwards to determine what the cost of the hardware would need to be to support that business model.

The best solution, assuming you can sell thousands of these each year, would be to develop your own hardware and software. I would budget 6 months to 1 man-year for the development costs plus any tools you need. Even if you are only selling a few hundred each year, developing your own hardware and software may still minimize your product costs and maximize your profit. That assumes there isn't something off-the-shelf that fits the budget.

Again, I am assuming you are doing this as a business venture. If true and you are asking these questions I would probably consider starting with a contracting engineering house to point you in the right direction

Hi HMcDuck,

I used to work for General Motors doing engine controls and they used to use what was called the saint box. You can get them from a company called

CSIElectronics in Kokomo Indiana

CSI Electronics
1942 S. Elizabeth Street, Kokomo, IN 46902
(800) 823-5588 or (765) 457-3894 fax: (765) 457-4395

Please give them a call and see if they still carry this box. The box will allow you to interface to several different busses.

We found the solution. It's at Rabbit Semiconductors. A real nice SBC that can do the job.

--Duck

Hi Duck,

I would be interested in reviewing the SBC from Rabbit Semiconductors. Would you please share the exact url, part number, product name, and description with us.

Thanks

Hydro

www.jcwhitney.com

www.scantool.net

www.tradekey.com/ks-automotive-code-reader