Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant • Hacker News Board

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#21

Post by contango » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:02 PM UTC

Prediction: No one will buy this. It does not solve an actual problem. It's a toy for data geeks.

How the hell much did that domain cost?

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#22

Post by patrickk » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:03 PM UTC

carlob wrote: post #14

Is this well localized? Metric units, European cars and speed limits?

Regarding european cars...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On-board_diagnostics#EOBD

"The technical implementation of EOBD is essentially the same as OBD-II, with the same SAE J1962 diagnostic link connector and signal protocols being used."

So it likely will work with European cars. (I'm not associated with Automatic, but I have done research into OBD-II previously).

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#23

Post by mcescalante » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:03 PM UTC

gms wrote: post #18

Do all cars have this 'data port'? I had no idea this thing existed.

Yes, it is the OBD II port, and is typically used for on board diagnostics and connects directly to the ECU. The bluetooth "dongles" have been around for a number of years.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#24

Post by garethadams » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:03 PM UTC

isalmon wrote: post #19

Very good concept overall, I like the idea A LOT. One thing that surprised me: >> Speeding doesn't save as much time as you might think, but driving 10 MPH over the speed limit reduces fuel efficiency by 12-15%. How's my fuel efficiency related to the speed limit set by local authorities?

I think it's probably saying that every 10MPH increase has a corresponding fuel efficiency hit

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#25

Post by jmvoodoo » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:04 PM UTC

Very cool. I'm still waiting for a phone version of the Tactrix open port though. Would love to be able to do in-depth data-logging of my car and ECU flashing from my phone... the market for that is significantly smaller though I'm sure.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#26

Post by tomasien » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:05 PM UTC

contango wrote: post #21

Prediction: No one will buy this. It does not solve an actual problem. It's a toy for data geeks. How the hell much did that domain cost?

Where is my car parked? Why is the check engine light on? If I'm in a crash find me help? Those are real problems.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#27

Post by dbrian » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:06 PM UTC

isalmon wrote: post #19

Very good concept overall, I like the idea A LOT. One thing that surprised me: >> Speeding doesn't save as much time as you might think, but driving 10 MPH over the speed limit reduces fuel efficiency by 12-15%. How's my fuel efficiency related to the speed limit set by local authorities?

Obviously it varies by car but the the theory is that most engines are less fuel efficient at higher speeds. So driving the speed limit is more fuel efficient than driving over the speed limit.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#28

Post by marban » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:06 PM UTC

I feel like the Beta flag next to Crash Alerts gives a new twist to what you can expect from a beta version.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#29

Post by vineet » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:06 PM UTC

Seems very similar to these guys as well: http://moj.io

I am looking forward to the competition (and innovation) in this space.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#30

Post by heywire » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:07 PM UTC

I've had one of these cheap Bluetooth OBD-II adapters for quite a while now, however, the tight integration that this solution shows in the demo is enough to get me to preorder. There was just too much fiddling with the other apps. Maybe the gamification of maximizing my MPG will keep me off the pedal...