Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant • Hacker News Board

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#51

Post by dmmalam » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:16 PM UTC

Does this also connect to the CAN Bus, if so will you offer a simple high level API to it. I would buy one now if it did.

Background: I showed Lockitron to my dad a while back, and he wanted it for his car. ie unlock/lock from his phone, or even by just walking up, like keyless-go on the mercs.

I did a bit of googleling, and it seemed like it should be pretty simple. Connect a dongle to the diagnostic port (inc CAN bus wires), and then fire the correct CAN messages down. On most modern cars you can pretty much control anything, from the locks, cruise control, windows, seats, radio, lights, wipers etc. The problem is the CAN message format isn't documented anywhere, and it varies from car to car. You would have to sniff bus, with lots of trial & error.

If there was a high level API, ie openDriverSideWindow(), I could image the community creating a whole host of automation possibilities. ie Open windows when the temp is above 30C, or turn radio down when I'm close to home.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#52

Post by Peroni » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:16 PM UTC

jarito wrote: post #48

moe wrote: post #39

I wonder, could a malware on my phone issue a command such as "ENGAGE BRAKE FRONT-LEFT" while I'm going 130mph on the autobahn?

As I understand it, no. ODBII is a read-only data port that surfaces information about the state of your car. I don't believe it lets you enter commands. That being said, there have been man vulnerabilities in car software which is all proprietary and hasn't undergone any public review, so I guess it is possible.

I don't believe it lets you enter commands.

They can but they are usually pre-programmed commands set by the manufacturer. Most electronic elements to a vehicle can be controlled with the correct manufacturer equipment and software that most branded dealerships have.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#53

Post by damoncali » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:17 PM UTC

mcescalante wrote: post #23

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.

I was under the impression that it was mandated by the government for all US cars in the 90's. Is that not the case?

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#54

Post by xur17 » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:18 PM UTC

Looks similar to this: http://moj.io/ except your's doesn't require a monthly fee (which was a big turn off for moj.io for me). I almost preordered one, but I saw android wasn't supported yet - I'll probably come back and check in the future.

There are some android apps in the marketplace for bluetooth OBD II devices that can be ordered for $10 for an app with similar features to this if anyone's looking for an idea.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#55

Post by ck2 » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:19 PM UTC

So it's a $10 elm327 ?

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=elm327&_sacat=0

With a Torque clone?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torq...

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#56

Post by UnoriginalGuy » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:19 PM UTC

Wintamute wrote: post #47

UnoriginalGuy wrote: post #35

I've seen these before. There are several companies working on similar products (and things like HUDs you can get off of eBay which show you OBD-II information). The main problem with these (all of them!) is that the OBD II was never designed to be used like this. It will run the device 24/7 even when the car is turned off. So it will run down your battery in a similar way to leaving the cabin light on would do... No…

Can't the dongle just kill its own connection to the OBDII port? i.e. appear inert to the car's hardware as if nothing is plugged in?

It could, but keep in mind many OBD-II ports are out of reach. The one shown in the marketing is real, but many are located on the passenger side or a lot deeper on the driver's side.

OBD-II might be a standard, but as I said it was designed to be used while the car is in a garage, never while it is being driven. So there is no "standard" for manufacturers to position it.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#57

Post by Peroni » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:20 PM UTC

kerbs wrote: post #46

Wait, so this 69$ little contraption can read the code behind a check engine light? That's $100 in savings that would otherwise go to the Car Mechanic Mafia. Pre-ordered.

It can read the code but that doesn't give you much to work with. You won't be able to clear the code and you will have to pay for the replacement parts and undertake the repairs yourself.

I'm not sure what the situation is in the US but here in the UK, if you took your car to a mechanic purely for the sake of reading the code then it would only cost about £50.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#58

Post by xur17 » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:20 PM UTC

Peroni wrote: post #42

The Automatic Link includes a built-in accelerometer that can detect many types of crashes. Automatic uses your phone's data connection to immediately report the crash to 911 with your name, location, and vehicle description. Now this fascinates me. I wonder what parameters are required to trigger the automatic emergency notification.

And how is it reported to 911? Does Automatic have someone manually call it in? I didn't think 911 had an api that you could report stuff through.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#59

Post by jrbran » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:20 PM UTC

kerbs wrote: post #46

Wait, so this 69$ little contraption can read the code behind a check engine light? That's $100 in savings that would otherwise go to the Car Mechanic Mafia. Pre-ordered.

You can take your car to nearly any auto parts store -- autozone, oreilly, napa, etc -- and they will read the code for you for free too.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#60

Post by Scorponok » Tue, Mar 12, 2013, 4:22 PM UTC

Peroni wrote: post #57

kerbs wrote: post #46

Wait, so this 69$ little contraption can read the code behind a check engine light? That's $100 in savings that would otherwise go to the Car Mechanic Mafia. Pre-ordered.

It can read the code but that doesn't give you much to work with. You won't be able to clear the code and you will have to pay for the replacement parts and undertake the repairs yourself. I'm not sure what the situation is in the US but here in the UK, if you took your car to a mechanic purely for the sake of reading the code then it would only cost about £50.

According to the video you can clear the code, the example if if the code reports "Loose gas cap".