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Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

automatic.com

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Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#281

Post by ibrahima »

mavhc wrote: post #195
UnoriginalGuy wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't call it a myth people have reported issues with similar port adapters, particularly bluetooth ones. If the issue doesn't apply here then great but in general people should pay attention.

My cheap chinese bluetooth obd2 device caused my battery to drain when I was ill for a week and didn't use my car over the christmas holidays. On the plus side now I know how to jump start it.

Thanks, this is good to know since I have one too. I'll have to start unplugging mine (also cheap and probably Chinese, though I got it on Amazon). But I've left it in for several months without issue, I guess maybe I just drive regularly enough that it's not an issue.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#282

Post by ibrahima »

UnoriginalGuy wrote: post #74
freehunter wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think what he meant was, can't the device shut itself off in software to appear as though it is unplugged. Not having the user unplug it himself.

Oh I see what you mean. I bet it could. But how would it ever turn its self back on? I mean if it is receiving OBD-II information then it knows when the car is running, but if it isn't (which it wouldn't be if it is "off") then it couldn't know to switch its self on. Kind of a chick/egg problem.

If the device has its own battery power, it could probably use a transistor to just disconnect from the battery voltage completely and go into a low power mode where it just checks for ODB2 information periodically, or even just turns itself on when your phone is in range.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#283

Post by newman314 »

I would love to have just a nice OBD II app that allows me to diagnose and reset params in my car. All the solutions that I've found so far seem to be thrown together and have generally horrendous UI.

Maybe they would be willing to sell a lower tier product for the iPad with just that and none of the geo features? If so, TAKE MY MONEY.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#285

Post by suraj »

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?

The CAN[1] bus used in OBD is a broadcast protocol. So the dongle can just stop sending messages to appear inert to engine control unit.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller_Area_Network

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#288

Post by robmcm »

itsprofitbaron wrote: post #116

First of all, congrats on the launch guys! There are several people within this space and going beyond the fact that, they’ve got a nice generic .com (important for this type of product) which the public can easily remember they actually have an interesting product which, so far appears better executed than the others in this space. As well as that they also have an interesting team behind them as well for instance t…

The problem with these telemetric policies is that I bet they are actually aimed at peanalising risky drivers rather than rewarding low risk drivers.

Perhaps I am being too syndical and actually they are just trying to replace the, now illegal, female driver discount.

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#289

Post by Flenser »

thejo wrote: post #260
freehunter wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm just hoping there's a way to turn it off without losing any other functionality. I really don't want to be hit with the bill from an accidental 911 call, I'll take my chances that if there's an accident someone around (or I) will be able to call 911 without a $70 app deciding it for me. I would also be concerned (this seems to be an extreme edge case) that off-roading may trip the sensor. I try not to break my eq…

You can disable the crash alert feature if you don't want it.

Does it send the alert straight away or do you get a chance to stop it if it triggers accidentally or the accident isn't so bad that you need an ambulance?

Re: Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant

#290

Post by sah2ed »

jarek wrote: post #247
ameen wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There might be a few challenges in evolving this product to an iPhone|Smartphone-free future. 3G modems are notorious for their energy inefficiency, and if one were to include them in this device, the drain on the car's battery will be significantly higher.

Unlikely. Cellular modems might be notorious when it comes to mobile devices, but the power use is tiny compared to car electrics (headlights, spark plugs, various fans). A cell phone might have a 5 Wh battery (5.45 Wh in iPhone 5); car batteries are closer to anywhere from 500 to beyond 1000 Wh. If your phone can idle for two days with only occasional modem use (no screen and minimal CPU use), a car battery can do m…

> ... but the power use is tiny compared to car electrics (headlights, spark plugs, various fans).

Spark plugs?

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