Standalone ECU and iPad??

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jmc330i
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Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:10 pm

Fairly straightforward question.... Can Standalone ECUs be used with an iPad instead of a laptop?

I'm expecting the fairly straightforward answer of no, but its worth asking! :)
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Grrrmachine
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Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:22 pm

That's got to be a wind-up, surely. Apple, the world's most obsessive tie-up lock-out non-customisable producer out there, making a cable to connect to Megasquirt?
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redcar
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Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:26 pm

Grrrmachine wrote:That's got to be a wind-up, surely. Apple, the world's most obsessive tie-up lock-out non-customisable producer out there, making a cable to connect to Megasquirt?
Some of the standalone ECUs have outputs which go into a USB port. There are adapters to connect USB inputs into the iPad.

I suppose the rest is just someone needing to make an app or software to make it all work and be useful.
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Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:29 pm

Not that I know of, I do know a couple of people trying to do this with omex and not getting very far.

But there is a guy that might be able to help at a place called scooby clinic. Forgot his name but builds everything himself, ecu and display. Ive spoken with him and he says he can do just about anything haha! Might be worth having a word?

http://www.scoobyclinic.com/products_ecu.htm - He designed this readout to go with his ecu. Very helpfull guy.

This is the same guy, http://www.jti.uk.com/
jmc330i
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Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:57 pm

redcar wrote:
Grrrmachine wrote:That's got to be a wind-up, surely. Apple, the world's most obsessive tie-up lock-out non-customisable producer out there, making a cable to connect to Megasquirt?
Some of the standalone ECUs have outputs which go into a USB port. There are adapters to connect USB inputs into the iPad.

I suppose the rest is just someone needing to make an app or software to make it all work and be useful.
No wind up I'm afraid. If I can sync my HTC phone with iTunes, then I'm sure eventually something like this will be possible. I just wasn't sure if it was already.
Physically connecting it won't be a problem, as said, USB to iPad adaptors are available. It's just the software side that needs sorting I guess.
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Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:46 pm

As an apple software developer I honestly say this is never going to happen. Its not just a case of "making an app" there are fundamental differences in the way Apple hardware works, it would be a case of re-writing large portions of the Apple operating system and installing new physical hardware inside the ipad to recognise 3rd party devices. In a word, it ain't gonna happen.! You'd be better trying with a windows laptop.

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moto650
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Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:17 am

I'm going to disagree with the majority on this. Most of the standalones use serial communications (if you plug in usb it's likely a serial -> usb converter).
You can, with a jailbroken iOS device talk serial.
see http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/152

So for the hardware side, yes, possible. What you will have most difficulty with though is the GUI (graphical User Interface). So while your hardware is capable of talking to one another you wouldn't without someone like mcbonio be able to visualize what the ECU is saying or construct a command to tell the ECU.

Edit: looks like you don't even need to jail break
http://blog.makezine.com/2011/07/18/59- ... lbreaking/
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Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:07 am

I know its not quite the same but using the "torque" app on android market which I think is on app store as well, with a blu-tooth OBD plug in, I've been reading and clearing fault codes, seeing real time info and data logging on Volvo, Ford and VW last month so maybe if standalone ECUs become more like OBD2 you could do it.

http://www.ct200hforum.com/forum/lexus- ... d-app.html
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Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:28 am

Getting a cable made is easy, it's the availability of software that's the sticking point.

After reading the above I'm gonna checkout this "Torque" app.
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Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:47 pm

I have some PCB's being manufactured at the moment that would allow you to connect a "Raspberry Pi" to megasquirt. In case you dont know the Raspberry Pi is a £25 pc the size of a credit card.

TunerStudio will run on the Pi, so what you could do is network the iPad to the Pi (WiFi), and use something like VNC to remote desktop.

Or you could just get an LCD display for your dashboard, plug it into the Pi and make it a permanent fixture :)
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Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:56 pm

FlappySocks wrote: Or you could just get an LCD display for your dashboard, plug it into the Pi and make it a permanent fixture :)
Now that would be sweet.......
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Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:06 am

Think of all the other possibilities:

Sat-Nav
MP3 Jukebox or Spotify client
Megasquirt data logging with GPS
CCTV
GPS Tracking
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Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:08 am

Goes off to see if QNX will run on Pi........
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Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:17 am

It'd do all the stuff my CarPC does at the moment, I presume.
jmc330i
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Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:24 am

Hell, this is getting all very technical for me 8O :lol:

So whats a Raspberry Pi? And is it any good?

And what is with naming technology after fruit.... Raspberry, BlackBerry, Apple :?
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