.

Note: when building PCs, it is best to use a grounding wrist band to protect electronic
components from an  electrostatic discharge (ESD).

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Stealth Computer's LPC-450FS

Check out this fanless PC built on a small form factor from Stealth Computers. Let’s see, small, rugged, fanless, 12 volts…. seems like good platform for in car computing to me!

Stealth Computers offers a lot of specialized and small form factor computers, but this one really seems to be a good choice for automotive applications.

The fanless feature is nice because you don’t have to worry about the cooling fan pulling in those dust bunnies that tend to breed under the seat and other nooks and crannies of a car.

The extruded aluminum chassis and the shock mounted 2 1/2″ hard drive is no doubt a rugged package. If you want it even more shock resistant you can get a solid state drive and have no moving parts!

I have not used or reviewed this PC but it looks promising to me. Here is a link so you can read more about the LPC-450FS unit and I have included some of the specs below:

• 12 VDC Operation, ideal for mobile/field
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• 3D Graphics with 16×9 Capability
• Built-in Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0,
• 1394a Firewire, Audio, Serial and Video Ports
• Low Profile Rugged Aluminum Chassis 6.1″(W) x 10.0″(D) x 2.17″(H)
• Slim Slot Loading Optical Drives
• Solid State Hard Drives (SSD) optional
• Windows Vista & XP Pro Compatible,
• Intel Celeron M440, 1.86GHz Processor
• 1MB Cache, 533MHz FSB
• 80 Gig HDD SATA (2.5″)
• DVD/CD-RW Drive
• 1GB RAM SO-DIMM
• On-board Video & Audio
• Standard Price: $1095

As the story goes, Simon and Steve develop an application for their BlackBerry Storm to steer a modified remote control car. They set up a make shift race track in their office and turn “another day at the office” into a RC car extravaganza. I am OK with the video so far.

Now, Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren Formula 1 team contacts Simon and Steve about their BlackBerry application. This is where I start to question if this is a fake or not.  I doubt that this car is actually being driven by the BlackBerry, but how? Maybe a midget laying on the floorboard? Maybe a real remote control, likely laptop based, sitting off camera? You watch the video and see what you think.

Mobility 2088 - Part of Honda's Power the Dream Series

Honda produced a neat documentary where the question was, “What will transportation look like in 80 years? This film is part of their “Dream the Impossible” documentary series. No doubt that digital technology will be a major player.

Honda’s “Dream the Impossible” project is a series of well produced (high dollar) documentaries that are thought provoking. You can view all  the documentaries in the highest available quality at this link.

Dream The Impossible
Documentary Series

Honda is a company founded by a dreamer. And we are a company that believes in the Power of Dreams.

Honda has a rich history of making impossible dreams come to fruition. And because the lessons of the past help guide our future, there is a simple humanity found in even our most complex products.

We wanted to document our advancement as a company through film to give you a better understanding of the people behind our products. Please join us as we uncover Honda through the candid approach of the documentary film process.

View “Mobility 2088″ in wide screen format from YouTube

View “Mobility 2088″ in the highest quality from Honda’s site

Some of the expected features are:

• An application that could track your peregrinations and estimate your total carbon emissions.
• Remotely starting a car
• Resetting its alarm with an iPhone
• Unlocking the doors with an iPhone (commands could be sent to the car over the Internet)
• Cars equipped with blind-spot-detection video cameras could be programmed to take a picture of anyone near the car during a break-in and then e-mail it directly to a cellphone or computer.

Here is an article on this at the New York Times

Rinspeed's iChange

iPhone Integration

A recent  CarTech Podcast included information about a new project at Rinspeed that really starts to push the technology boundaries. While the folks at Rinspeed are know for their innovation, they really pulled out all the stops for this new concept car called, iChange

While the car does all kinds of interesting things, such as changing its’ shape based on the number of passengers, the part that caught my attention was the integration of the Apple iPhone with the car.

An iPhone is docked into the dashboard and becomes part of the car’s control and display system. You actually start the phone by pushing a start button on the iPhone. After the car is running, the iPhone is then used to display information about the car.  Being able to take your car’s main control system with you and put it in your pocket definitely takes car security to a new level!

This car is complex and there is no way this post can cover it, so I have included several resources for those that want to see what lots of money and out-of-the-box thinking can produce.

Clip from CNET’s CarTech Podcast

Download audio file (rinspeed_iphone_car.mp3)

Rinspeed Press Release

Link to a Rinspeed Video on iChange

This event was covered in a good article written by Bob Chabot and posted on the ASA Website. Toyota was also gracious enough to make available a handout of the presentation which included the speaker’s notes. Mark Saxonberg, the Service Technology Department Manager for Toyota Motor Sales made the presentation. All the block quotes in this post came straight from the presentation notes which are available here.

The TIS Techstream

Toyota Techstream

Toyota’s original scan tool was based on Vetronix’s Mastertech platform and was put in service in 1993. In the spring of 2007, Toyota shipped their new PC-based scan tool, called TIS Techstream, to its 1750 North American Toyota/Scion dealers.

This new OEM scan tool is a great example of how to leverage a tool’s capabilities by using existing industry standard hardware and technology. As shown in the image to the left, the TIS Techstream is made up of three main parts

At the core of this tool is a Panasonic ToughBook 19 computer. This computer has become an industry standard among ruggedized computers. Some of the more noted ruggedized features are: full magnesium alloy case, moisture and dust resistant keyboard and touch pad, sealed port and connector covers and a shock-mounted removable hard drive.

The Backpack

The ruggedized ToughBook is further toughened up by placing it into another frame (backpack) that adds big corner bumpers and additional padding. The backpack also holds the Vehicle Interface Module (VIM) and a charging module to provide power to the computer from the 12v source that is available from the OBD-II data link connector.

The Docking Station

When not in use, the computer/backpack unit is placed in the docking station for charging. The backpack can also be locked to the docking station for security.

Toyota Techstream Service information from Toyota’s Technical Information System (TIS) is delivered to the scan tool using industry standard wireless network technology. Techstream will automatically notify you if a PCM update is available for a car being scanned. You are given the option of reading the TSB that addresses the details of the PCM software update and updating the software if you choose. The TIS Techstream integrates a robust OEM level scan tool, a service information system, and PCM reprogramming into one bay side tool!

Currently this system is sold as a complete package for $7,995 and includes a 2-year subscription to TIS (includes Techstream software updates and ECU Reprogramming Calibrations). Based on the following excerpt from the presentation, it looks like in the future you will likely be able to purchase the software and use your own hardware.

I see more PC-based vehicle diagnostic software from automakers – so we can get out of the hardware business and focus on building robust diagnostic software tools for the “even-more-complex” systems that are coming in the future.

The Toyota Aftermarket Philosophy

Part of the presentation focused on Toyota’s philosophy towards the independent service industry. The title of the presentation, “Building Brand Loyalty Through Outstanding Service Support – in the Aftermarket” set the stage! Here are some amazing excerpts from the presentation material.

Why do consumers make the automotive purchase decisions they do? While factors like styling and performance are important to many, if you ask them what keeps them coming back for more, consumers almost universally rate Quality, Dependability and Reliability – QDR – as a primary motivator. And…, while product quality and dependability are, to a large degree a function of engineering, as the vehicle ages, they inevitably require maintenance and repair. Automotive engineers have a great deal of influence over QDR in the early stages of the ownership experience, but you have the most influence over the quality of that ownership experience in the later years of the ownership cycle. Your role in automaker success becomes even more important as the quality gap continues to narrow between automakers. As the competitive playing field becomes more level, automakers have to find new ways to distinguish their products from their competitors.

A reputation for a positive lifetime ownership experience is one of the more important distinguishing attributes that can set an automaker apart from its competitors. Positive ownership experiences sell cars!

If automakers expect independent shops to deliver positive ownership experiences, we have to create effective and affordable service support systems for you.

Toyota is showing a lot of wisdom by adopting this position. Actually Toyota has been “aftermarket friendly” for many years with programs such as, Support to Automotive Repair (STAR), and other aftermarket support programs. It is good, however, to hear this from a Toyota presentation. Toyota has proven that you can be supportive of the aftermarket and still grow your market share. No doubt, other OEMs have opened up their programs more because of the example set by Toyota.

Toyota’s Challenge to the Aftermarket

Toyota also recognizes that the aftermarket needs to be prepared for the changes in the industry. For an independent shop to be in a position to deliver quality service it must be financially sound and invested in technology and training. Here are some excerpts from the presentations:

The industry is changing at an astonishingly fast pace – and if you haven’t already, it’s time to get on-board and start changing with it. Here are a few suggestions to help get you started:

First, get yourself a broadband connection to the Internet in your shop and connect it by a secure wireless network to your service area so you can begin taking advantage of the wealth of service support resources available there.

Use your third party and OEM website service information resources regularly – the days of fixing cars without service information are gone.

Come to grips with the fact that the increasing incremental costs of service information and diagnostic tools are eroding your bottom line – it is time to understand just how much and begin building these costs into your fee structures.

And finally, become accustomed to using PCs in your service environment – a great deal of your service support will be delivered by them in the future.

The Future

Assuming Toyota and the aftermarket maintain a cooperative working relationship, here are some of the things you will likely see going into the future:

I see growing use of OEM websites as complete service support portals, providing access not only to service information, but also to subscription based diagnostic software, just in time training resources, and manufacturer specific technical assistance.

Historically, automakers have relied on aftermarket tool and equipment suppliers to create service support systems for the aftermarket. With the complexity of today’s vehicles and service support systems, this model is becoming more of a challenge.

More collaboration on standardization in vehicle diagnostic interfaces, movement toward Windows based diagnostic applications and development of diagnostic appliances – capable of supporting all automaker diagnostic systems – offer the best hope in realizing this vision for the future.

If you are involved in computers you know tie significance of this man. He, and a hand full of other “geeks”, started the development of the modern day computer systems just a little over 30 years ago. Bill Gates and his counterpart at Apple, Steve Jobs, were the early pioneers and still have a lot of input into future digital technologies.

On May 30, 2007 these two men were interviewed by Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg at the “All Things Digital Conference” also know as D5. I personally found it fascinating to listen to these two men talk about the future of the computer industry. I think it gives us an idea of what to expect in the way of upcoming digital systems. It is only logical that many of the technologies they talk about will make their way into the automotive industry.

For those true geeks (like me) I have a link below to the transcript of the Gates / Jobs Interview along with the full audio and a highlights video.

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Interview

Transcript

Download the MP3 File

Download audio file (Jobs_Gates_D5_Conf.mp3)