With the recent advances in Tablet Computing and non-proprietary devices such as those based on the Android Operating System, I’ve started considering the feasibility of using (or building) a Motorcycle Computer based on a 7” Android tablet. There is nothing currently on the market, but frankly, as I begin my feasibility study, I have to ask, why reinvent the wheel? I’ll come back to that…
At the simplest level, the tablet, without any physical interface to the motorcycle, (other than perhaps a 12 VDC power tap,) could provide communications, GPS, mapping, video recording, music and any other of the THOUSANDS of applications available for the Android platform. Even at this simplistic level, a tablet computer could consolidate many of the electronic devices riders often carry and greatly simplify connectivity!
Taking the computer to the next level, however, is where I see the huge potential! Imagine, for example, if the unit had “hard wire” connections to the motorcycle’s electronics, the PowerCommander and/or even a 3rd party data acquisition system? Now, we have a device that in addition to providing the entire library of Android apps, we might collect lap times, RPMs, speed, on/off throttle, braking and other data to help us in our riding. And then, rather than stopping and connecting the laptop for data analysis, we could do it right on the bike and immediately adjust accordingly.
Other uses might be:
- Adjusting fuel injection mapping, mid-flight
- Adjusting ABS or Traction Control
- Monitoring oil/coolant/engine vitals/etc
- Monitoring and displaying speed/RPM/gear selection/throttle position
- The equivalent of “Motorcycle OnStar.”
- …and etc, etc, etc…
Cruisers, sport riders, racers, tourers and etc, could employ the software and features that best suits their needs or wants. Whatever floats your boat! The possibilities are virtually infinite as long as the I/O (Input/Output,) software and Operating System(s) remain non-proprietary and open!
To take our Motorcycle Computer to my “next level,” the task requires both hardware and software. The hardware would need to be an “on-bike interface” with connections similar to (or even interfacing directly with) those provided by modern F/I mapping, data acquisition systems such as those currently marketed by Bazzaz Performance, RacePak AND with the FACTORY components. Finally, the hardware interface would need to have an Industry Standard communications interface and bus. Again, something that is pretty much standard issue in computing.
Then there’s the software. Assuming the hardware maintains a common, open interface, writing software is, by comparison, simple! With the sky being the only limit!
But why reinvent the wheel? (revisited) What if our existing factory traction control, that already talks to factory engine management, could also talk to my Android Tablet (or even your crappy, proprietary, iPhone?) (Sorry, I couldn’t resist taking the shot!)) What if data acquisition, telemetry or a video capture system was as simple as plugging in a USB device?
And what if the motorcycle industry took the lead and developed open architecture protocols for devices and software that was common across motorcycling? We already have onboard computers, why not make communications and interfacing with them an industry standard? Perhaps a hardware bus something like the passive backplane that connects blade servers or Single-Board-Computers (but scaled) and communications protocols such as those of the LAN or USB IEEE standards?
In the computer and technology world, you interface or die. Standards like those written by the IEEE have all but eliminated communication problems and incompatibly, that so plauged the computer industry in its infancy. So why not learn from history and apply similar concepts in motorcycle computing?
As for the naysayers and the “I-don’t-need-no-god-damn-computer-on-my-motorcycle” crowd, sorry guys, but computers on motorcycles are already a fact of the life. I’m just saying, since we have to have them, lets have something we can communicate with. Lets learn from the Computer Industry and settle on standards before the manufacturers all individually run amok like the Automotive industry did (and is now recovering from!)
As motorcycle owners and riders, we’re the ones that will benefit from such standards and interfaces. Computers are here to stay, so how about making them work better not only for the bikes, but for the riders as well?
We have already written a basic app that measures speed, g-forces and 0-60 times. We have also successfully used a 4g android phone as an alternate GPS on a roadtrip in California. I will look at publishing it on the marketplace shortly.
One issue you need to consider is the level of shock and weather proofing of the Android device you are thinking of using….EV04s do not like the rain.
Let me know if you get anywhere with a common interface method to the bike’s own onboard computers.
Android + the D1 would be an awesome combination.
http://www.arborealsystems.com/Dispatch_1.html
this looks neat too: http://gaugeface.com/
Gaugeface is too simplistic for me. What I’m taking about would be a hardware interface with middleware to communicate with engine electronics, analog feedback from brakes, engine environment and more, and digital I/O.
Software calls could then collect data, control I/O and etc.
And then, being on an Android platform with its non-proprietary, open architecture, the sky would be the limit!!!
Have you made any headway on your project? People were already doing this with PDAs well before this smart phone revolution, in a way I am waiting for the tech world to catch up with what people were doing with palm 10+yrs ago.
The rc worlds has always interested me, and I believe this may be a step in the direction you are wanting to go. Granted you don’t need the wireless aspect of it but I guess you could use that part to monitor a companions bike also with one tablet.
have a look at http://youtu.be/C3Iz7VW_DOg I want to remove all gauges from a vrsc and only use a tablet with a pin code or facial recognition ignition aswell.
Hi there, very cool, I feel like someone read my posting of about 2 years ago and acted apon it. No, it would be amazing if the phone or tablet could control eva aspect of the bike including the ignition. Use the phone as e unique key access to all the bike’s functions.
Anyone???
Alex
Hi,
I am doing the same with custom buell, however I am not finding the connection cable.nthe one from the bike’s data cable to the ODB II unit. Any suggestions? Also what security application, program, protocol…(?) are you using?
Thanks for any help.
Alex