Glennji's Jeep




 * Owner: User:Glennji
 * Make: Jeep
 * Model: Cherokee
 * Type: KJ Limited
 * Year: 2002
 * Transmission: Automatic
 * Engine: V6

= The Car = It's an '02 Jeep Cherokee (KJ), black with leather-trim and too many gadgets for a car with a reputation for dodgy electrics -- power windows, electric seats, a CD stacker and VFD (display) in the centre above the windscreen. My first car! (I have admittedly owned -- and broken -- two motorcycles. Hopefully 4WD'ing will be kinder.)

The petrol-guzzling V6 makes a dent in the wallet every 400-and-something klicks, but at least it has some get up and go -- sure, the CRD (diesel) has more torque, but where's the dignity in crawling across the line when the lights change? For someone used to the near-instant "twist, pray, fly" of a Kawasaki Ninja, the V6 is an expensive but decent compromise.

Of course, if I could just get the purchase order approved for a Ducati SC1000R...

Jeep Cherokee (Liberty) on Wikipedia

= The Plan = As a Java developer and love-you-longtime Linux otaku, I've naturally dabbled in a little Android coding. Google's opensource OS for mobiles (and now tablets) features a honest-to-FSM Linux kernel, real multitasking and a Java-based platform. Better yet, a few cheap Android-based tablets are finally beginning to appear.

What I want to do is get a cheap (~$150) Android tablet, integrate it into the dash and write some code.

Hardware would thus be:
 * Cheap hackable Android tablet (with USB host)
 * OBDII connector (USB or bluetooth)
 * GPS (built-in or USB)
 * Wifi (built-in)
 * 3G (built-in or USB)
 * Bluetooth (built-in)
 * Radio?
 * CB-radio?
 * Something to implement the steering-wheel controls? Arduino?
 * Reversing camera? (webcam?)
 * iPod dock? (Doesn't everything have an iPod dock these days?)

Some of the cool stuff I could do:
 * Media player
 * Telemetry (ODBII & accelerometer)
 * Car stereo with integrated hands-free:
 * Automatic pause media on incoming call
 * TTS to read out messages from selected contacts
 * VOIP-over-3G, just to p*ss off the telcos...
 * Context- and location-sensitive stuff:
 * petrol station recommendations ("I think you need fuel, Dave")
 * Automatic notifications via SMS, IM, email ("On my way!")
 * Home-automation integration: garage door
 * War-driving and stompboxing
 * Theft-avoidance/reporting with camera and kill-switch ("lowjack")
 * ... more?

= The Build = (Nothing yet!)