Megasquirt iPhone logging/display

[Dave W]

I've been thinking about doing this for s while now and was wondering if there would be any interest in it, also looking for feedback on possible features.

I'm writing an app for iPhone/iPad that will give a real time view of the current Megasquirt paramaters, store a log and allow transfer of a log to MegaLogViewer. In addition to engine parameters it will also log location, speed and heading if the device supports it. You'll be able to "play back" a saved log too, possibly with a google map overlay.

I intend to make the app a free download from the app store but it will need some hardware that can be permanently installed in the Megasquirt ECU or plugged in when needed for those of us who have more than one ECU.

Initially at least it will only be compatible with MS1-Extra running on v2 and v3 PCBs but at a later stage I may extend it to allow use with MS2-Extra.

The additional hardware required is an RS232 to WiFi adaptor, this allows the iPhone/iPad to connect to it via a WiFi link and transfer data to/from the serial port. There are a number of these around and it should be simple enough to add support for any number of different devices but initially I'll be developing the app using this one...

http://www.rfsolutions.co.uk/acatalog/WLAN_to_RS232_Module.html

This one also comes with a pseudo serial port driver for Windows that should allow a netbook/laptop etc.. to link to it using the usual MS utilities.

So, anyone interested in becoming a tester or have any feature requests/ideas or alternative hardware options, I'd be interested in knowing what you think.

[FridgeFreezer]

Not an iPhone user myself but I imagine the MS forums would be pretty interested. When used iPhones drop in price a bit it could be very popular as a pocket-data-logger-tuner device instead of £50 eBay laptops.

[Bowie69]

Given the rise of the Android OS, I would expect demand for an Android app to be higher in the near future...

...and if it was Android, I would be a very keen tester

TBH, even one that just did datalogging, AFR, RPM, spark and MAP would be an awesome bit of kit

[mad_pete]

I'm interested in being a tester. Have 3G iphone and megasqiurt 1 v3

I've just hooked up a onboard linux PC with console monitor for megasquirt but I'd be very interested on what the iphone can do.

Ideally if the iphone can do MS and sat nav and music it ticks all the tech boxes but I can just put it in my pocket when I leave the vehicle.

Feature request would be out of bound values (such as high temp) go red and take over entire display

[Dave W]

I'll post something on the MS forums too, just thought I'd start here

I'll PM anyone interested in testing when I'm a bit further down the track with it. I'll set up a "test" option so you can evaluate the software with or without the WiFi unit.

I like the idea of an out of bound values warning, I'll add it to the list.

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Love it

(Clever little s**t )

Nige

[Anderzander]

An App for reading faults from a td5 might be a popular thing..? especially as nanocom see to have gone to the wall ....

[nicks90]

/\/\/\ what he said - OBDii wifi and bluetooth dongles are already out there on the market, so an iphone or android app would be fantastic to read td5 faults and parameters.

I would be properly interested Dave.

nick

[Dave W]

The problem, as I understand it, with TD5 is that it uses lots of custom PID codes and the meanings of each aren't made publicly available.

If anyone has access to them and/or can supply them to me I'd be happy to create a free app to read/reset via an iPhone. OBD II to WiFi adaptors are easy enough to get hold of so comms isn't a problem.

Just thought of another nice feature for the MS app - because, on a gps equipped phone, I'll know the speed of the vehicle and the amount of fuel being used I can calculate MPG values.

[Andrew Cleland]

Not built or installed my MS yet, but would be interested in this, once I've got the thing working & tuned. I have (OK, work has, but I control....) an iPad as well as a 3G iPhone & iPod Touch.

Cheers,

AC.

[lansalot]

Very interesting. Wi-fi/RS232 is a bit pricey, but it sure would be a fun gadget.

Good luck :-)

Also, WindowsCE/7 phones abound (or on their way), might be easy to port the existing software via visual studio/dotnet as well ?

A

[elbekko]

I think Android would be more suitable for this. It supports USB, and most devices have a USB port built in.

It's also not a locked down piece of poo. Wouldn't be nice to put all the development time into it to then have the app rejected by Apple because it isn't fancy enough (seen it happen...).

Developing something similar for WM/WP7 should be easy enough, the SDK is free. I don't know much about the devices they run on though.

[Gromit]

Also, WindowsCE/7 phones abound (or on their way), might be easy to port the existing software via visual studio/dotnet as well ?

I'd be up for doing this for TD5, if the PID codes could be found.

Could do Windows phone or a full-blown XP version.

[adam300Tdi90]

Why iPhone?

[Anderzander]

A lot of people have them and they produce a good developer kit?

[Anderzander]

The problem, as I understand it, with TD5 is that it uses lots of custom PID codes and the meanings of each aren't made publicly available. If anyone has access to them and/or can supply them to me I'd be happy to create a free app to read/reset via an iPhone.

I'd be up for doing this for TD5, if the PID codes could be found.

Would it not be worth doing it just for the standard PID's ? Were the non-standard pid's for the SRS, ABS, ETC, HDC, TRACS, EAS, ETC, ACC, SLABS and BECM ?

What options are there for obtaining the non standard PID's? I expect access to a Rovacom or Nanocom wouldn't yield them without a lot of work?

[Dave W]

There are already a couple of iPhone apps that will read the standard OBD II codes. Innovate, for example, sell an OBD II to WiFi unit that has an iPhone app that communicates with it. the hardware seems a bit pricey to me though and my Innovate wideband units haven't proved to be the most reliable things in the world so I'd be nervous about buying from them again.

Regarding the various android/why iPhone type posts, I have an iPhone, I think that about covers it.

The advantages of a WiFi enabled Megasquirt over a bluetooth one also appeal, using 3G tethering or a local WiFi internet based network you could even allow someone on the internet, anywhere in the world to view all your MS settings/telemetry while you talk on the phone to them. I originally looked at bluetooth, USB and serial connections but WiFi is the simplest and most flexible.

If someone wants to send me a phone with a different OS on it I'll take a look at that as well once the iPhone version is up and running.

If there isn't a TD5 solution available on the iPhone when I've finished the MS app and, assuming I've not lost the will to live, I'll take a serious look at an OBD II version with as many of the TD5 specific codes that I can reverse engineer from an Autologic/Nanocom/Testbook unit should I happen to stumble across one.

[Anderzander]

If there isn't a TD5 solution available on the iPhone when I've finished the MS app and, assuming I've not lost the will to live, I'll take a serious look at an OBD II version with as many of the TD5 specific codes that I can reverse engineer from an Autologic/Nanocom/Testbook unit should I happen to stumble across one.

Woo hoo !!

I'd pay a fair price for that :-)

[zardos]

I think Android would be more suitable for this. It supports USB, and most devices have a USB port built in.

It's also not a locked down piece of poo. Wouldn't be nice to put all the development time into it to then have the app rejected by Apple because it isn't fancy enough (seen it happen...).

Developing something similar for WM/WP7 should be easy enough, the SDK is free. I don't know much about the devices they run on though.

I don't think Android supports USB OTG (On The Go), therefore it can only be a slave device.

There are some Nokia devices (as well as a few other devices include a Texas Instruments Graphic calculator) that support USB OTG which allows them to be USB masters and do things more like a PC i.e. support other, slaves like pen drives, keyboards, mice and may be even the USB for MS.

[zardos]

I'm interested in being a tester. Have 3G iphone and megasqiurt 1 v3

I've just hooked up a onboard linux PC with console monitor for megasquirt but I'd be very interested on what the iphone can do.

Ideally if the iphone can do MS and sat nav and music it ticks all the tech boxes but I can just put it in my pocket when I leave the vehicle.

Feature request would be out of bound values (such as high temp) go red and take over entire display

The iphone is not very good at multi tasking, so you probably won't be able to listen to Music and get SatNav directions and Log you MS Data at the same time.

[TheRecklessEngineer]

I don't think Android supports USB OTG (On The Go), therefore it can only be a slave device.

There are some Nokia devices (as well as a few other devices include a Texas Instruments Graphic calculator) that support USB OTG which allows them to be USB masters and do things more like a PC i.e. support other, slaves like pen drives, keyboards, mice and may be even the USB for MS.

Android has been hacked to manage USB host mode, but it's quite a specialist thing. The way to manage it would be in a similar manner to the above - via RS232/Wifi.

Funny this should come up - I've been pondering the same thing, but for Android. Sadly I'm a newbie to Java so that's the hurdle I'm currently at.

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Dave

Twigged I now have a problem with you

Some while ago at an off road event I had some muppets around my 90 which

as it is silly and sillier cam hunts on tickover, they said "Ear M8 our kev

is wicid wiv V8s let im av a look eh ?" so I did

When they saw the dizzy with no leads they were "Shocked" and twigged they may

have been 'had', and a group who knew me had gathered sniggering smelling blood....

"Ows it run mate ?" said 'Kev - Le Chief Muppette' ?

"Bluetooth Ignition" I said, "all in the phone here "

(Held up phone)

I said "watch I'll stop it" (winked at mate who snuck through pass door)

pressed 'of'f on phone and engine stopped

"See I said" Smiling at the group of 'gormlesses'

"And..... If I press this...."

(Mate turns key and MS V8 bursts into life... )

"Bl**ding hell M8.... thats ****kin awesome" they said

..........and left all excited like talking about it

Group then collapses laughing

This now looks even possible you git, spoil my fun will ya eh ?

Think banning you is the only option..... to preserve me '2nd hobby'

nige

[simonr]

Dave - this seems like a good idea to me. I'm an iPhone user, so perhaps a little biassed!

One little thought though. Since you need ODB or RS232 to WiFi, it might make sense to build a microcontroller with a built in web server and get it to be the wifi interface.

If it just presents a simple web page - then it can be used on any device with a web browser.

There some nice Arduino based web servers at the moment.

Si

[zardos]

Android has been hacked to manage USB host mode, but it's quite a specialist thing. The way to manage it would be in a similar manner to the above - via RS232/Wifi.

Funny this should come up - I've been pondering the same thing, but for Android. Sadly I'm a newbie to Java so that's the hurdle I'm currently at.

I had also thought of the same thing for Symbian and thought about the USB angle.

You might find that RS232 to Bluetooth is cheaper (a quick search suggest about £32 for a bluetooth to RS232) and I would say that bluetooth is probably more suited to WiFi as it will be lower power as you don't really need the range that Wifi tends to have over bluetooth.

[zardos]

Dave - this seems like a good idea to me. I'm an iPhone user, so perhaps a little biassed!

One little thought though. Since you need ODB or RS232 to WiFi, it might make sense to build a microcontroller with a built in web server and get it to be the wifi interface.

If it just presents a simple web page - then it can be used on any device with a web browser.

There some nice Arduino based web servers at the moment.

Si

Or something like a SheevaPlug PC?