Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: Beta testers wanted! Next gen Digital Dashboard and Control System
cloudy

posted on 7/2/18 at 10:12 PM Reply With Quote
Beta testers wanted! Next gen Digital Dashboard and Control System

I'm currently finishing off the instrumentation system for the next WarnerCars prototype car. It works well in this specific environment, but I think this may have wider appear for the kit car market. I'm therefore looking for some testers who would be willing to try some test units out at a nominal cost. Initially looking for people using some form of MegaSquirt - we will require connection to it's CANbus (In future it'll support more ECUs).

This is a highly integrated system that will provide configurable dashboard/datalogging/10Hz GPS/Lap timing/GPS Navigation/Electronic Handbrake Control/Lighting Control/Ignition Control/RFID Tag based Access. With the exception of your ECU wiring and an ignition relay, it contains everything required to control an average kit car. I would expect a retail price of around £600.


  • 5" Weather resistant display based on Android & collaboration with RealDash
  • 8 configurable buttons to control lighting functions
  • CAN Bus interface for Mega/MicroSquirt and other sensor inputs
  • 2 21A High Current Lighting outputs (Current, Voltage, Temperature, Short circuit protected)
  • 5 11A Medium Current Lighting outputs (Current, Voltage, Temperature, Short circuit protected)
  • Internal micro fuses
  • Fuel Sensor Input
  • Speedo & Tach Input
  • 3 0-5V Analog Inputs
  • 2 Switch Input (Neutral & Brake Fluid Level)
  • 1 Switched output (Usually launch control)
  • Parking Brake Motor (Linear Actuator) Connection
  • External 10Hz GPS Module
  • Internal 20Hz 3 Axis Accelerometer
  • Ignition enable relay output
  • RFID Tag based ignition




If this is of interest, please reply to the thread with your car details

Thanks,
James

[Edited on 9/2/18 by cloudy]





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
loggyboy

posted on 7/2/18 at 10:32 PM Reply With Quote
Cost for testers? Or on loan?
Tin tops of interest? Got the track biased clio thats begging for dash upgrade. Currently runs standard dash, but a samsung phone with racehrono, 10hz gps and obd reader. Would be nice to try a fully integrated system. But ecu side would not be of use sadly.

[Edited on 7-2-18 by loggyboy]





Mistral Motorsport

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
cloudy

posted on 7/2/18 at 10:39 PM Reply With Quote
Exact cost would depend on the test group size as larger batches are cheaper to manufacture - I would only ask cost price.
As this will require some re wiring of your car it would not make sense to need them returned!

Tin tops certainly also of interest, though may not be as easy to rewire. Also the prototype is in a steering wheel mounted form factor, but I could produce this in a "behind wheel" configuration with separate button module. Is this standard ECU?





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
loggyboy

posted on 7/2/18 at 10:42 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by cloudy
Tin tops certainly also of interest, though may not be as easy to rewire. Also the prototype is in a steering wheel mounted form factor, but I could produce this in a "behind wheel" configuration with separate button module. Is this standard ECU?


Yeah standard ecu.





Mistral Motorsport

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
cloudy

posted on 7/2/18 at 10:49 PM Reply With Quote
Certainly possible, but unless there is common CANbus documentation available for the clio I can use - it wouldn't be a good test candidate at this phase as it would require some reverse engineering first...

James





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
loggyboy

posted on 8/2/18 at 12:34 AM Reply With Quote
No worried mate, but will watch progess with interest.





Mistral Motorsport

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
tomduffield13

posted on 8/2/18 at 07:29 AM Reply With Quote
Hi James,

I'd be interested in this in my Duratec'd locost on Megasquirt MS3.

Interested to hear what the cost would be.

Thanks,

Tom

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
big_wasa

posted on 8/2/18 at 11:17 AM Reply With Quote
I would be interested but again it would be running a ford oem ecu that does have can and cp bus.

Locost with either focus rs turbo or 3.0 v6 Duratec.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
djtom

posted on 8/2/18 at 12:10 PM Reply With Quote
Looks interesting - I'd be keen to give it a go if the cost is reasonable.

Zetec Turbo powered Tiger Super Six, currently running MS1Extra, but I was looking for an excuse to upgrade to an MS2 daughterboard, which would give the CANBus capability (I assume that it can't connect via RS232?).

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
AntonUK

posted on 8/2/18 at 12:35 PM Reply With Quote
Ditto myself, I wouldbe very interested.
Running a MS2 and currently outputting canbus to an self built arduino/lcd combo. Zetec Lump in a Ginetta G27.

Been working on a nextion based replacement but struggling for time to put any real effort into it.

[Edited on 8/2/18 by AntonUK]

[Edited on 8/2/18 by AntonUK]





Build Photos Here

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
cloudy

posted on 8/2/18 at 01:15 PM Reply With Quote
tomduffield13, djtom, AntonUK Thanks - you all look like suitable testers, I'll give it some more time to see if anyone else wants to be onboard then I can get you guys some costs before going any further.

@djtom - Whilst there is a spare RS232 interface on the microcontroller - it's not presented on the external connector, there could be a workaround using bluetooth - we can discuss, moving to CANbus is a more flexible and resilient route though

@AntonUK Nextion is great (I actually built an early prototype using one) but I eventually ran up against too many limitations





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
jeffw

posted on 8/2/18 at 04:31 PM Reply With Quote
Can you handle a Life F88 ECU on the Zeus?






View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
cloudy

posted on 8/2/18 at 05:08 PM Reply With Quote
Looks like they document the default stream nicely - as long as you can enable it or let me know what you have configured that will be fine...

http://www.liferacing.com/uploads/files/F88CanDatastream.pdf

James





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
peter030371

posted on 8/2/18 at 08:15 PM Reply With Quote
I would have had one a year ago but now have a dash2 pro linked to my Omex 600. I would love to see it in the flesh..... Steering wheel mount is of interest! Do I rip my loom out and start again.......

Still great to see you have stuck with it and now near a real product

Need any help with assembly or suppliers give me a shout.

Edit to add that the Omex has no CAN bus but the serial is well documented and very easy to interface too (see Omex 600/700 serial data output) if you ever wanted to add a serial option

[Edited on 9/2/18 by peter030371]

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
jeffw

posted on 8/2/18 at 08:38 PM Reply With Quote
Do you have any video of your dash in action? I need to see the resolution and what is it like under daylight conditions.






View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
FuryRebuild

posted on 9/2/18 at 08:19 AM Reply With Quote
Hi - I'm going to fit an MBE ECU to my duratec fury, which is can bus. This may help you expand out into the broader ECU market.

I also have a deep software development and testing background if that helps you when it comes to reporting defects.

I'm particularly interested in the power management aspects as well.





When all you have is a hammer, everything around you is a nail.

www.furyrebuild.co.uk

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
FuryRebuild

posted on 9/2/18 at 08:20 AM Reply With Quote
Oh, and I've got a linear actuator for my handbrake as well.





When all you have is a hammer, everything around you is a nail.

www.furyrebuild.co.uk

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
mackei23b

posted on 9/2/18 at 08:28 AM Reply With Quote
Hi There

I could potentially be interested, I currently have a Caterham R400 K series with an EMERALD K3 ECU. This also has the CAN data link.

Best regards

Ian

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
cloudy

posted on 9/2/18 at 10:04 AM Reply With Quote
I'll grab some video of the dash in action - hard to get any true harsh daylight conditions at this time of year.
Display is 1080p at 600nits of brightness with a 1400:1 contrast ratio





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
cloudy

posted on 9/2/18 at 10:06 AM Reply With Quote
FuryRebuild, mackei23b - both protocols are documented so have added you to the interested list

James





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
cloudy

posted on 9/2/18 at 10:09 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by FuryRebuild
Oh, and I've got a linear actuator for my handbrake as well.


Great! Keen to have someone try this, you will be able to configure the exact pressure rather than needing to adjust end stops on the actuator. It does this by measuring the current drawn by the motor, you will get a repeatable braking effort without the need for constant adjustment

James

[Edited on 9/2/18 by cloudy]





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
FuryRebuild

posted on 9/2/18 at 10:35 AM Reply With Quote
Great - the one I bought as a kit was originally used to stop larger american cars. I could see it ripping the rear breaks off if I'm not careful

I've noticed that hi-spec now do callipers with electronic handbrakes built in - progress indeed. They do look to be a reasonable size and my option at least decreases the unsprung weight.

quote:
Originally posted by cloudy
quote:
Originally posted by FuryRebuild
Oh, and I've got a linear actuator for my handbrake as well.


Great! Keen to have someone try this, you will be able to configure the exact pressure rather than needing to adjust end stops on the actuator. It does this by measuring the current drawn by the motor, you will get a repeatable braking effort without the need for constant adjustment

James

[Edited on 9/2/18 by cloudy]






When all you have is a hammer, everything around you is a nail.

www.furyrebuild.co.uk

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
cloudy

posted on 9/2/18 at 11:52 AM Reply With Quote
I would be surprised if they are lighter unsprung than a wilwood style combined caliper with cable...





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
cloudy

posted on 9/2/18 at 04:20 PM Reply With Quote
@jeffw Two examples, second one will give you an idea of refresh rate. Bear in mind the visuals are completely customisable on dash or via PC - and multi-screen.




[Edited on 9/2/18 by cloudy]





www.warnercars.com

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
jeffw

posted on 9/2/18 at 04:49 PM Reply With Quote
I'm interested. Currently the Zeus has a Motec dash but it would be useful to have something like this instead.






View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.