carputers.org

First there was the carputer. Now there is the bikeputer:

Some are calling the Mavizen TTX02 a “laptop on wheels” — a really, really fast laptop on wheels. Not only can the bike reach speeds of up 130 miles an hour, it also has an onboard computer system.

Each TTX02 comes with a dash-mounted computer complete with Linux, on board server, a dedicated IP address, USB and Wi-Fi connectivity.

A bike and laptop combined, now how cool is that? OK, let’s be serious for a moment, we’ve got to ask the questions haven’t we? Why put a computer on a speed bike, it’s not as if we can check our emails whilst racing ’round the track?

Azhar Hussain, the founder of TTXGP — which, incidentally, stands for The Time Trials Xtreme Grand Prix, a race of zero emissions motorbikes — explains why.

“We are living in a click culture and connectivity is the key, across the board. Our approach was to find how we could make a laptop go racing. We think electric vehicles have more in common with consumer electronics than traditional automotive,” he says.

When plugged in, the battery systems of the new plug-in hybrids use wireless networking to communicate directly with the electrical grid via smart meters provided by power companies. The owner uses the vehicle's touch screen navigation interface and in-dash computer to choose when the vehicle's charging profile.

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Comfile Technology's CUPC-P80 isn't quite a full-fledged Carputer, though it could definitely get away with posing as one.

Realistically though, we suspect this one was engineered to control media and such within your vehicle. The 12v power system and the 10.2-inch display sure make it an ideal candidate for replacing that stock radio in your '87 Taurus, and while the 500MHz AMD Geode LX800 isn't potent enough to stream YouTube videos in high-def, it should be plenty to spin your latest Tears For Fears-filled playlist. Other specs include 512MB of RAM, an Ethernet port, 4GB of flash storage, three USB sockets and an SD card slot. The rig can be purchased now for $699 without an OS, or for $849 with Windows XP embedded.

As part of our "Stimulus" discount, we are lowering ALL prices on our products such as the RevoSys X300 7" Double DIN CarPC and the RevoSys 7" Double DIN Monitor. This is a limited-time offer which ends March 13th.

With low prices and responsive Customer Service, you get an excellent overall value. Full 1 Year Warranty on ALL products.

Predating the carputer by easily two decades (not counting KITT, of course), this '79 Buick Riviera would have clearly elevated you to alpha status in your elementary school. Featuring what appears to be a Sears Atari 2600 clone and a 13-inch CRT with a custom fake-ice RIVIERA logo, there's no wonder Kevin, the owner, says this whip is his "absolute pride and joy." Check a couple more shots after the break.

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A little while back, Apple TV Hacks posted on a great idea: one of their readers, Brandon Holland, is using an Apple TV as a carputer. ...

A little while back, Apple TV Hacks posted on a great idea: one of their readers, Brandon Holland, is using an Apple TV as a carputer. He chiefly uses it as an in-car entertainment center, but it also does double duty as a GPS system using the Road Trip plugin which he has now released over at AwkwardTV. It can read GPS data from "any NMEA enabled GPS via a serial connection such as a USB to Serial adapter or a Builtin Serial Port. Map Quest maps are obtained via expedia.com and both USA and Europe maps are availiable and working!" Unfortunately, it doesn't yet store the maps locally so it presently depends a network connection, but Brandon says he's working on it, and soon expects to have it "so that map packs or trips can be cached for a trip."

Obviously you'll have to hack your Apple TV to make this work, but given its small size and power requirements, the Apple TV seems like a great foundation for a carputer.

I stopped by the Lilliput booth today and got the low-down from Lilliput's VP, John Xu, about their new DIN-sized carputer, the TC2000 (left). This bad boy can mount in a DIN opening and sports a C-M1.73GhHz processor, 512MB DDR2 memory and a 60 GB harddrive, and a CD-RW/DVD drive.

The system is also upgradeable to a 2GHz processor, up to 1GB memory, and up to 120GB for the hard drive. The built-in Bluetooth allows audio streaming via A2DP from any capable media player (including your cell phone!), four USB ports (2 front, two rear), and a front SD/CF card reader adds even more convenience and expandability to this multimedia powerhouse.

If you have a double-DIN opening in your dash, combine this with Lilliput's GL701 wide/touchscreen (right) for a complete car computer multimedia system. The GL701 is the perfect partner, giving touchscreen control of your PC, a TV tuner, reverse camera input, remote control, AM/FM tuner, two video inputs (one VGA, one RCA) and one video output.

Carputers are the current hot item amongst people who build their own computers. They allow the owner of a vehicle to incorporate all of the fun and useful technology they desire into their car without having to make use of a number of different gadgets to do it.

The GPS system, sound system, phone calls and yes, wireless Internet, are all incorporated into one computer screen inserted into the dashboard of the car. Sounds ideal - so why aren’t car companies making this a standard option? They’re trying to; however, there is a concern for safety regulations. It's a balancing act between what is possible, what will customers pay for, and what is safe to do in a motor vehicle says Mike Ippoliti, an automotive technology specialist. Japan, which has fewer regulations, allows for web surfing but the United States is more stringent. The laws are fuzzy enough to allow individuals to make their own carputers but companies are toeing the line.

Jason McClung was sick of juggling a Global Positioning System receiver, a cell phone, an iPod and a laptop while working on the road as a computer technician in northern California. So he decided to combine all four.

He cut open his car dashboard and installed a computer.

His homemade system allows him to check e-mail, scroll through music, download ringtones, check online traffic updates and directions, and make phone calls - all from a touch-screen monitor mounted into his dashboard.

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Custom Carputers specializes in building “Ready-to-go” Carputer systems designed specifically for in-vehicle use. We offer complete systems as well as individual components for the “Do-it-yourself” person.
Our installation facility enables Custom Carputers to be your complete carputer services company. The services we provide are component purchasing via our website, or through our retail outlets. We also perform customized installation services; system components designed and installed for the individual. We offer online tech support to our customers to assist them with any questions they may have. Our customers enjoy unmatched personal service from the beginning.
Take a look at CustomCarputers.com

Ultra unique 2001 Corvette featuring the Innovado Mobillo CarPC and the BONZ K301 VGA 7 Inch monitor for Vehicle Interface control. This demo vehicle features the following high-end audio components:

-Alpine Multimedia Manager PXA-H701 with 165 EQ Bands and Time Alignment

-Innovado Mobillo CarPC with Optical OUT to Alpine Multimedia Manager

-5-Way JL Audio Sound System with 12" 12w6v2 Subwoofers and 8" 8w3v2 subwoofers

Take a look at the pics here: Carputer DEMO Innovado Mobillo

Hello, everyone.

I just got my dream car, a 1968 Ford Mustang. It's in good running condition, but as with any 40 year old car, it needs work in different areas, including paint. One of those areas is technology, and I am planning on building a CarPC for my pony.

My basic goals are this.

1. Basic Vehicle integration, to include the following
a. Fuel Tank levels ( Current system not working)
b. Tachometer (Vehicle does not have one)
c. Vehicle Speed
d. Mileage Calculator

2. GPS
3. Media Center (Movies and MP3's)
4. Support for remote screens (Movies in the back for the kids)
5. Wireless access to vehicle for media transfer
6. Maitenance Log (Vehicle repairs, oil changes, part replacements)

I've started building a mysql backend for the maitenance log and a refuel log. I'm also using the same system to create a vehicle todo list. My goal is to make to create the most awesome vehicle history any collector has ever seen. I'm also researching vehicle integration, so if anyone has any suggestions for hardware used to integrate with the speedometer, fuel tank and or tach, please let me know.

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