my next "spare time" project....

[Jörgen Karlsson]

Hi,

I think that it is a great idea, but experience tells me that there are
hundreds of projects like this around. The PC hardware is a big bottleneck.
Then it is best to use a real time os to do this kind of stuff, linux can be
modified to be partly real time. But then there are QNX, this operating
system is very useful for these applications. It is better suited then linux
for an application like this. It is free for non profit applications. I only
recently stumbeled across QNX and I have installed v6 on my computer now, it
is sweet.

A pc PC104 board or something like that could be used. These are usually
better suited for the enviroment, have quicker startup and in many cases
they have a virtual disk onboard. There are also a lot of OI boards for this
platform.

But then again, it is still a pc platform and it is too expensive. You would
be better off using a single chip computer like the Atmel AVR 90S8535. This
is far better suited for an application like this, even if you choose to
write the code in basic.

If you take a look at the SIMM100 at www.lawicel.com or at
www.dontronics.com you probably get some ideas. I am working on a datalogger
using this platform already, an other guy here in Sweden is interested in
using the exact same platform for building an additional injector
controller.

For the programming that is not time intensive the basic compiler from MCS
electronics is great, and the basic code can be mixed with assembler for
more advanced applications. The compiler is free for applications smaller
then 2kB, you don't need a programmer or an eraser for the atmel chips
either. Three 330ohm resistors and an old printer cable is all that is
needed to program them with a PC.

I will probably have to build an ignition expander to get direct fire on my
engine before next season, I will be using a less advanced platform for that
application. That is a very simple application.

I would be very interested in developing an AVR based ignition and efi
system for our cars, I have actually done some work on it already.

Jörgen Karlsson
Gothenburg, Sweden.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: quattro-admin at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-admin at audifans.com]On
> Behalf Of Marc Swanson
> Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 10:58 PM
> To: quattro at audifans.com
> Subject: my next "spare time" project....
>
>
> Not sure what triggered the thought in my head today but I came up with an
> interesting spare time (yeah right...) software project relating
> to adapting
> EFI to my 4ktq.
>
> I'm really interested in direct fire ignition coupled with EFI to rid the
> car of the entire CIS system and computer for good.. but of course nobody
> makes such a beast as of yet for a 5 cylinder engine (and even if it is
> available it will cost an arm and a leg plus one other appendage of your
> choice).  Then it occured to me:  Why not build a software
> program that will
> run on linux and utilize an A/D card or two to send and receive the
> necessary bits of data to run the injectors and listen to the engine
> sensors??
>
> Naturally if I dove into building the thing in hardware right off the bat
> I'd never finish the project so I think for starters I'm going to
> play with
> building a "virtual machine" to simulate the running of an engine with the
> ability to modify operating perameters while the simulation is
> running.  If
> I can prove the concept works virtually (I don't see why not...) then I'll
> think about working it into real hardware.  A/D converters run plenty fast
> enough to control the "slow" speed of an engine even at redline... and I
> really can't think of a single limitation that would make this an
> impossible
> project...  And hey, who can really say "My car runs on Linux!" ? ;-)
>
> Anyone care to shoot down my project/theory?
>
>
> -Marc-
>
>
> /* +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> +Marc Swanson                          +
> +                                      +
> +http://marcswanson.ne.mediaone.net    +
> +                                      +
> +87 4kcstq                             +
> +88 90q                                +
> +85 4ksq                               +
> +87 5ktq   donor (Parting out)         +
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ */
>
>