Custom Heads Up Display, Possible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of creating a custom heads-up display (HUD) that projects vehicle data, such as speed and RPM, onto a windshield. Participants explore various methods, technologies, and DIY solutions related to this concept.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests the possibility of beaming vehicle data onto the windshield, expressing uncertainty about the practicality of the idea.
  • Another participant notes that existing DIY projects typically involve reimaging a device's screen onto the windshield, but points out that this does not create a true HUD experience due to the need for refocusing.
  • A suggestion is made to use an Android phone with an OBD-II interface and a specific application to reflect data onto the windshield, with a note that this method works best at night.
  • One participant recommends exploring resources on Hackaday for innovative HUD projects and mentions a potential inexpensive setup involving a HUD clock interfacing with a computer.
  • A different participant expresses skepticism about the feasibility of the project, citing concerns about the physical state of batteries and the limitations of DIY repairs.
  • Another participant proposes using a USB-LCD display and a half-silvered mirror as a potential solution for displaying data.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present a variety of ideas and suggestions, but there is no consensus on a definitive method or solution for creating a custom HUD. Some express skepticism about the feasibility, while others propose different approaches.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various technical requirements, such as the need for specific vehicle models and the limitations of current DIY solutions. There are also unresolved questions regarding the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed methods.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in automotive technology, DIY electronics projects, or those exploring innovative ways to display vehicle data may find this discussion relevant.

ISX
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This is probably pretty far out there but I can get info out of my truck's computer (speed, RPM, etc.) and have it on my laptop. Now I know it will be hard, but is it possible to beam it all on to the windshield? Is there something I can buy to do it?

I know, I'm nuts.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
There are a few DIY projects on the web of people doing it.
Most seem the simply reimage the screen of a PC/iPhone/etc onto the windshield.

This isn't really a HUD because you have to refocus onto the windsheild - rather than it being projected at infinity so you look through the glass and see the numbers in the distance, but the optics for that are a little more complicated
 
Almost an off the shelf solution is to get an Android phone, obdkey bluetooth interface and the torque android application. Oh, and your truck must be a 96 and up model with OBDII.

You can position the phone so its image is reflected by the windshield. Works best at night.
 
Don't have anything too helpful, but if you haven't looked there before, I'd play around on http://hackaday.com/ maybe try to find where somebody did something with a HUD and contact them directly. They have some incredible things that people have made using the most random stuff you could think of. I believe someone got one of those HUD clocks to interface with a computer, that might be a fairly inexpensive setup. Something to look into.
 
I sincerely doubt it. Usually if a battery comes into that state, it is because of physical changes within the battery like different cells becoming inactive or corroded or something; I'm no chemical engineer (EE actually ), but to my knowledge if your battery is that far along generally only companies that have the proper machinery to refurbish batteries can fix that.
The only thing you can try is doing a complete discharge, letting the system fully drain the battery and cut off, then do a deep charge overnight without turning the laptop on. I doubt it'll fix it though.
 
It seems to me that all you need is a usb-lcd display like this:

http://www.mini-box.com/picoLCD-20x2-OEM"

and a half silvered mirror.
 
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