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FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009
I decided to make a new thread instead of continuing to poo poo up the thread dedicated to dashcam videos.

A little about myself
- Embedded Linux engineer with 8 years of experience.
- Specializing in networking and multimedia and infosec.
- I have contacts with several board houses that would love to manufacture the board for me.
- I have a friend who I work with on a regular basis who also is a embedded Linux engineer that also is a EE and can do board layout.

What is this project exactly?

I new dashcam! Apparently, all the dashcam's out there are pretty basic with varying degree's of quality, but none of them really can be connected to the internet for various internet related things.

Why the thread?
1) I was taking up the thread about posting videos of dashcams.
2) I need feedback and ideas and this thread hopefully get's more exposure.

Here's what I have so far

Currently, for connectivity features, I have:
Wireless
- Bluetooth 4.2
- 802.11a/b/g/n 2.4ghz/5ghz (No AC because I can't find a pre-fcc certified AIO chip that includes it.)
- Wi-Fi Direct
Wireless will support:
- AP/WPA-E/WPA2 and WPS setup.

Wired
- USB-C

Other
- 9-axsis Accelerometer/Compass/Gyroscope module.
- Micro SD card reader.

Camera
Because I don't have a huge amount of purchasing power:
- 5MegaPixel OV5640 1080p@30 @ 160degree's.

Basic Hardware
- Automotive grade imx6 Solo CPU to help prevent heat death.
- 256M of automotive grade LPDDR3 ram.
- NO BATTERY. Consumers are dumb, batteries don't like extreme conditions, it will have USB-C anyways if you want to add a battery pack.


Software Features:
- Automatic sync to a NAS when connected to a pre-defined wireless network.
- User-configurable buffer up to whatever I figure out is the max.
- One push button to automatically upload the user-configurable buffer to Facebook/Twitter (to start) using your cell phone to do so.
- Automatically flag recordings to prevent them from being overwritten in the case of a sudden shock. (User defined)
- Any LED's will be user configurable to turn off or on.
- RTSP capabilities.
- Easy to configure using a web-interface (Android/iOS apps to follow after release)
- Standardized JSON-based API to write your own applets if you so desire.

I don't think an LCD screen is necessary for a first gen product. Especially since you will be able to
view the camera using any standard player that supports RTSP. This will reduce cost, both in engineering
and to the consumer. Also with USB-C, if I wire it up correctly, I could sell a LCD screen attachment.

Product 2
For the second product, I really like the idea of having a central black box to record too that can be placed anywhere in the car.
That black box will have 4 USB-C ports on it that will allow you to connect up to 4 Dash cams, and stitch the video feeds together
before saving them.

Hardware for product 2
In addition to the above:
- Perhaps a sata port for HDD connectivity.


As a side note:
If anybody is concerned about a IOT dashcam and security, I would agree with you. That's why all of these products will be running
Embedded Linux (I'm an embedded Linux engineer after all :v:), with SELinux, and LibreSSL to start (OpenSSL is poo poo). I take great pride in making network connected things as secure as they can be. How much so? I maintain the SELinux packages for Buildroot, and got LibreSSL into mainline Buildroot as well.
I will also have a guaranteed 4 month product update cycle at a minimum, and any major CVE's will be patched as soon as possible.

Anything else to add would be greatly appreciated! If you help, I will gladly support you too as well!

- If you contribute a feature that I use in V1, I will gladly send you one of these things at cost.
- If you decide you want to send me money (I am NOT asking for this, Jesus Christ don't send me money until I have at least a mechanical drawing and some board layout done) we will talk about what I can do (I have no idea.)

Thanks again!

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Mo Hawk
Jul 17, 2006
HEADPHONE JACK

ratbert90 posted:

Software Features:
- Automatic sync to a NAS when connected to a pre-defined wireless network.
- User-configurable buffer up to whatever I figure out is the max.
- One push button to automatically upload the user-configurable buffer to Facebook/Twitter (to start) using your cell phone to do so.
- Automatically flag recordings to prevent them from being overwritten in the case of a sudden shock. (User defined)
- Any LED's will be user configurable to turn off or on.
- RTSP capabilities.
- Easy to configure using a web-interface (Android/iOS apps to follow after release)
- Standardized JSON-based API to write your own applets if you so desire.

A great initiative, could become a great product with the mentioned hardware alone. Software: Stick to the basics for now. See it as a platform. If you can let users write their own python/javascript apps this alone would be a selling point.

With a couple hundred motivated users coming up with uses and collaborating on implementing new features will outpace whatever you could or would want to do soon!

e: A list of potential candidates for later (!) versions
- Redundant microSD cards. One in the cam, one in the USB charger. Reduces risk of faulty cards, reduces risk of being stolen/taken by police without retaining copy of your data.
- Encryption of files. Generate a private key on your machine, copy it to your phone if wanted, public key copied onto cam/microSD card. Encrypted files can be decrypted on your own machine or your phone but not by anyone else. Reduces risk that your own footage is used against your will.
- Switch for guest access. Switch enables a temporary open wifi guests can use to access your (unencrypted) videos for 15 minutes. Lets you easily share footage with affected parties/police in case of an accident. Basic web directory listing or simple interface with dates, times and thumbnails, no app needed for the guest.
- OBD2 adapter readout in files or configurable overlays onto the video. Connects via bluetooth or wifi to an OBD adapter and reads out e.g. speed (lower latency than GPS), engine state, any errors, pedal inputs, temperature etc.
- Ability to configure and preview overlays from the phone, e.g. to show lateral forces like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCNnokGOSIE


With regards to the housing, wedge-shaped seems to be the most pleasing to the eye and the least conspicuous. The Guardian SG9663 pulls it off well: https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/street-guardian-sg9663dc-dc-dual-channel.28206/

Mo Hawk fucked around with this message at 16:28 on Jul 16, 2017

Leperflesh
May 17, 2007

Widest field of view you can manage and good night vision are important. Don't skimp on the camera specs, basically.

VideoTapir
Oct 18, 2005

He'll tire eventually.
Does obd register airbag deployment? If so, automatically protecting and uploading the preceding and subsequent video might be useful.

A button to do that for traffic stops, maybe.

A wireless base station might make sense, if you want your backup copy hidden.

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

Mo Hawk posted:

A great initiative could become a great product with the mentioned hardware alone. Software: Stick to the basics for now. See it as a platform. If you can let users write their own python/javascript apps this alone would be a selling point.

With a couple hundred motivated users coming up with uses and collaborating on implementing new features will outpace whatever you could or would want to do soon!
Thanks! I really appreciate this kind words. I am not sure about python, but perhaps a C++ API? I will have to do some benchmarking to figure out if I want to go down the path of python.

quote:

e: A list of potential candidates for later (!) versions
- Redundant microSD cards. One in the cam, one in the USB charger. Reduces risk of faulty cards, reduces risk of being stolen/taken by police without retaining a copy of your data.
Difficult to do. The redundancy is easy, but getting 1080p30 video at high quality TO a MicroSD card would be... difficult and expensive.

quote:

- Encryption of files. Generate a private key on your machine, copy it to your phone if wanted, public key copied onto cam/microSD card. Encrypted files can be decrypted on your own machine or your phone but not by anyone else. Reduces risk that your own footage is used against your will.

Not sure the legal ramifications of that, but not a bad idea. The i.MX6 has hardware accelerated crypto.

quote:

- Switch for guest access. The switch enables a temporary open wifi guests can use to access your (unencrypted) videos for 15 minutes. Lets you easily share footage with affected parties/police in case of an accident. Basic web directory listing or simple interface with dates, times and thumbnails, no app needed for the guest.
Hrm, I will have to think about this and look into the market to see if there is one.

quote:

- OBD2 adapter read out in files or configurable overlays onto the video. Connects via Bluetooth or wifi to an OBD adapter and reads out e.g. speed (lower latency than GPS), engine state, any errors, pedal inputs, temperature etc.
Yes. Also, my friend is making his own ECU, so we will integrate with that for sure.

quote:

- Ability to configure and preview overlays from the phone, e.g. to show lateral forces like [snip]
Overlays are put onto the video before encoding. So when we do add overlays, this will already be there because it will be able to output to RTSP/WebRTC.

quote:

With regards to the housing, wedge-shaped seems to be the most pleasing to the eye and the least conspicuous. The Guardian SG9663 pulls it off well: https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/street-guardian-sg9663dc-dc-dual-channel.28206/
Hrm... If I go LCD-less, I could make it smaller. I was thinking G1 styling. I will make a few concepts.

VideoTapir posted:

Does obd register airbag deployment? If so, automatically protecting and uploading the preceding and subsequent video might be useful.
Yes, yes it does. As far as automatically protecting and uploading the preceding videos, not a bad idea.
A microSD card though is going to be far less likely to break in the case of an accident than your phone.


quote:

A button to do that for traffic stops, maybe.
Yes, this I agree with. Perhaps not an extra button, but maybe the one planned button could have a double tap feature
that can be configured to Livestream/upload.

quote:

A wireless base station might make sense if you want your backup copy hidden.
That's product #2. :)


Leperflesh posted:

Widest field of view you can manage and good night vision is important. Don't skimp on the camera specs, basically.

I will add a photodiode and a few infrared LED's to the camera. Good call.

As far as the Field of view, I will find the best FOV I can for sure. At a minimum, I know of a supplier for 120's. It's not great but at least it's not 90. :v:

FlapYoJacks fucked around with this message at 23:27 on Jul 16, 2017

spog
Aug 7, 2004

It's your own bloody fault.
What's my cut of this project?


---Spog Winklevoss

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

spog posted:

What's my cut of this project?


---Spog Winklevoss

I will give you .001% of the project if you work for me 60 hours a week for free for a year.

spog
Aug 7, 2004

It's your own bloody fault.
I am not convinced that IR LEDs will be much use and worth the cost, given that you've probably got your headlights on.

ratbert90 posted:

I will give you .001% of the project if you work for me 60 hours a week for free for a year.

Better deal than my last offer to 'invest' in a company.

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

spog posted:

I am not convinced that IR LEDs will be much use and worth the cost, given that you've probably got your headlights on.
They would be good when you are parked and your car is hit.

quote:

Better deal than my last offer to 'invest' in a company.
Excellent!

spog
Aug 7, 2004

It's your own bloody fault.

ratbert90 posted:

They would be good when you are parked and your car is hit.

Is that going to be doable with a capacitor for power?

I mean, it's a nice feature, but I wonder on a practical basis whether it is worth your extra effort/cost to implement given that you're only going to get your car park recording until the capacitor runs out - which is what 30mins?

If you don't plan to use the camera for significant periods after engine off, then you can use a smaller capacitor to save money and just give it a gentle power down.

Edit

Hang on, I'm not clear on your plan for when the switched power is cut. You've got to have enough reserve power in the capacitor to have it read the entire card and transmit it over wifi to your NAS?

spog fucked around with this message at 23:51 on Jul 16, 2017

Raluek
Nov 3, 2006

WUT.

ratbert90 posted:

They would be good when you are parked and your car is hit.

I think it would just glare off the inside of the windshield. I'm sure you'd test this feature before release, but I doubt it would do either jack or poo poo. A sensor that has better low-light sensitivity would be a better use of BOM budget.

Laserface
Dec 24, 2004

I dont know how you're planning on powering the camera for any length of time on Super Capacitors.

They are the ideal power source for dashcams because they hold JUST ENOUGH power to close and write the current recording to the mSD card and shut down the camera cleanly, and arent lovely lithium cells that wear out from heat exposure and constantly charging.

what you're planning is to have multiple gigabytes upload over wifi which in my experience can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

How is the camera going to maintain power for that long? what happens when it gets stuck and continues to stay on and drains your car battery?

cursedshitbox
May 20, 2012

Your rear-end wont survive my hammering.



Fun Shoe
Upload some body schematics and I'll do what I can to do some renders and prototype a physical shell when I'm back in the US if you'd like.

bolind
Jun 19, 2005



Pillbug
Cool! I don't currently have a dash cam; my major hurdles are wiring it, ease of offloading and confidence in it actually working.

Ideas:
  • I really like the ditch-the-screen idea. Make it so a smartphone can be used to aim it etc, and then spend the money elsewhere.
  • Sync to NAS over WiFi is super rad, and a good selling point.
  • While it's always going to be a pain in the rear end to hardwire a cam, maybe make it so it just need a USB C cable with power on ignition or something, basically, don't make me rewire for the next generation/model/something.
  • Big red SAVE AND WRITE PROTECT THE LAST X MINUTES AND THE NEXT X MINUTES EVEN IF IT MEANS DELETING MY FAVORITE PORN button - yes please.
  • Good, well thought out low profile mounting. Maybe publish the interface so people can create custom car-specific mounts for 3D printing at home?
  • I like the supercap idea but I see the issue that Laserface brings up.
  • All LEDs off stealth mode yessss please.
  • Something that alerts the user if the cam somehow isn't operating. I'm not sure how that could be designed, maybe connect via BT to your phone and have some sort of heartbeat? The idea is to prevent the situation where footage is needed but oops camera hasn't been recording for three weeks, sorry, hope you like steel toilets and stripey clothing.
  • Just thinking out loud here, but would some sort of image stabilization be nice?

Edit: I've been thinking. Not everybody can park their car near WiFi, but most everybody can get fast, cheap/free data on their phone. Something something upload through phone to Google Drive/Dropbox just the flagged clips or something?

bolind fucked around with this message at 11:38 on Jul 17, 2017

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

Laserface posted:

I dont know how you're planning on powering the camera for any length of time on Super Capacitors.

They are the ideal power source for dashcams because they hold JUST ENOUGH power to close and write the current recording to the mSD card and shut down the camera cleanly, and arent lovely lithium cells that wear out from heat exposure and constantly charging.

what you're planning is to have multiple gigabytes upload over wifi which in my experience can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

How is the camera going to maintain power for that long? what happens when it gets stuck and continues to stay on and drains your car battery?

Woah Woah Woah. I don't plan to have it run on super capacitors for any extended period of time. Even though my board layout guy is probably a savant when it comes to power supplies; even he probably couldn't do that.
If anything, I think he might be able to make it efficient enough that just leaving it on all the time wouldn't be a bad idea, with motion detection preventing it from recording 24/7.


bolind posted:

Cool! I don't currently have a dash cam; my major hurdles are wiring it, ease of offloading and confidence in it actually working.

Ideas:
While it's always going to be a pain in the rear end to hardwire a cam, maybe make it so it just need a USB C cable with power on ignition or something, basically, don't make me rewire for the next generation/model/something.
That's the idea.

quote:

Good, well thought out low profile mounting. Maybe publish the interface so people can create custom car-specific mounts for 3D printing at home?
I was actually thinking of perhaps a spring loaded mount that clips on to the back of your rear view mirror.

quote:

All LEDs off stealth mode yessss please.
I can't stand blinking lights if I can help it.

quote:

Something that alerts the user if the cam somehow isn't operating. I'm not sure how that could be designed, maybe connect via BT to your phone and have some sort of heartbeat? The idea is to prevent the situation where footage is needed but oops camera hasn't been recording for three weeks, sorry, hope you like steel toilets and stripey clothing.
How about a blinking LED pattern?

quote:

Just thinking out loud here, but would some sort of image stabilization be nice?
Software at best to start. Gen2 it would be nice.

quote:

Edit: I've been thinking. Not everybody can park their car near WiFi, but most everybody can get fast, cheap/free data on their phone. Something something upload through phone to Google Drive/Dropbox just the flagged clips or something?

Also an excellent idea, however I think that's covered under the "Push button, upload previous ${TIME}/Live stream to ${SERVICE}" setting.

FlapYoJacks fucked around with this message at 12:03 on Jul 17, 2017

bolind
Jun 19, 2005



Pillbug

ratbert90 posted:

How about a blinking LED pattern?

That's all well and good if the camera is not completely braindead (i.e. it knows enough to know that it ain't recording) but if it well and truly dickered only the absence of a heartbeat or something similar could show that, methinks.

Maybe it's mainly a problem with cheapo cams.

Seat Safety Switch
May 27, 2008

MY RELIGION IS THE SMALL BLOCK V8 AND COMMANDMENTS ONE THROUGH TEN ARE NEVER LIFT.

Pillbug
You should get some prototypes going before we get too deep into solving all the world's problems. That way we can figure out empirically about stuff like power consumption and usability.

I've seen some cool libraries for the ESP32 lately for running a wifi AP, but man does it ever draw a lot of power when the radio is on.

bolind posted:

That's all well and good if the camera is not completely braindead (i.e. it knows enough to know that it ain't recording) but if it well and truly dickered only the absence of a heartbeat or something similar could show that, methinks.

Maybe it's mainly a problem with cheapo cams.

You could always build a separate watchdog microcontroller into the camera that would be discrete from the main camera system and periodically check up on it. A lot of systems do this to run the actual display or whatever.

Seat Safety Switch fucked around with this message at 15:30 on Jul 17, 2017

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

Seat Safety Switch posted:

You should get some prototypes going before we get too deep into solving all the world's problems. That way we can figure out empirically about stuff like power consumption and usability.

I've seen some cool libraries for the ESP32 lately for running a wifi AP, but man does it ever draw a lot of power when the radio is on.


You could always build a separate watchdog microcontroller into the camera that would be discrete from the main camera system and periodically check up on it. A lot of systems do this to run the actual display or whatever.

So, when I say I got a guy who is a savant at power, I should clarify.
I don't use the term savant lightly, so when I mean he's I haven't seen any of his power supplies at less than 95% efficiency.
His specialty is sonar, and he does the board layouts for the Marcum sonar lines.
I worked on the Marcum LX-9: https://www.amazon.com/MarCum-LX-9-Digital-Camera-System/dp/B0081X0V8O

Why do I bring up the LX-9? Because I know the power draw.

Full bore, brightness all the way up, ping at max depth, AND the camera running, recording, and with its light on? 1.5Amps.

The cheap Chinese LCD screen I had connected to the thing during debugging used over 800mAH. Power is not a concern to me. :smug:

spog
Aug 7, 2004

It's your own bloody fault.

ratbert90 posted:

I was actually thinking of perhaps a spring loaded mount that clips on to the back of your rear view mirror.

There are a lot of weird-shaped rear view mirrors out there, I suspect the only option that would work would be big strips of velcro and that doesn't seem classy.

why not a low-profile ball and socket - with the socket being mounted to the windscreen with 3M tape and the option to pull them apart - or the socket is a 2 piece that leaves part of it on the screen?

wolrah
May 8, 2006
what?
As far as mounting goes, my preference would be to have a flat surface for direct double-side taping to the glass and then some kind of common connection for any alternative mounts. I'd vote for a GoPro-style hinge or a camera-style threaded rod because both of those will have a huge variety of accessories readily available.

Also agreed on the suggestions to start simple and make it hacker-friendly. Make it do the basic dashcam things well and provide an environment where the community can play with advanced features which could then potentially be adopted in to the main product. I'd definitely prefer Python as well, but concerns about performance and complexity are of course legitimate so something lower level would be fine.

If the SoC has any unused I/O which can be easily exposed I think that'd be nice too.

Scruff McGruff
Feb 13, 2007

Jesus, kid, you're almost a detective. All you need now is a gun, a gut, and three ex-wives.

spog posted:

There are a lot of weird-shaped rear view mirrors out there, I suspect the only option that would work would be big strips of velcro and that doesn't seem classy.

why not a low-profile ball and socket - with the socket being mounted to the windscreen with 3M tape and the option to pull them apart - or the socket is a 2 piece that leaves part of it on the screen?

Yeah, I really like the form factor you get with the K1S's cameras (though their quaility isn't that great), you can pretty easily mount them anywhere and they've very discreet.

Krakkles
May 5, 2003

Standard camera/tripod mount (1/4"-20 nut, basically) works well for anyone willing to customize a mount.

That brings up a useful config - ability to configure which direction is "up".

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

Krakkles posted:

Standard camera/tripod mount (1/4"-20 nut, basically) works well for anyone willing to customize a mount.

That brings up a useful config - ability to configure which direction is "up".

The camera I chose can do a vertical and horizontal flip. So good idea.

spog
Aug 7, 2004

It's your own bloody fault.

Scruff McGruff posted:

Yeah, I really like the form factor you get with the K1S's cameras (though their quaility isn't that great), you can pretty easily mount them anywhere and they've very discreet.


That's exactly what I had in my mind and was struggling to use my words

Krakkles posted:

Standard camera/tripod mount (1/4"-20 nut, basically) works well for anyone willing to customize a mount.

On the other hand, using a standard nut means you don't have to design/manufacture the mount and can use something off the shelf.

Elephanthead
Sep 11, 2008


Toilet Rascal
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XNSDRW8/ref=psdc_3248689011_t3_B01HN0HBFG

Just searching generic dash cams brings up some that are close to your wish list. Not sure how fast you can get into production but you may get passed by before you even ship a unit.

Rotten Cookies
Nov 11, 2008

gosh! i like both the islanders and the rangers!!! :^)

spog posted:

That's exactly what I had in my mind and was struggling to use my words


On the other hand, using a standard nut means you don't have to design/manufacture the mount and can use something off the shelf.

1/4-20 thread in the middle of a large flat so you can use a bolt-on mount or double sided tape if you want. Best of both worlds?

Krakkles
May 5, 2003

Rotten Cookies posted:

1/4-20 thread in the middle of a large flat so you can use a bolt-on mount or double sided tape if you want. Best of both worlds?
This sounds perfect, and I think we're all on the same page - include the 1/4-20, people using off the shelf or custom mounts are covered.

Large flat around it is pretty ingenious.

Leperflesh
May 17, 2007

Elephanthead posted:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XNSDRW8/ref=psdc_3248689011_t3_B01HN0HBFG

Just searching generic dash cams brings up some that are close to your wish list. Not sure how fast you can get into production but you may get passed by before you even ship a unit.

The key differentiator here is that none of those other wifi cams actually upload the content to a server at the push of a button: the wifi just lets you use a phone app to "manage your recordings" on the unit itself.

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

Elephanthead posted:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XNSDRW8/ref=psdc_3248689011_t3_B01HN0HBFG

Just searching generic dash cams brings up some that are close to your wish list. Not sure how fast you can get into production but you may get passed by before you even ship a unit.

Digging around it looks like that camera has it's own share of issues. Especially with the wifi.

It can also only do 3 minute recordings. Yuck.

Also: No NAS sync, no live streaming, no USB-C. Shameful!

MikeyTsi
Jan 11, 2009

Yeah, if you just set up to direct-wire to car electrical (you could probably just patch in to the audio battery line) you don't have to worry about power at all.

Hooking in to security sensors would be useful; you could maybe write a routine to either have it wake and start recording on impact sense, or just record all the time, and auto-save if an event occurs so you can if someone's breaking in to the car or somesuch.

Hell, maybe have a camera that records the interior if an "event" like that occurs? You could make a cheap-o lojack solution if you have it seek open access points if it thinks it's being stolen and send GPS to a pre-authorized e-mail or IM app. Add cellular capability (expensive, probably best as an optional module), and you could have recording and reporting, just call the cops and have them follow the car.

jabro
Mar 25, 2003

July Mock Draft 2014

1st PLACE
RUNNER-UP
got the knowshon


ratbert90 posted:

Digging around it looks like that camera has it's own share of issues. Especially with the wifi.

It can also only do 3 minute recordings. Yuck.

Also: No NAS sync, no live streaming, no USB-C. Shameful!

It also uses a battery instead of a capacitor. From talk on some dash cam boards the stated temps are complete bullshit. The cam is crapping out even as cool as 80F degrees.

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

jabro posted:

It also uses a battery instead of a capacitor. From talk on some dash cam boards the stated temps are complete bullshit. The cam is crapping out even as cool as 80F degrees.

Well I talked to my power/board layout guy. He is really suspicious of a super capacitor. He is going to do some research, but more than likely the power draw of the processor would be too much.

Good to know about the temp issues.

More than likely it has a automotive grade cpu but not ram, and I can tell just from the pictures that the camera certainly doesn't have a heat pipe.

Also companies skimp on other things like caps/diodes/resistors. What good is a cpu rated for 140C when the resistors next to it are only good for 80?

FlapYoJacks fucked around with this message at 02:24 on Jul 18, 2017

Krakkles
May 5, 2003

MikeyTsi posted:

Hell, maybe have a camera that records the interior if an "event" like that occurs? You could make a cheap-o lojack solution if you have it seek open access points if it thinks it's being stolen and send GPS to a pre-authorized e-mail or IM app. Add cellular capability (expensive, probably best as an optional module), and you could have recording and reporting, just call the cops and have them follow the car.
Having gmail, I would be totally ok with it sending this without the "if" statement - I can ignore the emails until I need them.

Truthfully, I've always wondered why it's not an option for lost pet tags, find my <device>, etc. Or maybe it is and I just don't know it.

~Coxy
Dec 9, 2003

R.I.P. Inter-OS Sass - b.2000AD d.2003AD
Why use USB power? I've never understood that for dashcams.

Use 12V instead. Makes the device itself a bit bigger, but better that than trying to squeeze a converter into trim or the fuse box.

My radar detector uses a RJ12 connector which works fine and makes it easy for the user to cut and crimp their own power cords.

Krakkles
May 5, 2003

~Coxy posted:

Why use USB power? I've never understood that for dashcams.

Use 12V instead. Makes the device itself a bit bigger, but better that than trying to squeeze a converter into trim or the fuse box.

My radar detector uses a RJ12 connector which works fine and makes it easy for the user to cut and crimp their own power cords.

:hf: valentine one buddy

Laserface
Dec 24, 2004

Because the hardware is already designed to run on 5v.

The camera in my drone uses 5v and it's effectively the same hardware in different housings. Some of them use anything up to 36v and have regulators built in but yeah, a lot of this stuff just runs on voltage and current draw within USBs spec.

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

~Coxy posted:

Why use USB power? I've never understood that for dashcams.

Use 12V instead. Makes the device itself a bit bigger, but better that than trying to squeeze a converter into trim or the fuse box.

My radar detector uses a RJ12 connector which works fine and makes it easy for the user to cut and crimp their own power cords.

Heat and efficiency.

If I take in 12V, I have to divide it.
If I have to divide it, I have to have more parts on the board.
Those parts have to be efficient, but even a very efficient power supply will only be 90~% efficient.
If I run at 90% efficiency, that means that 10% of it goes to heat, and it requires more Amps to run.
More Amps means more heat which is not a good thing during the summer.
More Amps means more power draw on the car battery as well.

FlapYoJacks fucked around with this message at 13:49 on Jul 18, 2017

bolind
Jun 19, 2005



Pillbug
But won't you just push that problem to the USB 12V->5DC thingimajig that has to reside elsewhere?

Edit: or at least some of the problems.

FlapYoJacks
Feb 12, 2009

bolind posted:

But won't you just push that problem to the USB 12V->5DC thingimajig that has to reside elsewhere?

Edit: or at least some of the problems.

Better than right next to all the important bits.

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CommieGIR
Aug 22, 2006

The blue glow is a feature, not a bug


Pillbug
Rapsberry Pi Zero with Camera module and looping file.

We done here?

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