Mazda RX-8 Controlled By iPod touch, iPhone

Jonathan Oxer has customized his Mazda RX-8 allowing it to be controlled remotely via an iPhone or iPod touch web app.

His objective was to have his vehicle connected live to the Internet 24x7. To do this he used an Alix-1 motherboard, a USB hub, a charge circuit, and a deep cycle 28A/h sealed-lead-acid battery. The system was installed in the trunk of the vehicle is charged using an "intelligent" battery charger which tops up the battery whenever the vehicle is running.

Oxer then connected various systems to the computer such as: OBD-II interface, 3G mobile broadband, Ignition Manager, Wifi, RFID reader, GPS, and Audio.

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The car's webserver provides a password-protected web interface optimised for full-screen display on an iPod Touch or iPhone running the SOPODS full screen web browser. The web interface has three screens: 1) Control, which provides a top-down view of the car with buttons for start, stop, lock, unlock, accessory power, and boot release; 2) Telemetry, which displays real-time data acquired from the engine management system such as RPM, vehicle speed, coolant temperature, throttle position, etc; and 3) Location, which uses a Google Maps mashup to display the current location of the vehicle on a map using current GPS data.
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