Imgur user, TheKingOfDub, walked through his awesome DIY setup for his iPad controlled 1982 DeLorean DMC-12.
Ok, so here are the main components before installation. Really quite simple. Relay strip from TinySine with Bluetooth Bee (installed on left side of board), 12V -> 5V converter for the relay strip (upper left), and a switch for disabling the system in case of malfunction or emergency. Oh, and an iPad Mini. You kind of need one of those.
Stereo deck and vents removed. EXACTLY the size of an iPad Mini. Even the thickness between the metal and fabric is the right width to grip the iPad. The vents can be rerouted with flexible tubing. Lightning and TRRS are fairly easily routed to here from the deck that has now been moved to a new location…
Fully installed. No glue, screws, or anything invasive… MagBak strips and tension only. Good enough fit to stay put, but easy to remove for any updates or modifications.
Software time! Finished the app’s splash screen. Very simple. It’s important to note that I am in no way affiliated with the DeLorean Motor Company. But this car IS a DeLorean, so I’m going to use the appropriate logo inside the vehicle!
Working on icons to match the style of the DeLorean’s existing icons and warning lights.
Interface coming together in Photoshop.
First attempt had lots of brushed stainless, and then I realized that the car’s exterior texture would not be appropriate for the interior. Decided to keep it very simple in order to match the look of the existing gauges and warning lights, and so as not to clash or compete with the rest of the interior of the vehicle. Keeping a black background also means not getting overpowered by it at night. Google and nav buttons got scaled down considerably later.
At this stage, I was throwing ideas onto the screen not knowing how I was going to actually make any of it work.
App coding was of course done in Xcode (Objective C). Communication with the Bluetooth relay strip was done by sending ASCII characters (column three above) in 9600 baud (8/n/1) and listening for responses. For example, sending “B” sets all of the relays to momentary, so that sending further characters such as “e” will trigger a relay (in this case, relay 1 – doors unlock) for one second. Sending “b” returns the current temperature value (in Celcius) from the temperature probe.
“Connecting via Bluetooth to the DeLorean. Buttons and outside air temperature appear.
Will eventually filter out anything that isn’t a DeLorean (e.g. Apple TVs!). The name “DeLor11633” is an abbreviation of “DeLorean VIN# 11633″.”
Lock/unlock. Doors and trunk buttons grey out and disable when locked.
Future feature will lock doors automatically when GPS-based speedometer determines that you are in motion. Really easy to do – just haven’t done it yet. For now, the door and trunk buttons are disabled when in motion.
Windows up/down (one touch control).
Future “automatic” mode (long-press window button to toggle) will put windows up at highway speeds and down for city speeds. Contemplating making the windows close and the garage door open when pulling into the driveway, by using a saved GPS location as “Home”.
Wireless backup camera.
Door buttons! First button opens driver side door. Second button opens both doors. These buttons are greyed out and disabled if the vehicle is locked or if the GPS-based speedometer determines that the vehicle is going over 10 km/h.
Door popper solenoids themselves are from Wings-A-Loft.
Media control gestures. With gestures, there is no need to look at the screen while driving to find non-tangible buttons. Distraction = crashy ouch.
I’m not adding media browsing because you can just ask Siri to play something for you, or failing that, use the iTunes button (left side of media bar) and then swipe to return to the app. Volume control gestures. One finger for volume up/down. Two fingers for mute.
Garage door open/close.
