Adding Android Auto as Non-Permanent Add-On with Raspberry Pi

[@niqhtt]

I had an 8th gen Civic ('06-10 I think). I got the double DIN adapter, cut a slot in the top, and built brackets in the back. With an LG 8.3" tablet it was the exact size screen of the double din and has a sim card. Then headphone out back to an amp. It also has HDMI out via usb so I put 2 good magnets above the head board, ran some HDMI and used an old laptop screen to 'clip' onto the roof for the kids to watch something. Worked really well, I just couldn't leave it in the cars heat in summer. My next step was one of those old school headphone cords with the built in control buttons to tie into the steering wheel buttons. I never got around to it though.

[@a531016]

That sounds like a cool project. Did you document the build or your results anywhere?

[@SimonZima]

Hi @@a531016 Do you have wiring diagram? I'm bit confused seeing it just on video. And didn't found anything on elements 14 website. Thanks

[@josefjelinek]

Finally a cool, novel, and useful project which fully justifies using RPi!

[@MAYERMAKES]

oh nice, I havent even heard of that android auto feature ever. that upgrade would fit my budget !

[@a531016]

Don't do it better than me and make me look bad...

[@112Famine]

a lot of radios w/in cars have the ability to use an external equalizer, so check the back of the radio for the needed i/o ... you might be able to use this as your sound out to your speakers, or an external CD changer.

[@farokhdubash3]

Very interesting concept, could you please make something using the PI to act as a wireless android auto dongle that you can connect to your existing wired android auto system.

[@malybialy19]

It would be cool to see how it was mounted without puncturing car. Also I am wondering if it will be better to put rpi, and rest of electronic away from screen to protect it somehow from overheating and make screen more flatish.

[@jyvben1520]

yeah, that pi stuff could have been mounted higher making the sides a triangle, widest part at the top. why not make the add on board stick out away from the pi, better ventilation, the items on top of the add on could be on the other side, less height, all depends on the way it gets mounted to the car, no details about that because any other car might be another problem to solve ...

[@a531016]

I'll see if I can find some time to take the covers off and take some photos in situ - It should make it all a little clearer!

[@robert_5974]

Yeah that was my thing too. I have built one for myself as well. I've had in the car 3 different times as I made different design choices after using it. All 3 times I replaced my stock head unit but my car doesn't have the power I think to sustain everything so I'm cutting it down and Ive been working towards doing it this way as an addition to the stock headunit. Stock sounds good and I really want to see the actual mount.

[@jennoian]

looks great

[@dakotaaesoph]

Question I have is, does the Pi charge your phone as well?

[@a531016]

Yes, very nicely! I deliberately connected it to one of the USB 3.0 ports on the Pi4 as they support a higher charging current. I have found in the past that USB 2 doesn't always result in more charge at the end of the journey.

[@Bryan-eg6ej]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[@a531016]

Glad to hear it! Let us know how your build goes!

[@112Famine]

all power within a car's electrical system is 12 volts. but it isn't not trivial, do not touch the distributor cap, I did this as a dumb teenager and woke up 6 feet away flat on my back after being thrown backwards by the shock. the first cars were only 6 volts.

[@ingusmant]

Does android auto support canbus and obd2? Or that would be through the crankshaft gui only?

[@a531016]

To the best of my knowledge, only through crankshaft. You can map canbus functions into Crankshaft to perform "stock" functions (i.e. if your steering wheel controls are canbus, or ignition etc). With that said, you can bet bluetooth OBD2 adapters that can connect to the phone, which with an appropriate app may work for you?

[@dorvinion]

Crankshaft gui only

[@86abaile]

What I want is a car media centre that I can pair my phone with but also some bluetooth in ear monitors. I drive a van for work and the cab is so loud with road noise that I have to really crank up the volume to hear anything and I'm worried about what it's doing to my hearing (I think it's already given me tinnitus). So I'll probably be looking to do something like this.

[@epexlinux]

Great video. Can I use Waze with Android auto?

[@a531016]

To the best of my knowledge, yes! As Waze is an Android Auto enabled app, it should work with no problem.

[@Schule04]

I guess this works fine if you remove it after usage, but you can have issues with temperatures and condensation in summer and winter

[@a531016]

Good point. Fortunately the UK is pretty uneventful in weather extremes. I haven't had any issues yet, but will let you know if anything comes up!

[@n1kkri]

have you heard of a DIY raspberry pi project to replace one of the several WiFi interface boxes you can buy for example the Outtercast box? With the right software i would think a raspberry pi could do the same thing as one of the many WiFi interface boxes allowing the use of the Car's screen

[@azertyQ]

I didn't know that interacting with android auto/touchscreens was safer. Everything I've read on the topic says they're just as dangerous if not more (in part because people think they're being safer so they use them in more dangerous conditions).

[@a531016]

It's definitely safer than looking down or away to look at your phone. Of course in the ideal world people would be content to be disconnected while driving, but sadly people prove that they can't. I would say the assistant integration to read and dictate messages and control navigation and audio is what makes it safer still?

[@awo1fman]

Android Auto is far more dangerous than just using your phone because it doesn't let you do many basic things you need to do when navigating, etc. which means you're forced to do everything twice: one failed attempt on the Android Auto device, and one successful attempt on the source device. Android Auto is an epic fail and I have it disabled on everything I own. It's great in theory, to people who don't have a clue how real life works, but in reality it's a POS. And no, I don't ever text or anything like that when driving. I'm talking about really basic stuff like switching between and controlling apps, like music navigation, because Android Auto not only limits access to apps themselves but removes controls in a way that makes most apps unusable. For instance, if there's no way to program a destination in your navigation app of choice or pause the music app of your choice then the whole interface is pointless.

[@atlantic_love]

@@awo1fman Like most everything Google does, once they've extracted as much useful societal data as they can from its users on a product, they abandon said product. I fully expect this thing to be obsolete in short time.

[@DaniDasK]

I hope you didn't use PLA to print the case...

[@TheDigitalAura]

I'm certainly interested in doing something like this, my problem however is my car has a small color screen which displays gps, climate control settings and fuel computer etc. My question is, is there a way I can reroute all this data to an external display, or would I need to hook up my scope and decode the canbus, write custom protocols etc which would obviously be a pain in the butt. I noticed in the Focus you just covered that screen, I use this data all the time however.

[@MAYERMAKES]

I suspect the interfaces are proprietary so ...a great feat if pulled of from scratch.

[@a531016]

I found a great tutorial on YT to capture all can bus data to file on an Arduino, and filtering it to decode the results. The protocol is standard, and if you have a common car, you'll probably find someone has already done it! I am tempted to do a follow up project looking a little more into android automotive OS. This can handle the complete management of the infotainment and climate systems!

[@TheDigitalAura]

@@a531016 Sounds ideal

[@curtiscole3403]

There are bluetooth and wired OBD2 diagnostic adapters that allow you to view canbus/diagnostic information. I'm sure there's a Linux program to decode the information as there are various androjd apps that allow you to view/change the car's parameters

[@boximgable]

Thanks! I found it. )))

[@rebel450ca]

I wonder if this is worth the effort vs dedicating an old Android tablet to being an infotainment screen. I have been working on the latter.

[@a531016]

It really depends on what you are after. I like the Android Auto way of working, with my phone as the main controller (for navigation, notifications, music etc). With a tablet, you run into questions over bluetooth connectivity (the phone or the tablet). Do you then run navigation on the tablet? How do you get live data to it? etc... I really did look at this, using a tablet with Android Auto running on it, but I couldn't get sufficient charging and connectivity working well enough (you need a proper "accessory charging adatper"). It also didn't feel as neat once all this was connected?

[@OYiann]

Hey! Lovely stuff! Have you tried to connect the smartphone using the Wifi interface of Android Auto? Cheers!

[@williamscrase7098]

I have a set up like this but i use open auto pro software instead of crankshaft. I use it wireless and it work flawlessly.

[@a531016]

I did in the testing phase use wireless, and it was "OK".... But I have to be honest, I like arriving at a destination with an always fully charged phone. Of course there could be some balance if you have a phone with wireless charging and wireless connectivity, but for me cabled was the right way to go.

[@tpb2987]

so my question is. can i run raspberry pi on any screen?

[@embedyt]

in most cases if they have an hdmi port, yes you can

[@davidheale6435]

I have the same exact car with the same exact issue. I just wish I had the same skills lol

[@a531016]

Give it a try! A lot of what I added was "nice to have" not required. If can manage it, most people can!

[@giftos1]

I would actually buy this if u were to produce and sell

[@DJ-Manuel]

How about Open Auto Pro for this?

[@a531016]

I looked at a few ways of delivering this project. I tried open auto, but couldn't get it to work as stable as crankshaft? Granted pro would have been better, but that's behind a pay wall?

[@highaudiophidelity3198]

Could you post a link to the screen you used? It would solve my power and "id like a bigger screen" problem

[@Markcain268]

What actually is Android auto? Is it just for playing music or does it serve an important purpose? Sorry but I'm not a tech geek like most folk, this 2 years old cheap smartphone is the most modern tech I own lol

[@a531016]

Good question! Imagine it as an external touch screen for you phone that shows a simplified version of navigation, music and notifications designed to make your phone useful, but safe while driving? I don't know if that helps at all?

[@Markcain268]

@@a531016 Oh right I see, thanks, think my cars a tad too old to make use of that lol

[@a531016]

@@Markcain268 there are plenty of options to suit almost any car (unless you only have an 8 track)!

[@Markcain268]

@@a531016 it's not that old! I wish it was! Probably be worth a hell of a lot more lol. I've just got the standard ford cd/radio but I rarely use it, Its got an auxiliary input on it too

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

19:32 -- the way modern electronics are.. I dunno if that was the whole screen protector you peeled off or not... Be careful

[@a531016]

Thanks for your concern - thankfully it was!

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

@@a531016 figures... Ope Was about to say that's what the Nintendo Switch OLED does man

[@williamscrase7098]

Use open auto pro instead way more functionality and even car play.

[@nedko]

Great idea! Only... well, I wonder what happens in case of crash? This display could do more damage than the actual crash.

[@GM-sn2vg]

Just put some gorilla glass on top of the screen so the glass doesn't shatter everywhere in the car.

[@BanterEdits]

Cheap AA-capable Android head units can be had for 50 bucks, this is super niche and overpriced for having a janky homebuilt solution

[@a531016]

The Android head units under $600 (in my experiance at least) are cheap for a reason... In addition, moding from the stock unit like this to a double DIN unit requires adapters and that becomes a permenant mod that you would have to notify your insurer of (in the UK at least).

[@karthiknaik3944]

I think the main premise of this is not to touch the existing wiring etc of modern canbus cars whose screens are too wired to the car. This is a nice plug and play solution and requires lesser effort. A headunit swap means messing around with splicing wires and harnesses, panels etc and yet compromising in some manner and giving up some car features

[@niqhtt]

@@a531016 Wth hell does insurance have to do with a radio ?

[@SprocketN]

@David Edwards UK insurance providers generally require you to notify them if your vehicle has been modified. If you haven’t told them about modifications they could void your insurance. One of the apprentices where I work has to send his insurance company photos of all the modifications he’s got on his car, including stickers!