Driver Interface Using CAN Communication System

Abstract

Dashboards and head-units in automobiles provide a subconscious accumulation of information to the driver, allowing for proper operation of the car. Last year[1], we designed a system using a Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and an LCD screen to provide the driver with the necessary information, further advancing the performance of the car. This year we have improved the system by removing the use of the Arduino and including WS2812b individually addressable LED’s. These improvements have led to a more streamlined codebase, lower production cost, and a more compact design. We have continued to use the CAN Bus configured to allow the sensors in the car, such as the throttle position sensor, engine speed, etc. to send information to the dashboard. With this information, we are able to decode and interpret the data into easily interpreted visualizations for the driver using a stripped down version of Linux and Electron, a tool used for building user interfaces with Node.js.