Slideshow for Sydney Mini Maker Faire exhibition
Tomorrow Freematics will be present at Sydney Mini Maker Faire. Here is the slideshow about what we are going to tell people.
Freematics OBD-II Emulator firmware update
The firmware for Freematics OBD-II emulator is updated for fixing the DTC clearing issue reported by several users. To perform the upgrade, please download the latest Freematics Emulator GUI software. In the GUI, click “Update Firmware” button and proceed with prompts.
See you two weeks later at Sydney Mini Maker Faire
After having taken part in the Maker Faire Bay Area in May, we are heading for PowerHouse Museum in Ultimo, Sydney. Two weeks later we will present our 4th Maker Faire exhibition worldwide and the 2nd one in Sydney. The event website has already posted a brief introduction. In the coming exhibition, we will focus on our just upgraded Arduino OBD-II data logger kit #3 and the new generation of OBD-II emulator and demonstrate both of them on site. Come to see the products and us if you are around!
Freematics OBD-II Emulator MK2 ready for order
After 3 month’s development and testing, Freematics OBD-II Emulator MK2 is now ready for order!
Freematics OBD-II Emulator MK2 is world’s smallest OBD-II emulator with KWP2000, ISO9141 and CAN bus simulation. It provides a 16-pin female OBD-II port which is identical to that of a real car and responds to requests for standard OBD-II PIDs from plugged-in OBD-II compliant device. It emulates up to 6 active vehicle diagnostic trouble code (DTC) as if a real car has when encountering a component malfunction or fault. Request for VIN is also responded and the VIN can be altered.
The emulator connects to PC via USB cable and is operated via an easy-to-use software GUI. Secondary development is possible with serial TTL connector available for connection of interaction with Arduino or other embedded system with source of data (e.g. sensors).
Freematics OBD-II Emulator is practically useful and cost effective for OBD-II related application development on desk. Once extended with external data source, it can even be used to provide an OBD-II port for vehicles that don’t have a real one and thus existing OBD-II device/software can also work with the vehicle.
To learn more about the new emulator, please see here. If you have any good idea or suggestions about this product, let us know via the forum.
GUI for new Freematics OBD-II Emulator
The new Freematics OBD-II Emlator will come with a GUI on PC (Apps on iPad and Android in future). The hardware of the new product is complete and ready to ship. However, the software develop is still under-going and this held back the release of the product. Finally it’s nearly done. Here is a glance of the GUI.
With the GUI for the emulator, it’s possible to adjust more (almost all) OBD-II PIDs in the highest possible precision. More importantly VIN and DTC can be altered and set. An ignition switch makes it possible to emulate the status on OBD-II port when ignition is on or off. More interesting features will come later, including data playback and external data sourcing.
Freematics OBD-II Data Logger Kit Upgraded
The popular Freematics OBD-II data logger kit #3 has just got better. After coming back from the Maker Faire Bay Area, we upgraded the kit by replacing the 2.8″ TFT LCD screen shield with a newly designed 3.2″ TFT LCD shield with built-on I/O sockets and optional Bluetooth module. The new TFT LCD based on SSD1289 is perfectly supported by the latest revised version of MultiLCD library now. This makes screen larger (also faster) and eliminates the need for a I/O shield in the middle of TFT LCD shield and Arduino MEGA board. The Bluetooth (BLE or BT 2.1) capability is provided by a CC2540 module soldered on the back of the shield which is connected to Arduino MEGA’s Serial3.
Click here to learn more about the new kit #3.
Tomorrow we are part of the show
Tomorrow we will be part of the world’s biggest event for makers, the Maker Faire Bay Area! Last year in NYC, we came to the stage of Maker Faire for the first time and was deeply impressed and motivated by the event. In the following 8 months, we have done a lot towards the goal of our project. We went onto Kickstarter and got hundreds of backers after the campaign. We set up our online store for accepting orders from worldwide.We kept improving our key product, Freematics OBD-II Adapter and released V2 of it. Being in the maker movement, we are just motivated to go towards our goal while also being able to enjoy the the whole process.
We are so excited to come back to Maker Faire to show the world what we have done through the months. In this show, we will be presenting 3 major works.
This is the core product of the project. The V2 comes which has following changes/improvements:
- Faster OBD-II data access (up to 100Hz)
- Built-in GPS support (10Hz data update rate)
- ATMega328p as main controller (compatible with Arduino UNO)
- SPI breakout slot for communication or programming via ICSP
- MicroSD socket breakout slot for easy inserting/removing card
Freematics OBD-II Emulator V2
Our OBD-II emulator is really a derivative product which was originally made for our internal use only. When we tried pushing it to market, it got unexpected popularity so that we decided to make it better. The original version uses 9 knobs for adjusting the value of 9 OBD-II PIDs. The physical knobs are handy to use but in some cases when we want to adjust more PIDs or do it programmatically, a data interface is necessary. The V2 comes with a serial data interface of a simple AT command-set which goes through TTL, USB or Bluetooth. By sending AT command, the value of OBD-II PIDs can be altered and the change is reflected on the simulated data bus and finally on the OBD-II port. The physical knobs are removed as we will make a good PC software and iPad/iPhone App for the same and even better experience. As the emulator also provides TTL serial UART breakout, it is possible to control the emulator with an Arduino or other hardware. This can be used to emulate a standard OBD-II port on a vehicle which does not have one with actual data obtained by other means.
Arduino OBD-II Logger Kit based on Arduino DUE
We have been providing different Arduino OBD-II Logger Kits which are popular among makers who want to make a vehicle data logger with a display. The Kit #3 originally consist of an Arduino MEGA 2560 and a 2.8″ TFT LCD shield. It is to be upgraded to Arduino DUE and 3.2″ TFT LCD shield.
The above 3 highlights are what we will present at this Maker Faire. Come to see us if you are hanging around!