Car Infotainment System: Using an ODROID-C2

I'm proud to present my "ODROID Car Infotainment System". It is a combination of an ODROID-C2 and an Arduino platform capable of CAN communication with the car BCM module. This feature allows the steering wheel controls to "communicate" with Android operating system through a further infrared (IR) interface, as I proposed some time ago. Here is the complete hardware list:

  • ODROID-C2
  • VU7 Plus display assembly
  • Hi-Fi Shield plus audio board
  • SmartPower 2 power board
  • Bluetooth USB module
  • Wifi USB module
  • GPS USB module
  • Externally powered USB hub
  • Cooling fan
  • Arduino Nano
  • Niren MCP2515 CANBUS transceiver
  • Step down converter 12/24 V -> 5V (to power the Arduino and the CAN module)
  • Many male and female DuPont connectors

The Arduino Nano works to help the C2 and provide the main operating logic, system on / off, IR interface, CAN bus communication and stereo head unit remote control services, while the ODROID board is where the fun happens. In order to minimize the build size, and to accommodate everything into my car dashboard housing, I created an electronic control board which holds all the needed electronic components as show below.

Figure 01 - Unopulated Control Board
Figure 01 - Unopulated Control Board

Figure 02 - Populated Control Board
Figure 02 - Populated Control Board

Figure 03 - Side View of Control Board
Figure 03 - Side View of Control Board

After disassembling the VU7 display kit and rearranging the components in a sort of "motherboard” this is what I got:

Figure 04 - All Components Connected
Figure 04 - All Components Connected

Figure 05 - Close-up View of The Board
Figure 05 - Close-up View of The Board

Next, everything is, mounted into the car dashboard housing:

Figure 06 - Board Mounted in Car Dashboard
Figure 06 - Board Mounted in Car Dashboard

Figure 07 - Underside of Car Dashboard
Figure 07 - Underside of Car Dashboard

Figure 08 - Front of Car Dashboard
Figure 08 - Front of Car Dashboard

Note the infrared LED

Figure 09 - Infrared LED
Figure 09 - Infrared LED

Figure 10 - Everything Installed
Figure 10 - Everything Installed

Figure 11 - Up and Running
Figure 11 - Up and Running

Please watch a completed demo video to see the whole system in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=79&v=uQf7kH7wbuQ. For more detail or to ask a question, please follow the link to the ODROID forum posting at https://forum.odroid.com/viewtopic.php?f=140&t=32189.

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