Wireless Designs, LLC

The OBD-Blue project is one of Wireless Designs' lab projects that we hope to bring to market soon. This page will serve as a jumping point for any updates as the project progresses through the design and testing phases.

News and Updates

Windows Mobile Demo Video Completed

November 10, 2009

Finally completed the demo video for OBD-Blue. This demo uses the version written for Windows Mobile 6 to present the application functionality. This version of the software implements the run-time scanner functionality for monitoring vehicle parameters while the vehicle is running.

The application allows the user to create a customized list of OBD-II parameters for monitoring in the scanner, and then updates them in real-time once the application starts and connects to the OBD-Blue module. Notice how inconspicuous the bluetooth module is once it's installed; it is completely out of the technician's way!

The entire video was shot on an iPhone 3GS, so the aspect ratios don't quite match a full-size screen.

Enjoy!

Send us a note, and tell us what you think so far!

Coming Soon...

August 6, 2009

More information to come, including short video of initial run tests

Project Purpose

To provide a simple tool for the hobbyist and personal mechanic to monitor diagnostic data from a vehicle using the OBD-II diagnostics interface.

Project Description

OBD-Blue will consist of two main components

A Bluetooth enabled interface module that will connect to the vehicle's OBD-II connector
An application program for use on notebooks or mobile phones to monitor
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) or Check Engine Lamp (CEL) codes
- Real-time sensor data while running or driving

The Hardware Interface

OBD-II Connector

The OBD-Blue module will look somthing like the pictured concept on the left. It will be a small module that would fit in the palm of your hand, designed to plug-in underneath the vehicle dash and be completely out of the way.

This physical specification will allow the module to transmit data while a technician is driving, without cables or other extrusions intefering with their ability to operate the vehicle.

The Software

The software application will allow the user to complete two main tasks. First, one can use the tool of read (and possibly clear) codes causing the Check Engine light to illuminate. Second, a technician can select a handful of engine sensors that they want to monitor in order to target a problem; these values will be displayed in real-time as the vehicle is driven.

Software development and testing is currently being done with Windows Mobile 6. But the application will be expanded to run on many major mobile platforms, such as iPhone and Android, as well as Windows and Mac OS to allow Bluetooth-enabled notebooks to monitor this data as well.

Example Case Study: Temperature Woes

A vehicle has a problem where the clutch starts to feel spongy in the summer while the air conditioning is running. Replacement of the clutch fluid does nothing to help the problem, and the technician believes there may be overheating going on inside the engine bay. The issue is the sophisticated diagnostic tools the technician has are tehtered to the garage bay, and the coolan temperature gauge on the instrument panel doesn't show any movement under different conditions (the temperature change isn't enough to cause engine damage).

The solution is the OBD-Blue system. The technician can continuously monitor the coolant's actual temperature as he/she drives down the road with air on and off. Doing this, they can see that there is a 30 degree rise with the A/C running in the summer heat, which is enough to cause the stated problems with the clutch.