In-Vehicle Computing
If you watched the season finale of MTV's Pimp My Ride you saw the Drivesoft computer system that was installed in the Toyota Scion. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with the owner and creator of Drivesoft. I was impressed with what I learned about the company and with their current product line.
The Drivesoft system is the latest generation of the in-vehicle computing system. There have been several off the shelf systems in recent years but I’d have to say this is the most well thought in terms of design. The system was built with car audio in mind and is more than just an adaptation of a home computer to the automotive environment.
Let’s start with the nuts and bolts. The Drivesoft system consists of a main unit that is about the size of a six disc CD changer. This gets mounted wherever it’s convenient in the vehicle. All of the goodies attach to it and are located within reach of the passengers. There are two devices, a DVD drive and a 7” touch screen monitor, that mount in the dash. The DVD drive is a slot load unit like any car audio device so don’t worry about a goofy tray load drive like you’d find in your home computer. The touch screen monitor controls the major functions of the system. An infrared remote and wireless keyboard and mouse allow you additional control.
Built into the main unit are a TV tuner, hard drive, and the USB controllers for the external devices. An XM tuner and GPS receiver are optional but something I can’t imagine going without.
To integrate with car audio components, the system has a 12 volt remote output for turning on amplifiers, audio outputs (with an optional 6 channel output) and true 12 volt design. No power inverter is needed for the installation and there is no fan to add noise. The unit is ignition controlled and has a power up time of four seconds. When the ignition is turned off the unit remains in a suspended state until the ignition is turned back on. This stand by mode only draws 80 milliamps of current, about the same as a car alarm.
The interface software runs off the WindowsXP platform. There are two main screens to the interface with the most commonly used functions on the first screen. The navigation buttons are laid out in a two across, six down configuration. Radio, MP3, CD/DVD, TV and navigation are all on the first screen. The second screen includes functions such as email, Internet, cellular, and vehicle status.
The email and Internet capabilities are accessed through the most popular PC applications, Microsoft Outlook Express and Internet Explorer. Cellular service is required for mobile access to these services. With the optional WLAN receiver you may be able to find public points of service but for more consistent connections, especially while mobile, a cellular connection is the way to go.
Let’s talk about safety. There are a lot of possible distractions with all of these capabilities and potential problems with the law in various states. Fortunately this was built into the system. When the vehicle is moving there are several functions that are locked out. The DVD video player, picture viewer, email and web are all disabled from view. The XM tuner display will also be limited so it won’t show extended information. Basically, anything that would require the driver to be distracted while driving has been removed from the system while in motion. The system will still be able to access the web and check email but you will need to park in order to read it or reply to it.
Other major options include larger touch screen monitors, a WiFi receiver, AutoTap vehicle diagnostics, and visual vehicle security captures.
With a price around $3500 this isn’t a product for everyone. But with touch screen head units in the $1,000-2,500 range the price seems much more reasonable. The Drivesoft system is a complete unit with more capabilities and the ability to be upgraded in the future. If you’ve got the means and the desire then this is the hot new system to have.
I’m anxious to see how many outside programmers will develop software to compliment this system. Hopefully we’ll see car audio specific modules that will allow the system to control an entire show presentation. Imagine being at a show and having your system motorize panels, turn on lights and play certain tracks on cue with your video presentation. Or perhaps setting up an external interface that will allow spectators to check out the capabilities of your system without touching or damaging any of the components. The system has the power to make that happen. Now we just need the software and the installer to do it.
Many of the top show winners have had computer controlled systems over the years. Wayne Harris brought a taste of that to the masses with the Symmetry system. Other competitors have built systems that can interface, display and control their audio components and even change the angle of their kick panel speakers. When this type of system becomes available to the average competitor we’re going to see a real revolution in show vehicles.
To find out more about the Drivesoft system or to find an authorized dealer visit the Drivesoft
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The Car Audio Help DVD catalog includes five different videos covering many areas of car audio installation and custom fabrication. Topics range from basic system installation (head units, CD changers, amplifiers, speakers, etc.) and mobile security (car alarms and remote start) to subwoofer box design and fiberglass fabrication. If you're interested in custom fabrication and car audio installation be sure to check out what we have to offer. |
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