Vehicle Simulator: Virtual Trip Runner (VTR)/ Real Time Recorder (RTR)

Abstract

This topic is an attempt to develop an open source vehicle simulator for use by anyone needing realistic vehicle data delivered as it would be in a real vehicle. As you probably know, most vehicles nowadays have an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) connector which is wired up to the car’s internal computer. It is used in many garages where the mechanic can probe the car through the OBD connector and read out parameters onto a display. In an Internet of Things (IoT ) world where the car can be easily connected to the Internet (perhaps via Bluetooth to a smart phone), it could automatically search an online knowledge base and not only report a fault code but also let you know the most likely cause either based on the car’s personal history or on the environment (an expert system could conclude “it is minus 15 degrees Celsius outside, and there is a water leak, and it is likely to be a cracked hose due to the cold temperature – and there was a manufacturer recall notice concerning this hose”). There will be whole sectors of applications such as, safer driver operation of the vehicle, fewer distractions, more automation, safer mechanical performance, better & more timely maintenance warnings, lower cost operation and lower maintenance costs.