I don't feel up to the job of fitting a PC in my car, although a 7" UMPC would be a big headstart on screen, connectivity, software etc.
Was thinking though, that cars are what, 20? years ahead of houses, so what can we learn from them.
First point is that they stopped using central relays and wires to every point, they now have distributed controllers, so in the Audi A8, each door has its own controller, for windows, locks, electronic child lock logic etc. By distributing controllers, they were able to reduce the amount of copper in the car, so now the wiring loom only weighs about 50kg! In houses, we are just starting to go this way, with IP relays and sensors, but we still like a heavyweight Node0 with everything in there. It feels like we won't be doing that in 20 years.
For entertainment, (radio, MP3, TV, CD) there is a fibre-optic network, for engine data, another discrete but wired network, and for 'convenience' there is a third network. This prevents problems on one network from interfering with the others. A gateway module links the network, so that diagnostics can connect to everything. Not sure we ever think about multiple networks
Some of the functions we take for granted in cars would be great in houses, e.g. central locking, lights on when we open the door, power closedown when we go out, lights come on when it goes dark, when it rains it wipes the windows. And this stuff is so robust you can jump over a hump back bridge and it still works fine. I'm very impressed
Was thinking though, that cars are what, 20? years ahead of houses, so what can we learn from them.
First point is that they stopped using central relays and wires to every point, they now have distributed controllers, so in the Audi A8, each door has its own controller, for windows, locks, electronic child lock logic etc. By distributing controllers, they were able to reduce the amount of copper in the car, so now the wiring loom only weighs about 50kg! In houses, we are just starting to go this way, with IP relays and sensors, but we still like a heavyweight Node0 with everything in there. It feels like we won't be doing that in 20 years.
For entertainment, (radio, MP3, TV, CD) there is a fibre-optic network, for engine data, another discrete but wired network, and for 'convenience' there is a third network. This prevents problems on one network from interfering with the others. A gateway module links the network, so that diagnostics can connect to everything. Not sure we ever think about multiple networks
Some of the functions we take for granted in cars would be great in houses, e.g. central locking, lights on when we open the door, power closedown when we go out, lights come on when it goes dark, when it rains it wipes the windows. And this stuff is so robust you can jump over a hump back bridge and it still works fine. I'm very impressed
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