5 ms·

It bums me out that computers, generally, are becoming more obfuscated and locked down by default, but I begrudgingly admit that there are non-trivial benefits

It bums me out that computers, generally, are becoming more obfuscated and locked down by default, but I begrudgingly admit that there are non-trivial benefits for many users, such as security and interface consistency. These cheap, hackable-by-design little machines gaining momentum as counterpoint really warms my heart.

calvinmorrison 4y ago
5-10 years ago I was worried about a cliff for 80's car chips. Turns out, we can buy cheap programmable boards and write our own "native" solutions. My current project is mapping out 80's HELLA cruise control units. They have just a few inputs and variables. Speed, brake signal, pump, clutch signal, and on mine, an additional signal to the APC to show it is engaged (to limit boost). Really, I think I'll be able to make this work - hopefully smoothly! EDIT: these were in Saabs, but also other manufacturers like Land Cruiser and I think BMW as well. HELLA sold these as OES for these vehicles.
- codepoet80 4y ago
  Hacking and Saab's just seem to go together!
  - calvinmorrison 4y ago
    more than you know. For the most part, the entire T5 engine management system has been fully swapped into older 900's, so that should give us another decade before everyone moves over to doing megasquirt or other RYO ECU functions
- I_AM_A_SMURF 4y ago
  ha same! but for game cartridges. I was worried that dumpers would be impossible to find, nowadays I could just build one if I really needed it.
- DrewADesign 4y ago
  That's super fucking rad... though I assume there's a hardware override? There are a few hundred open issues on the firmware repo.
  - calvinmorrison 4y ago
    for t5 suite? It's pretty stable. Not sure what repo you're talking about but essentially they have backwards engineered the ROM on the ECU's to make tweaks and adjustments. It's a very flexible system from what I understand (though I haven't tuned with it at all, I do have one car where the computer is from a 2001 and it's backported into an 80's saab)
    - DrewADesign 4y ago
      Oh I see. I misunderstood and thought you were saying you were going to control it with a Pi Pico. Read too fast.
      - calvinmorrison 4y ago
        No, for the cruise control chip? I am thinking a ATtiny85 or similar. It'll need some breadboarding since the inputs and outputs run at 12V, so some voltage stepping is required

calvinmorrison 4y ago

5-10 years ago I was worried about a cliff for 80's car chips. Turns out, we can buy cheap programmable boards and write our own "native" solutions. My current project is mapping out 80's HELLA cruise control units. They have just a few inputs and variables. Speed, brake signal, pump, clutch signal, and on mine, an additional signal to the APC to show it is engaged (to limit boost). Really, I think I'll be able to make this work - hopefully smoothly! EDIT: these were in Saabs, but also other manufacturers like Land Cruiser and I think BMW as well. HELLA sold these as OES for these vehicles.

codepoet80 4y ago
Hacking and Saab's just seem to go together!
- calvinmorrison 4y ago
  more than you know. For the most part, the entire T5 engine management system has been fully swapped into older 900's, so that should give us another decade before everyone moves over to doing megasquirt or other RYO ECU functions
I_AM_A_SMURF 4y ago
ha same! but for game cartridges. I was worried that dumpers would be impossible to find, nowadays I could just build one if I really needed it.
DrewADesign 4y ago
That's super fucking rad... though I assume there's a hardware override? There are a few hundred open issues on the firmware repo.
- calvinmorrison 4y ago
  for t5 suite? It's pretty stable. Not sure what repo you're talking about but essentially they have backwards engineered the ROM on the ECU's to make tweaks and adjustments. It's a very flexible system from what I understand (though I haven't tuned with it at all, I do have one car where the computer is from a 2001 and it's backported into an 80's saab)
  - DrewADesign 4y ago
    Oh I see. I misunderstood and thought you were saying you were going to control it with a Pi Pico. Read too fast.
    - calvinmorrison 4y ago
      No, for the cruise control chip? I am thinking a ATtiny85 or similar. It'll need some breadboarding since the inputs and outputs run at 12V, so some voltage stepping is required