Slate Dash?

[clarkh]

Hi,
Years ago I built a automotive display (generously) prototype that had accelerometers, a magnetometer (heading), a GPS (for timing and location), temp inputs, and even a barometer. It was way too crap-tastic for real use but it taught me a lot! I'm thinking that I have about 95% of the skills to make something proper for my Slate. I can do the board schematics/lay-outs, most of the code, but I have the fit and finish and UI skills of a caveman. Is anyone interested in a collaborative opensource project? Looking at the parts needed, etc, it looks like this could be DIY done (with proper PCBs) for just a few hundred dollars. I'm not talking about some icky big display, but some slim/wide form factor. I've attached the block diagram of what I am working on. Do any of you have interest in this project?

 

[Adam W]

Interested in following, but probably wouldn't be able to contribute much. A long time ago I picked up one of these "Cheap Yellow Display" boards: ESP32 based with a small touch screen already on the board. I've got some thoughts about doing something with it for my dash to build a simple music library player.

 

[StromSpeed]

I’d be totally down for this. I want more text data on that center display. And from the looks of the dash screen size, it feels like a larger display is in order or in the works. Even if pixel/dot only data I’ll take temps, TPMS, GPS (heading & altitude), and what ever you can jam in there. Sure do love gauges over here. 🤤

 

[clarkh]

Interested in following, but probably wouldn't be able to contribute much. A long time ago I picked up one of these "Cheap Yellow Display" boards: ESP32 based with a small touch screen already on the board. I've got some thoughts about doing something with it for my dash to build a simple music library player.

Just so you know, thoughtful ideas are VERY valuable! I have a creative tech mind, but not the 'wow this is cool mind'. Don't undersell yourself.

 

[clarkh]

I’d be totally down for this. I want more text data on that center display. And from the looks of the dash screen size, it feels like a larger display is in order or in the works. Even if pixel/dot only data I’ll take temps, TPMS, GPS (heading & altitude), and what ever you can jam in there. Sure do love gauges over here. 🤤

Yeah! Exactly, and the thing I have in mind is extensible/customizable. In a perfect world, the combination of ideas and skills would make this happen.

 

[Adam W]

Linking to Bailey's thread on a custom Raspberry Pi interface, just to make sure you're aware of their project too.

https://www.slateforums.com/forum/threads/making-a-thing-for-the-slate-and-other-vehicles.15379/

 

[phidauex]

I think the idea is great, it would be fun to have a modular interface to show more detail without having to jump through the hoops of an ODBII bluetooth ELM interface to an app like Carscanner.

Main thought is - do you even need the Pi compute module? You can do a LOT with the ESP32-S3, you have wifi and BT onboard already, and you can run a wide variety of display modules. I'm not sure if you'd run into a memory limitation handling the CAN data and the display detail, but there is certainly enough IO to handle the sensors you are thinking about.

 

[clarkh]

I think the idea is great, it would be fun to have a modular interface to show more detail without having to jump through the hoops of an ODBII bluetooth ELM interface to an app like Carscanner.

Main thought is - do you even need the Pi compute module? You can do a LOT with the ESP32-S3, you have wifi and BT onboard already, and you can run a wide variety of display modules. I'm not sure if you'd run into a memory limitation handling the CAN data and the display detail, but there is certainly enough IO to handle the sensors you are thinking about.

I go back and forth on that. i put the cm4/5 in the architecture mostly for extensibility. I do think a version 1 could be viable without the pi.

i just wan to plan for the future!

 

[clarkh]

Linking to Bailey's thread on a custom Raspberry Pi interface, just to make sure you're aware of their project too.

https://www.slateforums.com/forum/threads/making-a-thing-for-the-slate-and-other-vehicles.15379/

That sounds cool too, but far more ambitious! I will be following them too...

 

[sidneyhornblower]

Following because I was wondering if something could be made like this for the Slate, though I lack the skills to do it myself.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

OP, seriously cool idea. I'd say you don't need a human in mid-2026. As a retired software engineer, I can attest that an AI can now run rings around me any day, and is only getting better. Build your hardware and have an AI do all the layers of coding. And open source it then.

 

[cadblu]

All these ideas for hacking into the display using Ras Pi are a great testimony to the creative talent of the members in this community. I’m going out on a limb to say that Slate’s software development team has embedded routines baked into the system that already can be displayed if you know the factory service code using a proprietary interface tool.

Am I the only one who just wants to get in and drive?

 

[AZFox]

Am I the only one who just wants to get in and drive?

Screenless Driving for the win.

 

[Ali]

That's what i wanted to do too. Sign me up. I am more interested in the software side of the project, but I have some experience with the hardware as well.
I was hoping to build a 360° camera and a parking guidance system.

 

[fxrdr31]

Would be cool if you had a tablet or second display connected that it would show the backup camera