Beginning a new iteration

I have developed many rally computer systems that I have use to some success competing in TAMSCC rallies, my new project, which I plan to post the progress of here regularly, is to design a system that competes directly with the traditional 'A' box(Alfa Elite, etc) dedicated rally box that can be used widely by people competing in SCCA style rallies.

The goal is to develop a system that is cheaper, easier to use, and better than traditional 'A' box rally computers. The software program will be open source, free for anyone to use(past versions are already up on my rallyetime googlecode page). It will run on any modern laptop(windows at first, possibly cross platform) that has a USB port. I'm going with a laptop instead of other platforms simply because it is the most common, and also offers a lot of features like easily being able to pre input lots of information quickly, and having effectively no processing limitations. I have run lots of rallies as a nav while holding a laptop, so I don't think that will be an issue. I plan on being able to produce the hardware and sell (almost)plug n play systems including everything you need besides a laptop for about $100 to anyone who wants to use it(or you could always just build your own hardware)

The main hardware component will be the DLP 3 channel DAQ card with the PIC 12f683 reprogrammed to accurately keep track of distance measured from the wheelsensor. The PIC will also get an accurate time signal from a DS32kHz tcxo so that the system doesn't have to rely on the laptop's internal clock.

The only installation for the hardware would of course be having to mount the wheelsensor and magnets somewhere on the wheel/driveline. Other than that it will be plug n play, you just install the program on the laptop, plug the wheelsensor into the hardware box, and the hardware box into a usb port on the laptop and its fully operational.

You will be able to optionally add a CrystalFontz USB LCD screen to the system for a drivers display, or also any USB GPS Receiver to be used with in the program just to record where you went and draw a trail on a satellite view map. A power inverter to run the laptop would be recommended, so that the battery doesn't go dead in the middle of a rallye.