[Noisebridge-discuss] Open Source Bicycle Computer...

[Mitch Altman]

Hey Glen,

 

Sounds like you got the hardware bug bad!  :)

 

I haven't heard of obico before.  Cool project!  If they're in Germany, it's not unlikely that they may be at 26C3, where I'll be this December.  If you hear from them, ask them if they'll be there.  I'd be happy to talk with them in person about the project.

 

Anyway, I'll be happy to help Monday's while I'm in town, and via email just about any time.

 

Cheers,

Mitch.


 


Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:28:35 -0700
From: glen at glenjarvis.com
To: noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
Subject: [Noisebridge-discuss] Open Source Bicycle Computer...

My Shimano Ultegra ST-6501 right bicycle shifter broke. But, the part can't be found any more. It's replacement has only one button and won't interface with my flight-deck....and, this cascading part replacement goes on... making a simple part replacement, that should cost $200 or less, almost $1000. 


That's crazy. Of course, I imagine a good deal of this is 'good business' to keep selling parts. I've been thinking about this for a month now and keep thinking of an open source bicycle computer. After some noise bridge Monday night hardware hacking, I'm inspired. The problem seems so doable..


I've done some Googling to see what has already been done. This German design seems the absolute coolest: 



http://www.obico.de/


Although it's "open source", I didn't see any schematics, parts, etc online. I wrote to them to see if I could buy the hardware and/or a kit to assemble. But, if they don't answer, would any one else be interested in taking a stab at this?


I'm a software developer by trade and took digital design courses in college. But, anything analog is beyond me (currently). I'd definitely need to collaborate with others...  Logically, it seems the first two hurdles to get past are:


1) to create something that fits on the bicycle that can send a pulse at every turn of the wheel, and
2) A dynamo/power/recharge system -- it seems silly not to convert the mechanical energy from a bicycle and use it.. Here's a similar idea:



http://www.ktverkko.fi/~msmakela/electronics/dynamo5v/


The obico also does this as well.


I already have a pretty good idea how to do something useful with a microcontroller, small display, etc. But,  I'm *very* interested in the obico's hardware design and Linux port -- totally above and cooler than what I was thinking about.




I was pleasantly surprised to find a site that has some roots at noisebridge. I found this fun little tangent from a manufacturer that did the boarduino kit we assembled in Monday night's circuit hacking..



http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6


I found some old palm hacks and some other attempts at this:



http://blogs.thehumanjourney.net/finds/entry/20080306
http://japan.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm?an_pk=3845


Please say that someone here at noise bridge has crossed this bridge, already has a solution and/or is interested in making one (similar to obico's design). Again, I wrote to obico tonight, but their website hasn't had anything posted since 2008. Does anyone know them?




Cheers,




Glen





 		 	   		  
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