Aftermarket Tuning Concept

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

I'm asking for all for advice regarding the development of a concept/idea into a reality.

I've strange feeling that this is no easy achievement, as there would many long administrative and costly steps involved, however if there are those umongst us with information I would greatly appreciate feedback from you.

Toward the closing stages of last year I posted a few topics, in the hope of gathering information to gain an idea as to if my concept is (on a technical basis) possible.

1. To be more specific and straight to the point, it involves the adaptation of a software tuning program to be made compatible with a microsoft mobile operating system, such as Windows Mobile 5.0 (commonly found on Pocket PCs and PDAs)

2. Achieving the previous mentioned, all that remainded is simply integrating Blutetooth Technology into a aftermarket engine management device, either 'Interceptor/Piggyback' variety or a 'Stand Alone' configuration.

Although I havent formally approached any particular company for a solution, feedback (cause I don't know how to ) from those I know that are established within the respective software & consumer electronics industries, have stated that 'yes it is very possible and could be done without too much grief'

Knowing this, its a matter of patenting idea and approaching such companies to arouse interest in a what would be a potential application to a product already created and available to the public.

Currently on the CAPA Forum, there is a topic regarding the imminent release of a 'Home Tuner' software and would go hand in hand with my concept

I believe should a concept like that of 'BlueTunE' be brought to the attention of well established and reputable company such as Capa, Haltech, Motec to mention a few, their R&D departments would see merit in this.

So the imagine the ability to tune your vehicle without the need for a laptop and required serial/usb connections, all via Bluetooth technology to where the driver could adjust and configure settings on an LCD touchscreen compliments of a more than capable, space saving, portable PocketPC/PDA.

I await your replies and thankyou in advance.

Regards

Darren

In Car

In Control

'BlueTunE'

[Eugene]

http://www.autoenginuity.com/products-hardware.html

this is a blue tooth interface for obdII conector for Data logging.

Blue tooth is blue tooth, if it can send datalog signals, it can send a tune.

hope this helps.

[F6 UTE]

And if the bluetooth signal gets interrupted??

Batteries go flat etc??

[Flukey]

Darren,

I know you are after input, but putting what could be a "patented" idea on a public forum may not be the best way to go if you are developing this for commercial reasons.

2ndly, patenting costs big $. A good friend has recently spent several hundred thousand on patents for a what is quite simply a new type of box ( his invention, not yours )

The more complex the product, the more expensive to patent because before a patent is granted, it could be compared to thousands of other (similiar) products to evalauate if a patent is even valid.

Dont want to discourage, just I have been around a few recently patented products and have a reasonable idea of what is involved.

Luke.

[Guest]

Ohh well,

Sigh....

Darren

[Mildman]

I'd imagine you'd have to attempt some sort of market research too.

How many people do you think would like to buy a device to tune their own car?

In my opinion a lot of people who drive modified cars are happy to leave the tuning to an expert more because they do feel the have to skill rather than because the tuning interface isn't easy.

Just a thought....

I've thought up a few devices that I think are really cool and handy...just seemed that not many people shared my point of view.

[Guest]

I'd imagine you'd have to attempt some sort of market research too.

How many people do you think would like to buy a device to tune their own car?

In my opinion a lot of people who drive modified cars are happy to leave the tuning to an expert more because they do feel the have to skill rather than because the tuning interface isn't easy.

Just a thought....

I've thought up a few devices that I think are really cool and handy...just seemed that not many people shared my point of view.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd imagine a quite a few,

Especially since the release if the 'home tuner' software is just around the corner, and all the many other various aftermarket applications built to alter the state of an engines tune.

APEXI POWER FC COMPUTER with hand controller

APEXI AVC-R BOOST CONTROLLER

APEXI SUPER AFC

Electronic Boost Controller Spec S

Electronic Boost Controller Spec R

Electronic Boost Controller SBC ID III

Greddy e-manage (awesome bit of kit)

And those are just the Japanese companies that first spring to mind.

Cheers for your input, and I guess the age old saying of 'dreams are for free' will always remain

Darren

[Mildman]

True, fair point.

But I believe even in the case of the Power FC's etc... that much of the tuning is done be a tuning shop, and the main changes users make it push the boost up and down a bit, or play with the G-meter functions of these computers.

I'm no tuning expert, but I played around a bit with aftermarket tuning a while back and this is what I noticed in about 7 or 8 different cars (mainly Nissan)...that the drivers themsleves didn't like changing values - even though they had bought the hand controllers....