Update: July 17, 2015

[RELEASES]
https://github.com/flyandi/mazda-enhanced-compass/releases

v0.0.3 - First public beta release


[DEVELOPMENT]
https://github.com/flyandi/mazda-enhanced-compass

[MAP] Resources
https://github.com/flyandi/mazda-enhanced-compass-map

 

Let me know if you need a server (or a few) to do the map processing. I have access to quite a bit of compute power.

 

Yes, we probably will need that. I just rendered SoCal on my Mac (16GB, i7) and it took pretty much the entire night.

Also we have to figure out how distribute the tiles packages. They quite large. SoCal compressed is about 1Gb - almost 3GB expanded.

 

I might be able to help with hosting or rendering as well if you let me know what you need. Don't know much (or, really nothing) about those mapping tiles, but I also happen to have some servers sitting around, not the most powerful, but they are literally doing nothing (plus some that are in use with some spare CPU power, if needed) so them being dedicated to rendering wouldn't be a problem. I also have 1Gb/1Gb internet, sooo I might could help with hosting too.

 

I can also give you a hand with rendering, I can get access to alot of computer power aswell . Also I can help you write the install script via USB

 

Very cool. I would love to see a constant compass status in the global status bar.

 

I don't modify the base system. This is based on modification of the Compass Control (completely rewritten) and doesn't affect any other functionality of the Mazda Connect.

 

A really cool project.
Is it possible to debug or test the modified compass control JavaScript in PC by adding more callbacks in the Debugtest.js ?
I can not enter the navigation tab by following the steps in ( misc:virtual2 [Mazda3Hacks]. ), while other tabs are functioning normally.
Any suggestion?

 

Just curious, have you looked into OpenStreetmap? Their navigation data is all free for the taking; there's also an Android App called "OsmAnd" which uses that data for navigation (though I think the app itself is not free or open-source).

Lastly, there used to be a Linux application called "gpsdrive" which was an free/open-source attempt at navigation; I don't know what the status of that project is, but it might be interesting for you to check out since it had the same goals.

 

This is based on OpenLayers and Mapnik which is the same software that powers OpenStreetMap. For routing you need a good backend for the calculation. I don't want to mess around with low level libraries on the Mazda's ARM, so I keep everything as simple as possible (for now :-D).

I looked into gpsdrive. Thank you for that, but it has way too many dependencies including requires to have the Mapnik server locally installed, which won't work for our purpose :-(.

I already started messing around with POI and simple street search and it seems to work.

The biggest issue that this app will have is the required space for the tiles. Just SoCal is about 5GB after rendering the different layers... but it works :-D

 

I did some tweaking after rendering a nicer map.

 

Looks great! Loving the progress!

 

Well - raw data is pretty small. Like the whole United States is just 8GB in size and if you have a on-demand tile server to render it, that works very well. However as stated before, I don't really want to install system level software at this point.

I don't think the size is a big deal at this point. I can fit a couple states on one 16GB sd card. It's not really designed for cross country road tips :-D

 

Yeah, makes sense. 99% of my driving is within 100 miles of my house. It's rare that I'd be anywhere outside the aforementioned NJ/NY/CT area.

 

I am getting pretty close to a version that I feel confident that it is useable. Still gotta do some testing but here is a quick video from today's driving to work. I was skeptic about just having 8 different degrees (N,nw, etc) but the pointing arrow works pretty well.

https://youtu.be/RpYIg0FFnLI

 

Looking good.

This appears to be for those who do not have the nav sd card correct? Because we would have to remove GPS navigation in order to use this because the compass is not available if the NAV sd card is present.

 

That's correct - you actually have to put a separate SD-Card into it that contains the map tiles.

Also this is not a full-fledge navigation system (yet). It doesn't provide any routing or POI yet.

 

Simple POI integrated

Also I refactored the entire code base and have now a slim bootloader which loads the core system from the SD-Card. So much easier for updates, enhancement and during development. If you forget to plug in the SDCard, the system waits for it.

 

Dashboard photos, so you don't think it's not real :-D

Gotta do some test driving tomorrow to see how the POI perform. It's loading the POI partially based on the current view extent. Felt a bit more choppy when scrolling.

 

Looking great mean! Thats awesome progress.

 

This is so awesome. Good job! If you manage to create free navigation for Mazda Connect I think it will quickly became a standard Mazda Connect navigation over the world lol.

 

If you can find a way to overlay traffic from the HD traffic map you are a god... I've been annoyed by this from day 1.

 

Menu integrated.

 

looking great! Cant wait to test your enhanced compass application. Any ETA for release? Also did you need help with the auto install script?

 

I am trying to get this out as fast as I can. My initial plan was to release it and later integrate POI. Now driving around with the POI I discovered that it really needs at least POI's .. so I am finishing this up and then it's release time. Hopefully this weekend.

Also I currently only have the SoCal map.. so once released I need to see how I generate the map for the entire US.


And yes, I need help with the install script which will be tricky because two areas in JCI-owned code needs to be patched.

 

Awesome, cant wait to get started! I'm in Canada so I guess Ill need to start generating maps for Canada any guide on how to start generating maps. I have access to a lot of processing power so that I can start rendering the maps for everyone. As far as the installing goes, it shouldn't be too hard for us to make an auto install script using USB shell hack.

 

Are there any plans to integrate traffic updates? That is my biggest gripe with the infotainment.

 

Well.. traffic is one of the hardest things because everyone protects their data but I am working on it.

 

actually getting traffic from google and overlaying it shouldn't be as hard... and should be doable over bluetooth.

 

You should read my previous findings. We don't have internet via bluetooth without modifying some core configs on the system - only Wifi is available and it's darn slow. Also Google Maps is out of the question for now due to the SSL certificate issues (outdated) - again you have to modify core system files.

My project is targeted without modifying any core system files. In the end I want to present a useable solution that can be installed by many not a few with expert buildroot knowledge.

Btw, Google traffic is not an overlay but actually pre-rendered tiles. Nobody gives out raw data.

 

Yeah, it's showtime.

I started publishing the first round of code. I just released the resources to start rendering tiles.

Please go to https://github.com/flyandi/mazda-enhanced-compass-map for more information.


If you want to contribute, please send me a PM in the next couple days.

 

The development branch is also available on GitHub:

https://github.com/flyandi/mazda-enhanced-compass


I am writing instructions right now and preparing the wiki for the first public beta release.

Note: There is a lot of code not tailored for a wider audience in this dev branch. I am not providing direct support until I have cleaned it up. That's what the releases will be: Clean and workable code bases.

 

Awesome work. Ill get started on an auto install script asap

 

I am writing instructions right now.. Just give me about an hour before you actually get started You can automate all the manual steps if that works for you

 

Done writing the usb install based on your README.md. Can you grant me access to update to github. Userid is 5igma

Also does this replace the regular navigation? So I wouldn't be able to use my old navigation after changing the code? Are we able to add another Icon instead of replacing the old version of JCI navigation? Or create another menu item in apps?

Do you have a howto for rendering maps? Ill need to render maps for Canada xD

 

Hey sigma. Thank you. The instructions are not quite ready yet I fall asleep halfway through last night :-D

Map rendering is in post #35 in this thread.

The app doesn't replace the old navigation, just the Compass app. In order to run it, you need to remove the original sd-card and replace it with the Enhanced Compass SD-Card. Writing instructions in a little bit for that.

 

Hey, I sent u a link. Still having problems uploading using github :S Saying I dont have permissions.