CANOPNR: CAN-OBD programmable-expandable network-enabled reader for real-time tracking of slippery road conditions using vehicular parameters

We describe the design and implementation of a programmable and expandable OBD-device that is capable of not only reading the various vehicular parameters from the ECU, but also detecting whether or not the vehicle slippage has occurred in real-time. The information is transmitted to a central server via a cellular network along with GPS information to allow real-time monitoring of both the vehicle and the road conditions. Commercially available tools are limited to specific functionalities and do not allow customization by the end-users. Furthermore, the ABS data (which can be used to detect vehicle slippage without the need for adding special sensors), available through the ECU, is tightly guarded by the vehicle manufacturers and is not readily accessible. Our device allows for customization by the user and is capable of reading the ABS information. We also present a solution that allows the end-user to obtain the ABS equivalent information using a combination of other readily available parameters for vehicles that are not equipped with ABS. Our goal is to provide an open-source tool for the research community, such that anyone can build the device and tailor it to the needs of his or her application(s). Our software is tuned and optimized to allow low power consumption, error-checking, and transmission of data at a settable time interval. Our experiments show that the vehicle slippage information obtained through the CANOPNR is accurate and reliable.