What's In ALM's Garage?

[bfets]

A custom bracket!

1.2mm aloominum, lovingly cut, filed, sanded, primed, and just sprayed with enamel gloss black to match the front grille.
That's the only clue.

Appearing in a future video....

Oohhh I'll take a guess... front facing parking camera ?

Sponsored

 

[5.0ALM]

Oohhh I'll take a guess... front facing parking camera ?

Let me just say, it's not a tow hook.

 

[5.0ALM]

Battery Cover Scrivets

It's easy to lose a battery cover scrivet (screw rivet) down into the engine bay!
Avoid the temptation of the cheapies on the Chinese websites.



And, check your battery every now and then.
Being "out of sight, out of mind" can lead to problems.

Suttons Parts - Genuine Ford Blind Rivet W716510S300
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/325738061935

 

[5.0ALM]

Video Teaser!

I'm currently editing a video about my front parking camera project, something I started researching months ago.

The video itself has become bigger than Ben Hur, with over 200 video clips and still assets in use, and over a solid weeks work in editing over the last 3 weeks.

Granted, not as elegant as an OEM integrated system using the center screen, but it does the job!

Not expensive... I spent ~ $70!

I have a few more parking demo shots to shoot tomorrow.
Detailed video coming soon.

 

[bfets]

Video Teaser!

I'm currently editing a video about my front parking camera project, something I started researching months ago.

The video itself has become bigger than Ben Hur, with over 200 video clips and still assets in use, and over a solid weeks work in editing over the last 3 weeks.

Granted, not as elegant as an OEM integrated system using the center screen, but it does the job!

Not expensive... I spent ~ $70!

I have a few more parking demo shots to shoot tomorrow.
Detailed video coming soon.

I knew it!

 

[prestj1]

Looks pretty good, are there any solutions that could use your phone as the monitor…?

 

[5.0ALM]

Looks pretty good, are there any solutions that could use your phone as the monitor…?

Yes, there are.
Both cabled and wireless.
I was looking into this 6 months ago.

I purchased a USB camera with UVC (USB Video Class).
These can plug into the USB port (via an adapter) to any phone that supports OTG (On The Go) connectivity.

Poverty cheapo phones are unlikely to support OTG, whereas higher-end models will no problem.

UVC means no drivers are required - they "just work", and there are several camera viewer apps out there. Most of these camera viewer apps support both wired and wireless cameras.

I'm Android, so I can't speak for iOS users.

I rejected a cabled camera, because of not wanting to pass a cable through the firewall.
There's a grommet there (right in front of the driver's position).

But I didn't want to hack into that, and f##k knows what you have to remove to access that from inside the cabin.

You would also need a USB Y adapter lead, so the phone could be charging enroute and be connected to the UVC camera simultaneously. Unless not charging whilst driving is never an issue.

I rejected a wireless solution (they're out there) because you would need to;
• pick up your phone
• disconnect from your vehicle's wifi
• open the camera viewer app
• connect to the camera wifi
• wait to establish the connection...
• then continue parking

That is too fiddly, slow and clunky for my liking, but you could do it.

If you never use wireless Android Auto or Apple Carplay, then that wouldn't be a problem, but I can't imagine anyone using cabled USB to connect to their S650 when the luxury of wireless is available.

So yes, the recently retired - now spare - phone did come to mind at first, but...

Hope that answers your question.

 

[prestj1]

Yes, there are.
Both cabled and wireless.
I was looking into this 6 months ago.

I purchased a USB camera with UVC (USB Video Class).
These can plug into the USB port (via an adapter) to any phone that supports OTG (On The Go) connectivity.

Poverty cheapo phones are unlikely to support OTG, whereas higher-end models will no problem.

UVC means no drivers are required - they "just work", and there are several camera viewer apps out there. Most of these camera viewer apps support both wired and wireless cameras.

I'm Android, so I can't speak for iOS users.

I rejected a cabled camera, because of not wanting to pass a cable through the firewall.
There's a grommet there (right in front of the driver's position).

But I didn't want to hack into that, and f##k knows what you have to remove to access that from inside the cabin.

You would also need a USB Y adapter lead, so the phone could be charging enroute and be connected to the UVC camera simultaneously. Unless not charging whilst driving is never an issue.

I rejected a wireless solution (they're out there) because you would need to;
• pick up your phone
• disconnect from your vehicle's wifi
• open the camera viewer app
• connect to the camera wifi
• wait to establish the connection...
• then continue parking

That is too fiddly, slow and clunky for my liking, but you could do it.

If you never use wireless Android Auto or Apple Carplay, then that wouldn't be a problem, but I can't imagine anyone using cabled USB to connect to their S650 when the luxury of wireless is available.

So yes, the recently retired - now spare - phone did come to mind at first, but...

Hope that answers your question.

cheers mate thats awesome info

 

[5.0ALM]

Front Parking Camera

Aside from being over a solid week of editing (I'm not joking), this video runs 29 minutes.
I think I cover absolutely everything here.

Grab your favorite beverage and enjoy.



I'm using a wireless reverse camera system as a front camera.
Wireless means there are no hassles getting cable through the firewall.

The camera system itself is inexpensive and works well, but some custom brackets had to be knocked up. This was easy, using some scrap aluminium pieces that were on hand, and basic handy man tools.

Amazon - Wireless reversing camera kit - affiliate link (I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you)
https://amzn.to/4kFyzIR

Autobarn - Looming Tape
https://autobarn.com.au/ab/Autobarn...r-Builders-Underbody-Tape-19mm---UBT/p/142430

Autobarn - M6 Flange Head Bolts
https://autobarn.com.au/ab/Autobarn...-Flange-Head-Bolt-M6-x-16mm---FBM21/p/SP76970

Super Cheap Auto - Gloss Black Enamel Spray Paint
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/polycraft-polycraft-metal-cover-gloss-black-300g/683480.html


Now I want one in my daily driver.

 

[bfets]

Front Parking Camera

Aside from being over a solid week of editing (I'm not joking), this video runs 29 minutes.
I think I cover absolutely everything here.

Grab your favorite beverage and enjoy.



I'm using a wireless reverse camera system as a front camera.
Wireless means there are no hassles getting cable through the firewall.

The camera system itself is inexpensive and works well, but some custom brackets had to be knocked up. This was easy, using some scrap aluminium pieces that were on hand, and basic handy man tools.

Amazon - Wireless reversing camera kit - affiliate link (I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you)
https://amzn.to/4kFyzIR

Autobarn - Looming Tape
https://autobarn.com.au/ab/Autobarn...r-Builders-Underbody-Tape-19mm---UBT/p/142430

Autobarn - M6 Flange Head Bolts
https://autobarn.com.au/ab/Autobarn...-Flange-Head-Bolt-M6-x-16mm---FBM21/p/SP76970

Super Cheap Auto - Gloss Black Enamel Spray Paint
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/polycraft-polycraft-metal-cover-gloss-black-300g/683480.html


Now I want one in my daily driver.

Good find and very detailed video Adam. I cant believe that unit is so cheap. I just ordered one to play with as well. At $39 its a bargain.
I dont know how I feel about having that extra screen on the dash. I think if I do implement this I'll just leave the screen plugged in and hidden away in that center parcel storage area under the arm rest. I normally just reverse park, but in the odd occasion I do need to park nose in, I can just open that compartment to see the camera.

 

[bfets]

I wish I had a 3D Printer. Would have been nice to just 3D print a bracket for the camera instead of having to make and paint one.

 

[5.0ALM]

I wish I had a 3D Printer. Would have been nice to just 3D print a bracket for the camera instead of having to make and paint one.

The 3D printers I want, I can't afford.
One would print aloominum.


With such a large surround, I suspect they have hacked away at the front grille.

The camera doesn't appear to have much, if any, down tilt at all:

Call me crazy, but I don't care what's 20m away - you can look out the f'ing windscreen for that!
I want a good view of what is less than 2m away.

The fisheye distortion from the excessive FOV (field of view) means it was a poor camera choice, and the masking effect from their mount is terrible.

For close-in parking use, the whole point of it, I'd be disappointed to have paid a professional for an end result like that.

This is the hidden cost where the priority of making it look classy has severely degraded it's actual functionality.

I think my mount blends in quite well, considering.
It could have been finessed more, but I just wanted to get it done.

I'm not sure why I didn't include the following image in the video, but when you have 200+ assets, some which were taken weeks prior, you loose track.

This provides a good comparison between the supplied number plate bracket, their butterfly bracket, and my own home-brew butterfly mount.

You can see the extra down tilt required to get the result I achieved.

 

[bfets]

The 3D printers I want, I can't afford.
One would print aloominum.


With such a large surround, I suspect they have hacked away at the front grille.

The camera doesn't appear to have much, if any, down tilt at all:

Call me crazy, but I don't care what's 20m away - you can look out the f'ing windscreen for that!
I want a good view of what is less than 2m away.

The fisheye distortion from the excessive FOV (field of view) means it was a poor camera choice, and the masking effect from their mount is terrible.

For close-in parking use, the whole point of it, I'd be disappointed to have paid a professional for an end result like that.

This is the hidden cost where the priority of making it look classy has severely degraded it's actual functionality.

I think my mount blends in quite well, considering.
It could have been finessed more, but I just wanted to get it done.

I'm not sure why I didn't include the following image in the video, but when you have 200+ assets, some which were taken weeks prior, you loose track.

This provides a good comparison between the supplied number plate bracket, their butterfly bracket, and my own home-brew butterfly mount.

You can see the extra down tilt required to get the result I achieved.

I think your end result looks pretty good. Much like you, I dont want to drill into the car or attach the harness in any way that isnt fully reversable. I was going to see if I can possibly get the camera mounted behind the grill (between the grill and radiator) somehow. So long as the grill doesnt obscure too much. The top or bottom grill are both candidates , so long as I can avoid that radar module like you mentioned as well in the video. I havent checked this out at all yet. I accept its possible your location is the only viable one.

 

[prestj1]

Just a left field suggesting but what about a monitor for the sunglasses holder, how awesome would it be to drop the screen down from that area

 

[5.0ALM]

Just a left field suggesting but what about a monitor for the sunglasses holder, how awesome would it be to drop the screen down from that area

Having a monitor up there means your eye line is up there, and not out front.
With the monitor on the windscreen, albeit off to one side, you are still looking forward.

This front parking camera will probably only get occasional use, but it's nice to know it's there.

Sponsored