Recorded Version of Sept. 25th, 2014 Google Hangout

Did you miss Ford’s Google Hangout QA? Have no fear! You can watch the recorded version with  Venkatesh Prasad, Senior Technical Leader, Open Innovation at Ford below.

APIs & Data

Although no specific API or data integration is required, your app must focus on repurposing outdoor surface parking lots to increase their variety of uses, or aesthetic value, while enabling parking in the city. (Note: Solutions are not required to include LA-specific data, but must be usable for LA parking lots.)

Here are a few APIs, datasets, and studies you might find useful:

Non-distracting In-Vehicle Interfaces

To be eligible, all submitted apps must conform to In-Vehicle Approval Criteria from Ford for safe and non-distracting in-vehicle interfaces, if the intent is to use the app while driving. For more information, see the national generally accepted principles for in-vehicle interfaces.

Bug Labs Real-Time Messaging and Visualization Tools

Get your OpenXC-equipped Ford sharing data on the Internet in minutes!  Challenge participants have the opportunity to use the dweet™ real-time messaging service and freeboard™ dashboard/visualization platform, free of charge, to easily develop innovative mobile and desktop applications. Both products come with complete documentation, sample code and tutorials!

SYNC® AppLink™

SYNC AppLink is a suite of APIs that provides the capability for mobile developers to AppLink enable their mobile applications. Developers have the ability to extend the command and control of the mobile application’s features to the vehicle occupants in a responsible, non-distracting way through the use of familiar in-vehicle Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) such as SYNC Voice Command, Steering wheel and radio buttons.

The applications run on the mobile device without the need to install any third party software on the vehicle head unit. The AppLink APIs exchange program data as well as command and control information over a known transport layer allowing SYNC to exchange messages with an AppLink enabled application in a pre-determined format. This technology is similar to how Bluetooth phones and digital media are integrated and used on the SYNC production platform.

Learn more at the Ford Developer Site: https://developer.ford.com/ 

OpenXC

OpenXC is an API to your car that offers drivers more insight into how their cars run. Using the OpenXC platform, you can access the OpenXC data and start making vehicle-aware applications even if you don’t have a Ford or even a car.

Using the OpenXC vehicle interface you can read vehicle data real-time — like the steering wheel angle, GPS position, and vehicle speed. Currently, OpenXC supports over a dozen different measurements on a growing list of Ford vehicles. To get started review the OpenXC site to get access to OpenXC-formatted vehicle data, important documentation, and OpenXC FAQs.

Resources for Native Android Apps. For Android app development, make sure you check out theAndroid Library Setup and App Tutorial pages on the OpenXC site.

Please note that if you want to use OpenXC to interact directly with a Ford vehicle, you’ll need to download the closed source CAN translator firmware directly from Ford and sign a developer agreement.

Resources for Web Apps. For web app integration, you can use replayed trace data from previously recorded drives. You can find several driving datasets on the OpenXC site. 

And More… 

More Questions?

For questions about the Parking Lot 2.0 challenge, email Support@ChallengePost.com, or post them to the Discussion Board.