Diagnostics vehicle’s condition using obd-ii and raspberry pi technology: study literature

Abstract

Transportation accident rate are still being a major challenge in many countries. There are many factors that could be cause transportation accident, especially in vehicle's internal system problem. To overcome this problem, OBD-II technology has been created to diagnostics vehicle's condition. OBD-II scanner plugged to OBD-II port or usually called Data Link Connector (DLC), and after that it sends the diagnostics to Raspberry Pi. Compared from another microcontrollers, Arduino, Raspberry Pi are chosen because it sustains the application to receive real-time diagnostics, process the diagnostics and send command to automobiles at the same time, rather than Arduino that must wait for another process finished to run another process. Outcome from this application is to enable automobile's user to diagnostics their own vehicles. If there is found something unusual or a problem, the application can told the problem to user, so they could know what to fix before they use their vehicle safely.

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Diagnostics vehicle’s condition using obd-ii and raspberry pi technology:
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1234567890 ‘’“”
2nd International Conference on Computing and Applied Informatics 2017 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 978 (2018) 012011 doi :10.1088/1742-6596/978/1/012011
Diagnostics vehicle’s condition using obd-ii and raspberry pi
technology: study literature
J V Moniaga, S R Manalu, D A Hadipurnawan and F Sahidi
Computer Science Department, School of Computer Science, Bina Nusantara
University, Jakarta, Indonesia 11480
Email: jurike@binus.edu, smanalu@binus.edu dionisius.hadipurnawan@binus.ac.id
firda.sahidi@binus.ac.id
Abstract. Transportation accident rate are still being a major challenge in many countries. There
are many factors that could be cause transportation accident, especially in vehicle’s internal
system problem. To overcome this problem, OBD-II technology has been created to diagnostics
vehicle’s condition. OBD-II scanner plugged to OBD-II port or usually called Data Link
Connector (DLC), and after that it sends the diagnostics to Raspberry Pi. Compared from another
microcontrollers, Arduino, Raspberry Pi are chosen because it sustains the application to receive
real-time diagnostics, process the diagnostics and send command to automobiles at the same
time, rather than Arduino that must wait for another process finished to run another process.
Outcome from this application is to enable automobile’s user to diagnostics their own vehicles.
If there is found something unusual or a problem, the application can told the problem to user,
so they could know what to fix before they use their vehicle safely.
1. Introduction
On-Board Diagnostic is a computer-based system developed by Automobile manufacturers for
diagnosing car. It focuses on diagnosing the performance of car's engine to check any errors in car's
engine components [1]. OBD-II connect with DLC in the vehicle. Almost all the problem with the
vehicle can be detect by OBD-II, such as exhaust manifold, ABS brake function, airbag (iSRS & SRS),
inle performance, and so on. However, OBD was only for scanning the vehicle’s diagnostics. To reading,
processing, and showing the data, it needs Microcontroller. Microcontroller is a microprocessor system
that installed in the chip. Microcontroller is different with microprocessor that used by PC because
usually general microcontroller already filled with supporting minimal component system, such as
memory and I/O interface. In another side, microprocessor usually only filled by CPU [2]. Nowadays a
lot of tools that can control device digitally. However, we have choosen two of the popular models and
compared their feature. Those two models are, Arduino Uno and Raspberry Pi. Arduino is an open
source microcontroller board that able to connect to computer and others devices via universal serial bus
(USB). Arduino can be powered from any power supply such as computer, battery, and more. [3]. There
a lot of various of Arduino to choose for every needs, to conform with our research we chose to use
Arduino Uno.

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2nd International Conference on Computing and Applied Informatics 2017 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 978 (2018) 012011 doi :10.1088/1742-6596/978/1/012011
Figure 1. From left to right: An Arduino Uno [4], a Raspberry Pi [4], iSaddle Bluetooth OBD-II
Scanner[5]
The Raspberry Pi is an inexpensive credit-card sized computer, that has 700Mhz processor, 512MB
of SDRAM, on board Ethernet, HDMI and RCA interfaces, a dual USB connector and an SD card slot.
In addition is maintains an array of input/output pins that make the Raspberry Pi extraordinarily
conductive to tinkering and device innovation [6].
Table 1. Comparison of Arduino Uno and Raspbery Pi [4]
Indicator
Arduino Uno
Raspberry Pi
Model Tested
R3
Model B
Processor
ATMega 328
ARM11
Clock Speed
16Mhz
700Mhz
RAM
2KB
256MB
Ethernet
N/A
10/100
USB Master
N/A
2 USB 2.0
Raspberry Pi has been chosen rightly as the single board computer for this application because it
has the highest performance compared to Arduino (Arduino still use ATMega 328 for its processor
and Raspberry Pi already use ARM11 which has higher specification) and Arduino cannot run
multiple process at the same time since it only has 2KB size of RAM. In addition, Raspberry Pi has
input port for Ethernet and USB, which make it easier to make it connected to internet connection and
connect to another device.
2. OBD-II Scanners
Recently, On Board Diagnosis-II (OBD-II) scanner have been introduced to use a vehicle network
(OBD-II) for the diagnosis and checking of a vehicle, which has previously used many devices such as
black boxes, vehicle diagnostic equipment and vehicle supply management [7]. OBD is a standard tool
that allows driver to check car's engine status by plug the OBD to the porst that placed under the driving
wheel. Mostly OBD can get the status of emission control, driving speed, voltage control, engine coolant
temperature, idle time, and more [8]. OBD-II is mostly used with extension tools such as gas analysers
and vehicle telematics [9]. The OBD scanner is a costly device and is mainly owned by workshops [10].
We are able to access this car's ECU with mobile device by connected the OBD-II to the port and
connected to the mobile device via OBD-II connector. Then OBD-II will export the data to the mobile
device after CAN-Bus convert the data. [11]. There are many scanners that could be connected to OBD-
II, for the example, one of the most basics scanner, U480 CAN OBD-II Diagnostic Scanner. This scanner
has a basic LCD display to give information about vehicle on board diagnostics that connected to it, but
need wire to connect to the vehicle. The developed scan tool is compliant with various SAE (CAN)
standard communication protocols to connect with the ECU installed in the vehicle [12]. On board
diagnostics is a tool that have a function to diagnosing and reporting the car's engine condition. It is the
interface between cars Controller Area Network (or CAN bus) and external devices, e.g., a OBD scan
tool that connects the OBD port and a laptop. All components of car's vehicle are able to communicate
with each other with CAN-Bus. For example, a position value is sent to the Electronic Control Unit
(ECU) after human driver press the gas pedal, and the ECU adjusts air/fuel injections according to the
position value. Therefore, we can read this position message transmitted over CAN bus from the OBD
port [13]. Now scanners mostly are wireless for example there are 3 scanners that most used for now,
first is ERUSUN Bluetooth Mini OBD-II Scanner, that serving a wireless connection between user
vehicle’s computer and user device’s via Bluetooth, then there is iSaddle Bluetooth / Wi-Fi Wireless

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2nd International Conference on Computing and Applied Informatics 2017 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 978 (2018) 012011 doi :10.1088/1742-6596/978/1/012011
OBD-II Scanner, is a scanner that serving a connection both Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and can connect to
tablet, smartphone and computer. ELM-327, is one such adapter where the data read from the OBD2
port are transmitted via Bluetooth upon pairing [14]. Last, there is iSaddle OBD-II Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Scanner that connect also with both Bluetooth or Wi-Fi [15].
3. iSaddle Bluetooth OBD-II Scanner on Android
It is necessary to know the OBD2 protocols and convert the OBD2 signals to the serial data standard for
the PC [16]. iSaddle Bluetooth OBD-II Scanner is more suitable to this application than iSaddle WI-FI
OBD-II Scanner because this application require internet connection from the devices. When the device
connect to this application via Wi-Fi, it would make impossible for the device to connect to the internet
via Wi-Fi. In this case, user must choose between connect into this application but using mobile data, or
not using this application at all. Furthermore, Bluetooth wireless technology is an open specification that
enables low-power and short range wireless connection [17]. Since this application will be used while
user in the vehicle that does not has any electricity to charge the smartphone, low-power wireless
technology would be a great solutions. By using the OBD2 Bluetooth interface, the information on real
instantaneous fuel consumption is also acquired from the vehicle engine [18]. OBD2 speed is taken as
benchmark for true vehicle speed. Bluetooth based OBD2 device is installed in the vehicle, which
collects vehicle speed at 1sec interval and transmits it a mobile phone [19]. OBD-II does not provide a
user friendly data and meaningful, although there are a lot of research that claim there is a possibility to
analyse driver behaviour using real-time data from OBD-II's diagnosing data. [20]. Nowadays those
researches focusing on to use multi-source information fusion to get better interpret of relationship of
driver's behaviour and car's engine performance.[21] Unfortunately the analysis part is done off-line
after the data gather, so OBD-II can't give a real-time driver's support [22].
iSaddle Bluetooth OBD-II Scanner has a small size, compact structure, and supports all OBD-
II protocols. Besides, stable wireless connection, no wires, and no batteries are some extra feature that
iSaddle OBD-II has [23]. To work, iSaddle Bluetooth OBD-II Scanner require the vehicle that has 16-
pin Data Link Connector (DLC) under the vehicle’s dash [24]. Also, that must be an information on
vehicle's emission control label that the vehicle is OBD-II compliant. This scanner then get plugged to
DLC and it connects to any computer, tablet, or smartphone [25]. There are many diagnostic software
that associated with iSaddle Bluetooth OBD-II scanner. With these software, it would be able to read
diagnostic trouble codes, clear trouble codes, turn off the check engine light, set the maximum number
of responses to obtain, removes spaces from Engine Control Unit (ECU) responses (to make data
transmission more speed), store unique identifier in the Electronically Erasable Programmable Read
Only Memory (EEPROM), set the CAN mask and filter with one command, easily switch between
variable and fixed CAN message lengths, send CAN remote frames (RTRs), and many more [23].
The car's engine trouble indications or commonly called by Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) is save
in the system. Those codes are not the same in all vehicles, and not all country that produce vehicle use
the manufacturer codes. However, now everyone is able to connect OBD-II to the port and diagnosing
the car's engine trouble then identify the trouble data [26]. Nowadays freeware and commercial software
packages are available, that allow to monitor OBD-II vehicle data by using just a smartphone and off-
the-shelf scan tools. There a lot of software that able to monitor car's engine by using smartphone and
some external tools. However all on-board diagnosing systems only display the low-level data. OBD-II
doesn’t provide a user friendly data and meaningful, although there are a lot of research that claim there
is a possibility to analyse driver behaviour using real-time data from OBD-II's diagnosing data.
Nowadays those researches focusing on to use multi-source information fusion to get better interpret of
relationship of driver's behaviour and car's engine performance. Unfortunately the analysis part is done
off-line after the data gather, so OBD-II can't give a real-time driver's support.
4. Process in OBD-II
To set up the OBD scanner tool is not a uniform process since there are many varieties of types and
brands of vehicle and the OBD scanner itself. But generally the process can be described like this, first
user must download the application for the mobile and it depends on the OBD scanner tool itself, because
different tool may require different application. This step should be done well before user's smartphone
connect to the OBD scanner tool. Next step user must connect the OBD scanner to the DLC (Data Link
Connector), usually it was located under the steering wheel. DLC consist of 16 pins. This step also must

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IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 978 (2018) 012011 doi :10.1088/1742-6596/978/1/012011
be done well because it will connect directly to the OBD scanner tool. As a concern when user is
installing the OBD scanner to the DLC, this is the following list of 16 Pin DLC and its function, These
16 pins include: (1) Manufacturer reserved pin, (2) The J1850, (3) Manufacturer reserved pin , (4) The
chassis ground connector,(5) The signal ground , (6) The CAN high, J-2284, (7) The k line, ISO9141-
2/DIS 14230-4connector port, (8) Manufacturer reserved pin, (9) Manufacturer reserved pin, (10) J1850
Bus, (11) Manufacturer reserved port, (12) Manufacturer reserved port,(13) Manufacturer reserved
port,(14) CAN, J2284 PORT,(15) The L line, ISO 9141 and ISO/ DIS 14230-4, (16) The battery power
connection. Since there are many varieties of types and brand of vehicle also the OBD scanner itself and
this process is a general process, there are some
(a)
(b)
(c)
Figure 2. (a) Data Link Connector and OBD Wire, (b) 16-Pins of OBD-II [28], (c) OBD-II
Diagnostics Trouble Code Description [29]
The other concern is DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code), DTC is a set of code consisting of letters and
numbers, where each code represents type of fault on user's vehicle. DTC originally made by SAE
(Society Automotive Engineers) for use by all vehicle manufacturers who have to comply with OBD 2
emissions regulations in the U.S and adopted by European and Asian market. There are 4 basic
categories of DTC, Powertrain (P) category covers functions that include engine, transmission and
associated drivetrain accessories, Body (B) category refers to functions that are, generally, inside of the
passenger compartment. These functions provide the driver with assistance, comfort, convenience, and
safety. Chassis (C) category represent functions that are, generally, outside of the passenger
compartment. These functions typically include mechanical systems such as brakes, steering and
suspension. Network and Vehicle Integration (U) category is for functions that are shared among
computers and systems on the vehicle. DTC also divided to 2 major groups, Generic OBD Codes are
code that have "0" as second digit to represent they are common to all makes and models of vehicles
also for basic emissions fault diagnosis, Vehicle Manufacturer Special Codes are code that have 1 as
second digit to represent unique vehicle to a particular vehicle make or model [30].
5. Process in Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry PI is not a fixed function device, unlike many mobile devices. Although a mobile device
often has a camera, it is usually impossible to add extra hardware to most mobile devices. Using the
Raspberry Pi, it is possible to play with rudimentary hardware. There are multitudes of the resources
devoted to creating innovative systems using the Raspberry Pi as a foundation, from supercomputers to
time-lapse cameras. One of the advantages of the Raspberry Pi is that they limit the resources available
to the programmer, who must then develop the cleaner and better programming habits as the
programming projects gain complexity. The restriction on resources will likely force the design of more
efficient programs [6]. To work with the iSaddle Bluetooth OBD-II scanner, the Raspberry Pi needs a
Bluetooth scanner to be pairing with. There are several commercial Bluetooth scanner, but in this
application will use the Raspberry Pi Nano Bluetooth Dongle, which is the perfect low cost solution and
easy to install. The first step before using The Bluetooth Dongle is to install the latest Raspbian
Operating System (OS) in the Raspberry Pi which where the data will be shown and processed. Raspbian
OS is a free operating system based on Debian, optimized for the Raspberry Pi hardware [31]. The next
step is download pyOBD. pyOBD is an open source OBD-II compliant scan tool software that written

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2nd International Conference on Computing and Applied Informatics 2017 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 978 (2018) 012011 doi :10.1088/1742-6596/978/1/012011
entirely in Phyton. It is made with OBD-II diagnostic interfaces. It will allow the user to see their
vehicle’s ECU data, display DTC, measured values, status tests, and more [32].
6. Application Process
The recommend system is able of diagnosis the vehicles, collecting, storing, and also retrieve the
command from mobile application. Vehicle diagnosis data are collected using an iSaddle OBD2
Bluetooth scanner and are sent to Raspberry Pi via Bluetooth. Raspberry Pi needs Nano Bluetooth
Dongle as extra tools that enabled it to retrieve and send data using Bluetooth. After the diagnostics data
retrieved to Raspberry Pi, pyOBD will display the interface of the diagnostic data based from OBD-II
diagnostics trouble codes and process it. To process the diagnostics data, this application is using
Node.JS as server-side language. Compared to PHP that only handles small requests well, but struggles
with large requests Node.JS has much better performance in high concurrency situation, no matter in
benchmark test or scenario tests [33]. These data are encapsulated to JSON Objects, it will be store to
MongoDB (NoSQL document oriented database management system [34]). MongoDB provides
flexibility during the development process and easy to deploy and copy databases from one server
another server compared than its competitor, Oracle Databases [34], which makes MongoDB is more
suitable in this application. By connecting to internet connection, JSON Objects that stored in MongoDB
can be parsed to user’s smartphone through this application.
Users are also enabled to send their own command to their vehicle’s. User must input their command
in this application to do so. Next, the application will generated the input into JSON Objects and stored
to MongoDB. The Node.JS API will process the JSON Objects into ELM-USB command list. These
ELM-USB command lists are send to iSaddle OBD-II Bluetooth Scanner, and it will triggered the
vehicle to do the command from the user.
(a)
(b)
Figure 3. (a) Raspberry Pi Nano Bluetooth Dongle [31]; (b) Application Process Flow
7. Conclusion
Vehicle’s diagnostic get much attention from industry and researchers in recent years. The variety and
heterogeneity of vehicle diagnostics implementation has been the major reason which makes it
interested. This paper presents a technique to analyse diagnostics from vehicle that connected to OBD-
II and process the diagnostics data using Raspberry Pi. People can also send a command to their own
vehicle by using this application. Although the process occurs only the delivery of vehicle diagnostic
data to user’s smartphone, Raspberry Pi is more suitable viewing the ability of Raspberry Pi that can be
multitasking. In the future research that related to OBD-II scanner, its recommended to use OBD-II
scanner with Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi, because it’s more energy saving, easier to use and more stable.
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