What Is OBD?
OBD stands for On-Board Diagnostics and is a computer system inside of a vehicle that tracks and regulates a car’s performance. This on-board computer system collects information from the network of sensors inside the vehicle, which the system can then use to regulate car systems or alert the user to problems. A technician can then simply plug into the OBD system to collect vehicle data and diagnose the problem.
How Has On-Board Diagnostics Changed Over the Years?
1. OBD-I
The concept of OBD was proposed by General Motors (GM) in 1982, and its purpose is to monitor emission control systems. Once the car break down, the OBD system will control to light up an indicator on the dashboard to notify the driver, and at the same time record a code in the on-board computer (ECU or ECM) to facilitate troubleshooting. OBD-I was largely unsuccessful, as the means of reporting emissions-specific diagnostic information was not standardized. Technical difficulties with obtaining standardized and reliable emissions information from all vehicles led to an inability to implement the annual testing program effectively.
2. OBD-II
In 1994, the California Air Resources Board issued OBD-II as a set of standards for OBD systems for all vehicles sold in California. This mandate was officially implemented in the 1996 model year and has been in use ever since. OBD-II is an improvement over OBD-I in both capability and standardization. The OBD-II standard specifies the type of diagnostic connector and its pinout, the electrical signalling protocols available, and the messaging format. It also provides a candidate list of vehicle parameters to monitor along with how to encode the data for each.
Comparison of OBD connection
1. Wired connection: Due to the size limitation of the wire, it is not convenient to use
2. Bluetooth connection: Bluetooth (BLE) has the characteristics of low power consumption, low cost, reliability, and high security. It is currently the most suitable connection method for diagnostic instrument applications;
3. Wi-Fi connection: the use of Wi-Fi connection requires good network conditions, it is not convenient to use.
The FSC-BT986 module is very suitable for the use of OBD-II:
- Bluetooth version: V5.2 Dual-mode
- Profiles: SPP/BLE/HID/GATT
- Size: 13mm x 26.9mm x 2mm
Highlights:
- Excellent compatibility
- Multiple connections
- Low cost, HC-05 pin-to-pin solution
- Low power consumption
- Certification: CE/FCC/IC/KC/NCC
