Fixing up the Jeep seems to be a never ending project. Every time we fix one thing we'll find at least two more problems...

I'm going to try to keep track of the maintenance and replacements on the Jeep from now on. This is what I've done so far...

As a project for ECE4180, Embedded Systems and Designs, at the Georgia Institute of Technology we designed an automated gigapixel acquisition system. The system was created to fulfill our requirement to create an embedded solution with an eBox 2300.

Taking photographs to stitch together later to create high detail such as gigapixel panoramas requires precise, repetitive, and meticulous camera positioning for the tens to hundreds of images required. The purpose of this project was to design a motorized and automated panorama head so that a panorama could be taken automatically without repetitive work by the user, such as accurately adjusting the camera's direction for every picture.

A user interface was made to allow the system’s user to input parameters for the camera, lens, and percent overlap between the images. The software estimates the horizontal and vertical field of view of the panorama, the number of images required to form the panorama, and the estimated gigapixels count contained in the panorama and displays this data on the interface.

A FTP server on the computer used makes the images taken with the camera avaliable via FTP. The computer can be connected to via a wired or wireless network connection to access the system remotely while waiting on the system to complete the panorama.

Test results of the system show that it is capable of producing very high detail panoramas without requiring the user to manually adjust the camera for each shot, instead the whole panorama is taken automatically including the shutter release.

To read more about it click here or go to: http://www.ewoutvb.com/4180/

With the Trailblazer, the lowbeams shut off if the highbeams are enabled. This is due to several state laws that only allow 2 high beams and no other lights at the same time. The BCM will receive the low beam on signal and high beam on signal from the instrument panel, but due to settings on the BCM will turn off the low beam relay signal and enable the high beam relay signal. However, some people want to have more light when they are driving in the middle of no where. The flash-to-pass option on the car will actually allow you to turn on your high beams without turning off any other lights. This, then, will give us the option of setting up the normal high beam operation the same way.

What you need:

• SPDT switch
• T-tap
• Soldering iron with solder, or fastons

The 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo we have had quite a few issues, so I decided to fix the Jeep up over the summer. Sadly enough I do not have any before pictures but plenty of after pictures.

Before:

After:

What was fixed / replaced:

• Bumpers, Cladding, and Roofrack
• Exhaust manifold
• Whole exhaust system except the down pipe
• Shock absorbers
• Motor and Transmission mounts
• Coolant temp sender
• Idle Air Controller and Throttle body
• Headliner
• Overhead console and Vehicle Information Center
• Sound system including speakers
• Steering wheel
• Center console
• Alarm system
• Door panels
• Tires