The Car Black Box System is an embedded solution designed to monitor and record critical vehicle events along with precise timestamps. Inspired by aviation black boxes, this system ensures reliable storage and retrieval of event data for later analysis.
Developed using Embedded C on the PIC16F877A microcontroller, the system integrates multiple peripherals including EEPROM, RTC, UART, CLCD Display, and Matrix Keypad to provide a complete event logging and management interface.
The primary objective of this project is to design a robust embedded system capable of:
- Recording vehicle events with accurate timestamps
- Storing logs in non-volatile memory
- Providing secure access through password authentication
- Allowing users to view, clear, and download logs
- Simulating real-world embedded system architecture
- Captures vehicle events with real-time timestamps
- Maintains a rolling history of recent events
- Automatically updates logs during system operation
- Secure login mechanism
- Prevents unauthorized access to system controls
- Displays stored logs on CLCD
- Allows navigation through event history
- Erases all stored records
- Resets system for fresh logging
- Modify RTC time
- Ensures accurate timestamp generation
- Update system password securely
- Enhances access control
- Transfers logs via UART
- Viewable on serial terminal
- PIC16F877A Microcontroller
- Character CLCD Display
- Matrix Keypad
- RTC Module
- EEPROM
- UART Interface
- Power Supply Circuit
- MPLAB X IDE
- XC8 Compiler
- Embedded C
- Serial Terminal (UART Monitoring)
Vehicle Events
↓
PIC16F877A Microcontroller
↓
RTC → Timestamp Generation
↓
EEPROM → Event Storage
↓
Menu System
↓
CLCD Display / UART Output
-
Events are triggered via user interaction or system inputs
-
RTC provides the current timestamp
-
Event + timestamp stored in EEPROM
-
User logs in using password authentication
-
Menu-driven system allows:
- Viewing logs
- Clearing logs
- Downloading logs via UART
-
System settings (time/password) can be updated
- Embedded C Programming
- State Machine Design
- EEPROM Interfacing
- UART Communication
- RTC Integration
- Menu-Driven UI Design
- CLCD Interfacing
- Matrix Keypad Handling
- Memory Management
- Event Logging Systems
- Keypad Debouncing Issue → Handled using delay & state logic
- Menu Navigation Bugs → Improved using structured state machine
- EEPROM Data Handling → Optimized indexing & storage logic
- UART Debugging → Verified baud rate & transmission flow
- RTC Sync Issues → Ensured proper initialization and update flow
- System Stability → Refined testing and modular debugging
- Strong understanding of embedded system design
- Hands-on experience with PIC16F877A
- EEPROM data management techniques
- UART communication debugging
- Real-time system development
- Secure system design using authentication
- Practical problem-solving in embedded applications
- SD Card-based storage
- Sensor integration (speed, impact detection)
- CAN protocol support
- GPS-based tracking
- PC dashboard for monitoring
- Advanced encryption for security
This project successfully demonstrates a real-time embedded event logging system using the PIC16F877A microcontroller. By integrating multiple peripherals and communication interfaces, it provides a practical and scalable solution for monitoring, storing, and retrieving vehicle-related events.
It also reflects strong fundamentals in embedded programming, system design, and debugging, making it a valuable hands-on project for real-world applications.