From overheating to overachieving: A comedic tale of hacking my car

12:15 SAST

15:45 IST

11:15 BST

Johannesburg

45 Min

Embark on a humorous and enlightening journey into the world of car hacking in this developer-focused conference talk.
As my trusty old car overheated and befuddled multiple repair shops, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Armed with an OBD connector, I ventured to uncover the secrets hidden within my vehicle's systems.

In this presentation, I'll guide you through the process of reverse engineering, offering a brief Electronics 101 for beginners. Discover how I used Arduino to decode the mysterious signals on the car's CAN bus. Along the way, I'll share my humorous misadventures and the lessons learned from my escapades.

But the journey doesn't stop there. I'll also explore the exciting possibilities that car hacking opens up. Learn how a friend transformed his gasoline car into an electric marvel using the same techniques.

I. Introduction (5 minutes)
A. Briefly introduce the topic and the speaker's personal journey
B. Set the stage for an entertaining and educational adventure

II. The Overheating Odyssey (5 minutes)
A. Share the speaker's initial car troubles
B. Describe the frustrating visits to multiple repair shops
C. Tease the idea of taking matters into one's own hands

III. The Curious Curiosity (10 minutes)
A. Introduce the OBD connector and its role
B. Explain the decision to hack the car and the motivation behind it
C. Highlight the essence of curiosity as the driving force

IV. Electronics 101: A Crash Course (10 minutes)
A. Provide a basic overview of electronics principles
B. Explain the role of logic probes in analyzing data
C. Prepare the audience for the upcoming hacking journey

V. Hacking with Humor (15 minutes)
A. Share funny and light-hearted misadventures during the hacking process
B. Describe the experience of intercepting initial data on the car's CAN bus
C. Explain the use of Arduino in decoding and translating signals
D. Emphasize the importance of embracing humor and learning from mistakes

VI. The World of Possibilities (10 minutes)
A. Discuss the broader potential of car hacking
B. Share a specific example of converting a gasoline car into an electric vehicle
C. Inspire the audience to think creatively and explore new horizons

VII. Conclusion (5 minutes)
A. Summarize key takeaways from the talk
B. Encourage the audience to embark on their own hacking adventures
C. End on a light-hearted note, emphasizing the joy of curiosity and learning

VIII. Q&A Session (15 minutes)
A. Engage with the audience, answer questions, and share additional insights