Custom hardware for Android application?

[crypton]

Hei,

Exploring an idea here - make my own Android capable hardware.
1) from off the shelf components
2) totally from scratch

1) Are there any good hardware platform(s) to start off with? Perhaps as bared boned as possible - to be able to include my own circuitry later on?
Maybe like an Android capable LCD module or smth?

2) What is the bare minimum needed for Android application?
Like, how crazy this option would be? Lets say if I'd only want to use GPS, Bluetooth and some TFT LCD for fancy pictures (no WiFi or phone-calling (GSM) nor browsing in the internet).
So the Android part deals with communicating with the hw parts and display nice things in Androidish way.

I've managed to search for some related info, but still totally in the dark
https://developer.android.com/things/hardware/developer-kits.html
http://kodi.wiki/view/Android_hardware

Suggestions?

[Kalvin]

Raspberry Pi?

https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/android-raspberry-pi/

[diyaudio]

Hei,

Exploring an idea here - make my own Android capable hardware.
1) from off the shelf components
2) totally from scratch

1) Are there any good hardware platform(s) to start off with? Perhaps as bared boned as possible - to be able to include my own circuitry later on?
Maybe like an Android capable LCD module or smth?

2) What is the bare minimum needed for Android application?
Like, how crazy this option would be? Lets say if I'd only want to use GPS, Bluetooth and some TFT LCD for fancy pictures (no WiFi or phone-calling (GSM) nor browsing in the internet).
So the Android part deals with communicating with the hw parts and display nice things in Androidish way.

I've managed to search for some related info, but still totally in the dark
https://developer.android.com/things/hardware/developer-kits.html
http://kodi.wiki/view/Android_hardware

Suggestions?

its easy If you playing around ? obtain a i.mx6 board, download their android image and source. Anything that high up the software stack deals with WIFI or Bluetooth comms.

[rob77]

2) What is the bare minimum needed for Android application?
Like, how crazy this option would be? Lets say if I'd only want to use GPS, Bluetooth and some TFT LCD for fancy pictures (no WiFi or phone-calling (GSM) nor browsing in the internet).

regardless of what applications you're planning to run the HW must have a CPU with MMU in order to run the linux kernel because android uses a modified linux kernel. that rules out the majority of cheap ARMs readily available and there are few options left. so forget the idea of DIY cheap HW... that's nonexistent...
there are many ready-to-go HW options... odroid boards, cheap-ish single board computers based on allwinner chips, iMX6 devel boards, raspberry pi, orange pi... basically most of the ARM based single board computers .

[crypton]

Sure. I think that the android hardware developer kits give these options as well. Although using them as-is, seems to be a bit overkill.

So I could get away with using a processor (i.MX6UL or similar that could house the kernel) + some graphics chipset (to run the LCD). Sure, the software (blank Android) might be able to access more, but since there would be no hardware, some (or significant) software modification (disabled features) would be needed. But currently it seems, that's pretty much all what is needed...

Starting to wonder if it's maybe easier to make my own UI on some Graphic LCD, instead of trying to use Android for the interface.

[Kilrah]

There are soo many SBCs to choose from it's not even funny... you'd really need a high volume application to warrant development of your own hardware.
If you really want to there are lots of open source ones to base yourself on. For example https://getchip.com/pages/chip, both the module itself or the published design could help you.