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Workshop Hardware Pairings

The Workshop Hardware Pairings dashboard (/dashboard/workshop-pairings) manages diagnostic hardware connections between vehicle Electronic Control Units (ECUs), Bluetooth OBD-II scanners, and workshop inspection tablets.

Bluetooth OBD-II Scanner Pairing & Diagnostics​

Steer interfaces with standardized Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and classic Bluetooth diagnostic dongles (ELM327, STN, OBDLink, and dedicated dealership scanners):

Pairing Workflow​

  1. Navigate to Workshop › Hardware Pairings (/dashboard/workshop-pairings) on the workshop tablet or laptop.
  2. Select the target vehicle from active inspection inventory.
  3. Plug the OBD-II scanner into the vehicle diagnostic port (typically located under the dashboard steering column).
  4. Enter or discover the hardware device serial number (e.g. OBD2TEST001).
  5. Click Connect to Scanner to initiate wireless pairing.

Diagnostic State Machine​

Once paired, the automated diagnostic scan progresses through a 4-step state machine:

  1. obd2-ready: Scanner establishes a handshake with the tablet and confirms protocol compatibility with vehicle bus (CAN, ISO 9141, KWP2000).
  2. obd2-scanning: Telemetry engine interrogates vehicle ECUs for active and pending Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), sensor readiness monitors, and MIL status.
  3. obd2-gathering: Freeze-frame fault data, live engine parameters, and mileage logs are retrieved into memory.
  4. obd2-finish: Scan results are compiled, synced to the backend (POST /api/v1/runner/report), and linked permanently to the vehicle inspection record.

Workshop Tablet Configuration​

  • Kiosk Mode: Tablets can be locked into Steer Workshop mode to prevent unauthorized app switching during vehicle check-ins.
  • Offline Inspection Cache: If a garage service bay suffers from intermittent Wi-Fi connectivity, inspection data and OBD-II telemetry are cached locally in browser IndexedDB storage and synced automatically once connection restores.
  • Technician Authentication: Fast PIN-based login enables quick handover between workshop technicians.

6 Mechanical Measurement Systems​

The pairing form collects structured calibration telemetry across 6 essential automotive systems to feed vehicle reconditioning plans and residual lifespan models:

  1. Engine (Moteur): Cylinder compression balance, oil pressure, timing variance, and ECU trouble codes.
  2. Braking (Freinage): Brake pad thickness (mm), brake disc wear tolerance, ABS sensor signals, and brake fluid boiling point temperature.
  3. Suspension: Damper compression/rebound efficiency percentage, suspension coil integrity, and silent-block bushing wear.
  4. Steering (Direction): Steering rack mechanical play, power steering pump/electric motor assist torque, and wheel alignment deviation.
  5. Tires (Pneumatiques): Tread depth measurements across outer, middle, and inner ribs for all 4 tires, tire pressure (bar), and DOT production date code.
  6. BMS (Battery Management System): State of Health (SoH percentage), State of Charge (SoC), individual cell voltage spread, and thermal degradation curves.
    • Note: BMS telemetry is conditionally displayed for Electric (BEV) and Hybrid (PHEV/HEV) vehicles, and automatically hidden for internal combustion engine (ICE) cars.

Telemetry & Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) Calibration​

Structured pairing logs are processed by the Steer diagnostic inference engine (sai-cda-labels) to calibrate vehicle health indicators, forecast future repair interventions, and provide buyers with certified mechanical health certificates.