DakilaDAKILA
Dakila prototype vehicle fording a river during a testing run
Working Prototype · Firmware Rev 1.8.2

The smart control system built for overland vehicles.

Control lighting, monitor batteries, track GPS, view vehicle conditions, and manage your campsite from one connected platform.

Join the Kickstarter waitlist See the working prototype
PAUL'S NAVARASYSTEM ONLINE
House Battery
13.2 V
Starter Battery
12.7 V
GPS
11 SAT
Fan
30%
Inside
34.2°C
Outside
29.8°C
Awning
Rack
Rear
Bed
Built, tested, and still evolving

More than a concept.

Dakila currently runs as a functional prototype with working hardware, firmware, Bluetooth control, a Wi-Fi dashboard, RF support, GPS, battery monitoring, sensors, and automated cooling.

Working hardware
Working firmware
Working mobile app
Dakila prototype vehicle with rooftop tent, rack, and lighting rig on a jungle trail
Testing the rack, rooftop tent, and lighting rig on trail.
Prototype vehicle with roof rack and bumper lighting on at a hillside campsite at sunset
Roof rack and bumper lighting at camp, dusk.
Prototype vehicle parked under an awning tent with integrated LED strip lighting at night
Integrated awning lighting after dark.
Live from the vehicle

A dashboard that works without cell signal.

The local Wi-Fi dashboard runs directly from the controller, so it stays reachable at a campsite with no mobile data. The same status also drives the Bluetooth mobile app.

  • Vehicle elevation, speed, and GPS satellite count
  • House battery voltage and charge status
  • Controller box temperature and humidity
  • Cooling fan percentage and mode
  • One-tap lighting scenes: Camp, Night, Sleep, All off
  • Per-channel lighting sliders for awning and rack lighting
Dakila app weather screen showing current temperature, drizzle conditions, feels-like temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and a 5-day forecast
Dakila app settings screen showing Bluetooth connection status, scan and disconnect controls, controller name, radio state, device ID, and BLE service details
Dakila local Wi-Fi dashboard showing weather, elevation, house battery voltage, 9-axis roll and pitch, controller box temperature, cooling fan status, lighting scene buttons, and per-channel lighting sliders
Core platform

One local platform for vehicle and camp control.

7-channel lighting

Independent PWM dimming for awning, bed-rack, rear work, truck bed, shower, tent, and spare lighting.

Bluetooth app

Fast local control through the React Native app, with live status and scene control.

Local Wi-Fi dashboard

A browser dashboard that stays available even when there is no mobile data or internet connection.

433 MHz RF remote

Physical lighting control through an RXB6 receiver, with button assignments stored in flash.

Dual-battery monitoring

Monitor house and starter battery voltage with calibration support.

GPS telemetry

Live speed, position, altitude, and satellite information from the NEO-M8N module.

Environmental sensing

Track enclosure and outside temperature and humidity using SHT31 and SHT40 sensors.

Offline-first platform

BLE, RF, local Wi-Fi, and direct hardware controls remain useful at remote campsites.

Planned

IMU leveling & sun position

9-axis pitch, roll, and heading for camp leveling and sun direction.

Why Kickstarter

The prototype works. Funding helps make it production-ready.

Backers are not funding an idea from zero. They are helping transform a working prototype into a dependable product.

  • Custom production PCB
  • Automotive surge and reverse-polarity protection
  • Professional enclosure and connectors
  • Environmental and vibration testing
  • App refinement and documentation
  • First production run
Roadmap

From prototype to production.

Phase 1

Functional prototype

Complete
  • • Lighting control
  • • BLE
  • • Wi-Fi dashboard
  • • RF remote
  • • GPS
  • • Sensors
  • • Battery voltage
  • • Cooling
Phase 2

Product engineering

In progress
  • • Production PCB
  • • Protection circuits
  • • Automotive connectors
  • • Refined enclosure
  • • Test harnesses
  • • App improvements
Phase 3

Beta field testing

Planned
  • • Multi-vehicle installs
  • • Heat testing
  • • Vibration testing
  • • Water and dust testing
  • • Firmware feedback
Phase 4

Kickstarter production

Funding goal
  • • Tooling
  • • Compliance work
  • • Manufacturing
  • • Packaging
  • • First customer batch
Development log

Real work, shared openly.

Firmware 1.8.2Working

BLE, RF, calibration, and protected cooling

Added compact BLE mobile status payloads, configurable RXB6 button assignments, battery calibration settings, and CH8 cooling protection.

FirmwareBLERF
Current prototypeTesting

Dual-battery monitoring

House battery ADC monitoring is working. Starter battery sensing, filtering, and calibration are being integrated.

PowerTelemetry
Rev 2 planningPlanned

Vehicle leveling and IMU

BNO085 is selected for pitch, roll, compass heading, and future camp-leveling screens.

IMURoadmap
Enclosure refinementIn development

Cleaner PWM and power routing

PWM wiring is grouped into a dedicated harness while low-voltage electronics and high-current outputs are kept separated.

HardwareWiring

Dakila Core

Lighting control, BLE, Wi-Fi dashboard, RF remote, and basic monitoring.

Dakila Pro

GPS, dual-battery monitoring, IMU leveling, logging, and advanced automation.

Dakila Expedition

Distributed nodes, trailer control, tanks, solar, and expanded telemetry.

Packages and specifications are subject to change before Kickstarter launch.

Built from a real overland project

Built by an overlander, for real overland use.

Dakila began as a custom controller for Paul's Nissan Navara. It grew through real wiring, firmware revisions, dashboard design, mobile app development, and practical testing around an actual overland build.

Transparent by design

Working, testing, in-development, and planned features are labeled clearly. No fake testimonials, certifications, or delivery promises.

Follow the journey to Kickstarter

Help shape the future of Dakila.

Get prototype updates, field-testing results, early access announcements, and Kickstarter launch news.

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FAQ

Questions before launch.

Is Dakila already working?

Yes. The current prototype already controls lighting and provides BLE, Wi-Fi, RF, GPS, sensor, battery, and cooling functions.

Is the enclosure final?

No. The current enclosure and wiring layout are development prototypes. Funding will support the production enclosure and hardware.

Will it work without internet?

Yes. BLE, RF, and the local Wi-Fi dashboard are designed to keep working without internet access.

Is it only for Nissan Navara?

No. The prototype was developed around Paul's Navara, but the planned system is intended for many 12V overland and camper platforms.

When will Kickstarter launch?

After production PCB direction, enclosure engineering, beta testing, and manufacturing estimates are ready.

Is it open source?

The final licensing model is still being evaluated. Documented APIs and maker-friendly expansion are part of the product direction.