Race Car Data Logging

[Mokesta]

A good friend of mine is a guru with electronics. He builds the hardware and does all of the software for the device and also the PC based software.

He currently makes and sells torque split controllers for Skyline GTRs so most 5 owners wouldn't be aware of him.

Another device he has made is an engine monitor that takes in engine sensors and has smart alarms to warn you of potential damage. There is an LCD screen that is used for parameter setting, sensor calibration and read-outs. Think of it as a very high-tech idot light.

His latest project is a race car data logger. It is a box that can take in a number of analogue and digital signals and record them at data rates of up to 20 Hz. It also has the capability to use a 2 Hz or 5 Hz GPS input. The 5Hz has more positional accuracy too. The logger can be connected to the engine monitor so engine data can be logged. All data is stored on a USB key. Analogue signals could be accelerometers, gyros, steering angle, temperature, oil pressure, suspension position, speed. Digital inputs could be lap timer pulse, clutch in/out, brake on/off etc. Only limited by available sensors.

All of the above features are available in commerically available systems, so none of this is new. Some of the engine monitor features are available as part of engine ECU systems. Mostly these are quite expensive.

My mate reckons his system will have the functionality of systems that are in the >$2,000 range for less than $1,000 but as with all manufactured products price depends on quantities. The purpose of this thread is to find out what sort of market exists for these types of products.

Please discuss

M

[Stu]

Does it tell you if there is danger to the manifold & drops the floor on the road?

Just kidding

Sounds good.

[Mokesta]

See the test unit's performace around Lakeside on Monday here:

http://www.timeattack.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=229

After the MX-5 club day at QR on Tuesday I am really keen for one of these. Just need to limit the spend on the car so it doesn't ruin relations with the financial controller...

[Steampunk]

I voted \"No I have a G-tech .... \" BUT it doesn't tell temperatures, pressures, or knock events.
I also have a MegaSquirt Datalogger but strapping it in the car on the track is a bit of hassle.
Would your mate do a parred-down version with just a couple of really important sensors and readouts like a knock sensor and engine temp sensor?, reading off a simple backlit LCD screen and LEDs?

I can probably DIY these in various ways, but would rather a professional do it.

[Mokesta]

The data logger unit can take whatever sensors you want as long as they have the usual outputs. Like 0-5 v or 0-12v. I don't know about 4-20mA as they aren't really car sensors. Knock is much harder because you need a very high acquisition rate to measure high frequency events. If the knock sensor is \"smart\" and puts out a defined 0.5 sec pulse (eg) when triggered, then that would be fine. The unit posted was just a beta test one with a few sensors. It has plenty of spare channels.

He offers an \"engine monitor\" which was basically a very smart idot light. It has engine temp, oil pressure, oil temp, revs & volts I think. It had programmable calibration for these and programmable alarms. The aim was to give people the big red light on the dash so they stop the car before anything broke, then they could interrogate the unit and find out what went wrong. Most people find they don't look at their instruments enough when racing and don't have much chance of catching momentary loss of oil pressure or steadily dropping voltage. This was better then the usual oil pressure switch and big light found in most race cars. It's specs are here: http://www.timeattack.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41

On a similar note to the knock sensor issue, this unit isn't going to be useful for frequency analysis like looking for ride harmonics or analytical damper tuning. You'll need over 500Hz acquisition rate for that per channel.

This is getting a bit carried away... but it shows one installed
http://www.timeattack.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44

These units daisy chain with serial cables and any data from any of them can be saved on the new race car data logger that is the subject of this string. So if you've got engine temp and revs into the engine monitor you don't need to use up channels in the data logger, the data will port though and be saved onto the USB stick.

M

[Steampunk]

This is very interesting indeed.
The \"idiot light\" feature is more appealing to me as I would rather know about something going wrong DURING the event instead of after.

If you are planning to visit him soon, send me a PM and I would love to come along and check it out.

[mekros]

I would be interested in this for a different application, a track bike.

[Mokesta]

Update: I've just had lunch with Paul (The developer of these and the organiser of Timeattack track days). He says his web site as linked above is way out of date and the latest engine monitor has a bigger display with more info.

To clarify: The race logger is just a box with a connector for the sensors, another for the serial link to the other devices (engine monitor, GTR torque split controller) and a socket for the USB memory key. The engine monitor does all the alarm smarts and runs the warning lights, buzzer and acknowledge button. The engine monitor has no logging capability.

I am going to join in on the beta testing of the logger so I'll keep you posted.

M

[Mokesta]

Update:

Here is a new link for the data logger:

http://www.timeattack.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=236


And here is a new link for the updated Engine Monitor:

http://www.timeattack.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=237



I have paid my deposit for the logger. Will work out what sensors I need soon.

M

[Mokesta]

Yay, I got my Race Logger last night. It looks great. It won't be visible with my install though. It will just have the USB stick and PC connection cables in the glove box.

I will be having the following channels logged at first:
tri-axial accelerometer
GPS (gives location and speed, which can be analysed to calculate acceleration)
water temp,
oil temp,
oil pressure
brake switch
clutch switch

I will then make up some potentiometers to measure rotation of the lower suspension arms so I can measure wheel displacement. I'll do another pot for steering angle.

It should be heaps of geek fun








Of course none of this makes the car faster but I'm hoping I can improve my driving by looking at my laps. I will also be getting the engine monitor. I will put the oil, water and knock sensors through this to give me alarms. Might save an engine on track days.

The logger is one of the Beta test batch so I got "special price". Final units are likely to have a different circuit board layout I'm told. Other guys in the beta test group are logging things like ABS wheel speed sensor front and rear to get wheel spin events, before and after intercooler temps, O2 sensors, boost pressure, lap timer beacons etc.

M.

[Okibi]

Wow really looks the goods and I like the idea of setting various warnings and alarms for oil/water etc. Now all it needs is an LCD screen for real time display and quick retrieval of peak hold figures between runs on the track.

[Mokesta]

Now all it needs is an LCD screen for real time display and quick retrieval of peak hold figures between runs on the track.

Check out the link near the top of the page. There are some photos of the old model engine monitor. The new one is in the same case but has a 4 line blue LCD, double the size of the 2 line green one in the pics. The writing is updated too. I'm getting one of those as well. They network together so the logger can store all data and alarms.

With the memory key, it'll be easy to look at the runs on a laptop between sessions. Super geeks rejoice!!

M

[CapitalF]

Hi M
So how is the data logger working out? I assume you were at Lakeside Monday? I wish I read this thread last week.
Peter

[Mokesta]

Oops CapitalF, I haven't checked this thread for a while.

No progress on the logger. All work on my cars has stopped while we sold our house & bought another which needs lots of work. Once it is liveable and I have some $ I will get back into the car and track days.

I haven't been to a track day since September 08.

M

[Hammer]

I'd like the ability to analyse my laps, so I'm saving for a Performance Box.