Data Acquisition Webinars

[Dan]

For my fellow needs who are interested in getting more out of data acquisition this series is a good one. I just watched them for a second time on a plane trip (I downloaded them).

Some great topics covered on how to interpret data. I really liked the section where he talked about looking for understeer/oversteer using the G Data combined with steering sensor input and eliminating false positives by looking at the throttle data.

First one - http://vimeo.com/32178690
Second one - http://vimeo.com/84929470

Some of this might be obvious to the more advanced but it was helpful for a noob like me and I hope it helps others.

[Magpie]

Thanks. I will watch them.

A good book to read is The Competition Car Data Logging Manual.

[Dan]

Thanks for that. I just read the first two chapters in the preview and brought the ebook, looks good!

[Magpie]

I like collecting data! I was looking at using 2 x g sensors (1 at the front and 1 in the rear) this way if one is showing more g than the other then it could be under/over steer.

I have been looking at this https://www.chassissim.com/onlinesimulation/index.php however to get the most out it you need to log g forces, 4 x suspension and steering. I'm missing 2 x suspension and need to install the steering sensor. Further discussion was that the 2 x ride height (infra red) are not suitable for suspension, but will provide other helpful data.

I can now calculate weight transfer and this is showing where I'm not being fluid and overloading the front/rear as a result. Some people don't see value in data collecting, however I find it helps me understand what is going on and how things interact.

[Dan]

Yeh I like collecting and analysing data too, I'm a simpleton at the moment though due to the lack of a system that can take extra inputs so I'm shopping for one right now (that's why I'm reading up). I'm thinking I'll just start with a system using basic inputs (Throttle, Steering etc...) but with the ability to expand if I need more.

It's amazing when you go home, figure out what you are doing wrong (or only right on certain laps) and set a PB in your first session of your next track day by applying it.

Definitely not as sophisticated as you with suspension sensors and looking at modelling the car

[Magpie]

Make sure you have a good think about what system you want to use. I started with Innovate however it does not have GPS or camera. I also use VBox Lite (Racelogic) it has GPS/video and it can take up to 5 x 5 volt inputs or be connected to the car via CAN. However the inputs (non CAN) must be linear.

Now I have a racepak IQ3 display only dash, it connects direct to the Haltech and displays data from the ECU. However there is then a need to duplicate sensors like oil/water because the Innovate/Haltech cannot share sensors, with the exception of AFR's. In addition I ned a wheel speed/gearbox sensor for the IQ3 to show speed.

Therefore the solution is to swap to a racepak logger as it can take data from the Haltech directly and there is no need to duplicate sensors etc. Further some racepak loggers also have GPS and my existing 5 volts sensors can be re-used by hooking them up to racepak's USM's. My biggest expense is the 4 x EGT's.

I do believe that Adaptronic can use the Innovate modules, however I have never looked into it as I have a Haltech.

Think about what you want to log and like anything build in some expansion. I plan to start logging 4 x wheel speeds (I just do 1 at the moment).

Currently logged
Oil temp/pressure, water temp, volts, AFR, 4 x EGT, fuel pressure, front brake pressure, LF wheel speed, rear suspension (L/R), g forces, 2 x ride heights, 2 x air temps (mouth of car and at the ITB's), volts, itb vacuum.

[plohl]

Noted for watching at some point in time. Thanks for posting them up.

[oztrackdays]

One of the mods, we should probably split out a new thread on channels.

Have seen on a turbo car but is it needed on an all motor, are you finding much of a spread ?

Try the RacePaq Software first my partners car run's it, it's so awful I paid the MOTEC tax, it has
a built in mode for tractor pulls and circuit but they spent more energy on the tractor pull.

[Magpie]

The data collected by me is used to keep an eye on the engine, this as well as oil sampling gives a good picture of what is happening. Plus the data will tell if I'm abusing the engine or ignoring warnings!

I can post the data of when I blew the first 1.6 engine. It shows the oil temp increasing as the day went on (Norwell) then oil pressure dropped because the oil started to fail, too hot, then no power and no engine. I missed the gauge flashing red as it was down near the radio. Hence why I have a single 120 deg oil temp idiot light on the A pillar as well as a 120 deg water one. The idiot light is on above 120 and off below 120 and in peripheral vison.

[Dan]

Make sure you have a good think about what system you want to use. I started with Innovate however it does not have GPS or camera. I also use VBox Lite (Racelogic) it has GPS/video and it can take up to 5 x 5 volt inputs or be connected to the car via CAN. However the inputs (non CAN) must be linear.

Yeh, I'm going to spend the money to buy a good system that's expandable.

The Aim Evo4 and the Racetech DL1 mk3 are the ones I'm looking at. I think I prefer the Aim since it appears to be more integrated with the extra components rather than an afterthought and it has a lot of expandability (the HD cameras relatively low price compared to competitors ones and the automated stop start is particularly good).

It's expensive but I like doing things once and i can't see how I would have a requirement in the future for anything more than it can do.

I'm considering buying an Aim Solo DL to make sure I like the software before I spend a bundle though, even if I lost $100 or $150 on resale to upgrade to an evo 4 it would be like an extended trial and the data would be the same as the Evo but with less channels (I know on the NC you can get steering input from the ECU on the Solo DL but I'm not sure if that's just DSC models, which mine isnt).

[mazmad]

Buy once buy right? If only I had always applied that. ;)

Ron Burns from Aim is incredibly helpful so don't hesitate to call him for advice/info. I recently got one of their dashes which he has been very helpful with.

[Magpie]

Mazmad never truer words spoken!

[Dan]

Buy once buy right? If only I had always applied that. ;)

Ron Burns from Aim is incredibly helpful so don't hesitate to call him for advice/info. I recently got one of their dashes which he has been very helpful with.

Thanks again Craig, I spoke to Ron and brought a Solo DL

Hopefully I'll be able to get it in before the supersprints next week.

[mazmad]

I finally got the mxl 2 set up properly on the weekend, shift and warning lights. So much data being captured, now I just need to learn how to use it.

[Dan]

I've been travelling a bit for work lately, so I've been reading and watching some more videos on data analysis.

I thought I’d add another video to this thread that has a good way to look for trends in your driving using the AIM Software to find area’s of the track that you need to improve consistency in.

I've also found it helpful to apply the same colour technique to compare sessions, a couple of times when I’m learning a new track and trying a different lines through corners, by overlaying multiple sessions with the same colour for every lap in each sessions but different colours for the sessions it shows that I was faster doing it the way that in the car felt slower or it shows that changed something and the way I was doing it before was better in that corner.

Hope it helps someone out, this guy's other videos are also pretty good if you are interested.