Wireless Data Acquisition System

Team Members
Alex Pfarr Emily Peterman Clint Young Lonny Cooper

Purpose
To propose a solution for a system to gather and wirelessly transmit crucial data from the University of Idaho FSAE vehicle.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents ...........................................................................1 Executive Summary .......................................................................2 1.0 Background ........................................................................3 2.0 Problem Definition.............................................................3 3.0 Concepts..............................................................................4 3.1 Data Acquisition Options...............................................4 3.2 Data Transmission Options............................................9 3.3 Expansion Options:......................................................10 3.4 Software .......................................................................13 4.0 System Architecture.........................................................13 4.1 Hardware......................................................................13 4.2 Software .......................................................................14 5.0 Economic Analysis ...........................................................18 6.0 Future Work.....................................................................19 7.0 References.........................................................................20

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A real-time, wireless data acquisition system will provide a way for the FSAE vehicle team and the client, Dr. Edwin Odom, to view vehicle performance during racing and testing. This will increase the vehicle performance and increase the value of the vehicle at competition. Through research and team feedback, we have determined the most reasonable methods for creating a data acquisition system in terms of both hardware and software. The research was based on a set of criteria that included: cost and benefit to the project. The hardware options analyzed included a Si-Gate VDL-1000 data-logger, a ground-up model, and the existing Race Technology DL1. Each system has there pros and cons but each system will meet the needs of the FSAE team. The VDL-1000 is option that is purchased as a package with telemetry and all. While this is a good design for having a solution with immediate response and very little setup required, it is not the best for us because of the funds that the FSAE team has available. The ground-up system will require a great deal of design and assembly to meet the needs of the FSAE team. This system is beneficial due to the fact that it will allow us to completely design the data-logger to the exact needs of the team, but it will have minimal expansion capabilities. The DL1 option is a compromise between the two systems. The DL1 requires some repairs to be made before it will be in working order again. The DL1 does not give us as much expansion capabilities as the VDL-1000 but more than likely it will offer more to us than the ground-up system. Since the FSAE team already owns a DL1 and the repairs are being made to it, this system is ideal for the FSAE team. The costs for the repairs are minimal in comparison to the cost of purchasing a new data-logger or building one. The software options in consideration were Visual Basic .NET, Visual Studio 6.0, OpenGL, and Macromedia Flash. The Visual Basic .NET and Visual Studio 6.0 are the two separate languages that we chose to examine due to team knowledge and professor recommendations. Visual Basic .NET is an object-oriented program that is designed more toward the building of applications which makes it more appealing for our project. The other two software considerations, OpenGL and Macromedia Flash, are generally used to create drawings and photo-quality images so although these are not going to be used at this current time, they may become useful when we have built the application and require a greater visual appeal to the program. The Race Technology DL1 is currently in the mail after getting fixed by the company in England. Once it arrives, it will be mounted onto the car so that the test team can begin to collect more race/test data. The software program, DART, is still in the design phase and being built by team Wi-Tel so that software testing can begin by mid-February.

1.0 BACKGROUND The method of data acquisition currently in use by the University of Idaho FSAE team is through the implementation of the DL1 data-logger from Race Technology. The DL1 is mounted under the dash of the FSAE vehicle. During races and test runs it measures voltage levels from multiple sensors and records them on a removable compact flash card. The compact flash card is then removed from the vehicle after a drive and physically loaded onto a personal computer where the recorded voltage levels are converted into a useful format using an excellent after-race software package provided by Race Technology. While this method works well for providing the FSAE team with accurate analysis after the drive, there is a need for instantaneous analysis during the drive. In Figure 1 below is a picture of the DL1 in its mounted location.

Figure 1. Race Technology DL1 on FSAE Team Vehicle By conducting research of existing wireless telemetry systems for racing purposes, we have found many solutions for real-time data acquisition. These systems currently implement what the client is seeking; unfortunately they sell for far more than the University of Idaho FSAE teams budget allows for data acquisition. In order to satisfy both the requirements of the University of Idaho FSAE team and the budget restraints, it is essential that team Wi-Tel designs an overall system rather than purchasing one. Not only will the creation of a system for the University of Idaho FSAE team meet the teams fiscal constraints, but will also be tailored to the teams needs where the measuring of sensors is concerned. Although it is important to collect specific data from the car in order to increase knowledge of car and drivers performance, the wow factor must also be present in order to impress judges and spectators. 2.0 PROBLEM DEFINITION Wi-Tel plans to develop a real-time, wireless data acquisition system that will measure voltage levels by mounting key sensors throughout the FSAE vehicle. The voltage values will then be transmitted to a laptop base station where conversions are made to create a useful format of the data for immediate evaluation. This system of data collection will give the Vandal Racing Team an excellent tool for monitoring the performance of their

vehicle during a drive and allow them to make immediate adjustments that will improve the vehicles performance. The data acquisition/telemetry system must meet the following requirements: Must collect data from multiple sensors Must transmit data a minimum of 1 mile Must receive data at a laptop computer and display translated values Must have aesthetic qualities Optional add-ons: Wideband Lambda MoTeC Telemetry Wireless Camera 3.0 CONCEPTS Research of three separate wireless data acquisition options was conducted. The first option was to design and build a ground-up system tailored to meet the specific needs of the team. The second option was to purchase a pre-built system ready to use out of the box. The third option was to design a wireless solution for the DL1 data-logger. 3.1 Data Acquisition Options Ground-up Option The first option that was researched was the building of a data acquisition system from the ground-up. The central processor that was chosen was the RabbitCore RCM3365 development kit (Figure 2). The main reason for selecting this device was the familiarity of the team in developing with it. The RabbitCore RCM3365 has onboard flash memory of 16MB and a socket that accepts up to 128MB of removable memory (see Table 1). Memory is a necessary component to a well built data-logger. The onboard memory will allow data-logging and the removable memory will provide memory expansion as well as the ability to interface with a personal computer without a direct connection to the data-logger. Figure 2. RabbitCore RCM3365 Table 1. RabbitCore RCM3365
Features RCM3365

Microprocessor Ethernet Port Flash SRAM Extended Memory Backup Battery

Rabbit 3000 @ 44.2 MHz 10/100Base-T, RJ-45, 3 LEDs 512K 512K program + 512K data 16 MB NAND Flash (fixed); xD-picture card socket supporting up to 128 MB Connection for user-supplied battery (to support RTC and SRAM)

General-Purpose I/O Serial Ports Serial Rate Real-Time Clock Timers Pulse-Width Modulators Power Operating Temp. Board Size

52 parallel digital I/O: 44 configurable / 4 fixed inputs / 4 fixed outputs Six 3.3V CMOS-compatible: 6 configurable as asynchronous (with IrDA) 4 configurable as clocked serial (SPI) 2 configurable as SDLC/HDLC 1 asynchronous serial port dedicated for programming Max. asynchronous baud rate = CLK/8 Yes Ten 8-bit timers (6 cascadable from the first) and one 10-bit timer with 2 match registers 4 PWM based on a 10-bit free-running counter and priority interrupts 3.15V3.45V DC, 250 mA @ 44.2 MHz 3.3V -40C to +70C 1.850" 2.725" 0.86" (47 69 22 mm)

With the help of the ADC (analog to digital converter), GPS (Global Positioning System), and the serial transceivers, the Rabbit micro-controller has plenty of Input/Output for the connection of all necessary sensors. When completed, the datalogger will accept voltage levels from the following sensors (see Figure 3). GPS Antenna (measures vehicle speed and position) Analog Sensors: 4 wheel speed sensors, oil pressure, steering angle, throttle angle, brake pressure, engine speed, etc. Dual-Axis Accelerometer (measures latitudinal and longitudinal accelerations) RS-232 Input (accepts video feed from vehicle camera)

Figure 3. Ground-up Data Acquisition and Telemetry Option The ground-up data-logger will also include a RS-232 output for the connection of a computer. This is the port that the wireless data modem will be connected to. All information sent to this port will be transmitted wirelessly to a laptop base station where the data will be collected.

To receive the data at the base station in real-time and display it in a user friendly and useful format, an elaborate computer program must be developed. Some options that the software package will be designed with will include: A track map displaying vehicle position for comparison with previous laps Graphing capabilities for data comparison A dashboard of gauges showing vehicle speed, engine speed, oil pressure, etc. Si-Gate Option The second option that team Wi-Tel researched was the purchasing of an existing system with telemetry capabilities. The conclusion was that the Si-Gate VDL-1000 would adequately meet the needs outlined by Dr. Odom and other FSAE team members. The VDL-1000 provides a simple way to collect vehicle data and store information on a Compact Flash card. The VDL-1000 can be configured for many different application possibilities, which require integration of data originating from various analog sensors, GPS data, and a dual axis accelerometer. The VDLFigure 4. Si-Gate VDL-1000 1000 has been optimized for automotive data logging requirements and has a versatile yet simple configuration interface. Some of the features that aid in the selection process for the VDL-1000 over other systems are as follows: Instant logging after power up. No longer do you have to ensure that you press a button or flip a switch to ensure the VDL-1000 is logging. After power up the VDL-1000 will instantly start logging data. Supply voltage monitoring. Upon connecting the VDL-1000 to a power supply and initiation of logging the VDL-1000 will monitor the supplied voltage. This is very useful if the battery ever loses its charge quickly. This will allow you to monitor the change and will ideally help you determine why the battery is loosing its charge. Built in Compact Flash. The VDL-1000 comes with a built in Compact Flash card. Compact Flash is economical and ideal for data-logging needs. The advantages of using compact include incredibly fast download times (using a suitable card reader) and huge storage capacities. 11 analog input channels. Having 11 analog input channels allows a user to add more external sensors. Having this many analog inputs allows the FSAE team room for expansion of tests and vehicle sensors. Serial RS-232 interface. Serial RS-232 interface is a compact and efficient way of transferring data. RS-232 has the capability of receiving data from other components such as the ECU or a video camera, but it also gives the capability of transferring data out of the port to a radio for telemetry.

Support for USB 1.1. Todays world is getting further and further away from RS-232 ports. It is beginning to become very hard to find a computer, especially a laptop that has a serial port. Having the ability to connect using USB is a feature that is sought out today. The VDL-1000 gives the capability of using USB. Integrated battery backup. The VDL-1000 comes with an integrated battery backup. This is useful if the battery is loosing charge fast and gets below the minimum operation voltage. The battery backup will allow the VDL-1000 to do a graceful shutdown rather than crashing which may cause the lost of data as well as shorting some circuitry within the data-logger.

Si-Gate offers several other extra options. These include: Integrated GPS - NMEA protocol Accelerometer - +/- 1.7g Barometric pressure sensor J1850 Bus Wireless options - GSM, WiFi, & Blutooth The Si-Gate VDL-1000 has the capabilities to do everything that Dr. Odom and the FSAE team are looking for. But one of the major down falls to this system is the price. This is not the most expensive system team Wi-Tel has found but it is still slightly above team Wi-Tels budget. This system will allow the FSAE team to do Figure 5. Si-Gate Options everything they would like to but team Wi-Tel will be unable to add several expansion options that could benefit the FSAE team. Race Technology Option The third and final option team Wi-Tel under examination for the data acquisition system was to use the existing data-logger. Last years Senior Design team, RPMS, was able to convince Race Technology to donate a DL1 data-logger. The DL1 is comparable to the Si-Gates VDL-1000.

Figure 6. Race Technology DL1 Data-Logger

Features of the DL1 data-logger include: Built in GPS. The GPS unit is based on high accuracy GPS3 technology and calculates position and speed 5 times every second. This is easily the fastest, most accurate GPS system available for under $1500 (according to Race Technology). The measurements from the GPS and accelerometers are combined to calculate very high accuracy positions and speeds at 100 times a second. Built in accelerometers. Built in dual-axis accelerometer with 2g full scale (optional 10g full scale). Logging to Compact Flash memory. Compact Flash memory is robust, economical, and ideal for use in data-logging products. The advantages of using Compact Flash include: incredibly fast download times (using a suitable card reader) and huge storage capacities. 8 analog inputs. The DL1 has 8 very high accuracy analog inputs. One of these inputs is connected to the DL1 power supply input to measure the battery voltage; the other seven are available for connection to external sensors. All the inputs are 12-bit accuracy (4096 different levels); three of the external inputs have a maximum input of 12V, while the remaining four have a maximum input of 5V. 2 RPM inputs. The DL1 has 2 RPM inputs, only one of that is available for use at any one time. One input is designed to be connected to "high level" sources, such as the HT leads or the ignition coil. The other input is designed for low level signals such as a feed from the ECU. 4 wheel/shaft speed inputs. The DL1 features 4 totally independent wheel/shaft speed inputs. These can be used to measure the speed of all four wheels, or slip ratios across a torque converter for example. Serial data (RS232) input. The serial port can be configured to accept data from an external source - possible examples are data from the engine management unit, OBDii or CAN data (with a suitable adapter) Serial data (RS232) output. As well as logging the data to compact flash it is also available from the serial port. Lap beacon input. For some applications it is desirable to use a lap beacon. This channel can also be used as a general-purpose digital input if required. Small and tough. The DL1 is the most compact logger in it's class, at just 110mm x 75mm x 30mm (4.3" x 3" x 1.2") it can be fitted into the smallest single rider, motorbike or go kart. The DL1 is housed in a 2mm thick aluminum enclosure and carbon fiber end panels for very high impact resistance. Simple operation. A single button to start or stop logging. If the button is inaccessible from the drivers seat then a remote button and status indicator can be added if required. Power supply requirements. The power supply to the DL1 data-logger can be taken directly from the vehicles 12V supply, or it can be powered from its own battery if required. The power supply is smoothed and regulated within the DL1 ensuring its performance is highly robust and stable. Testing. Very high reliability is ensured by calibrating, temperature testing and vibration testing each unit on an individual basis. Autosport applications make tremendous demands on electronic systems and Race Technology takes great care to make sure our products are up to the task. All the connections to the units are

vibration proof, high strength, and have screw terminals to ensure that connections do not fail at the critical time. Powerful. The 2 processors in the DL1 are the very latest generation RISC processor that features both higher speed operation and flash upgradeability - so as Race Technology adds new features to the DL1 any customer has the opportunity to upgrade to the latest specifications for free.

Due to the fact the FSAE team already has a DL1 as well as the fact that the DL1 will do everything that Dr. Odom and the FSAE team wants, team Wi-Tel would recommend this option. An economic analysis follows later in this proposal that will support, with more solid evidence, that this is the most logical choice for the FSAE team. 3.2 Data Transmission MaxStream Radios The 9XStream-PKG-R 900 MHz stand-alone RF Modem provides range (up to 20 miles). The modem is coupled with a DIP-switchable RS-232/422/485 interface board and resides in an anodized aluminum enclosure that will allow it to withstand the elements. Features include: FCC (U.S.) and IC (Canada) Approved Plug-and-communicate (default configuration provides instant RF communications) Figure 6. MaxStream Radios Includes FREE X-CTU Software that facilitates range testing, host setup and modem configuration Retries and acknowledgements provide reliable delivery of critical packets in difficult environments Multiple low power modes including pin sleep, cyclic sleep and serial port sleep for current consumption as low as 1 mA Host interface baud rates from 1200 to 57600 bps. Field upgradeable firmware

The specifications in Table 2 below provide a more detailed view of the 9XStream-PKGR 900 MHz radios. Table 2. 9XStream-PKG-R 900 MHz
Technical Data Indoor/urban Range Outdoor line-of-sight Range Serial Data Rate RF Baud Rate Receiver Sensitivity Outdoor line-of-sight Range Specifications Up to 1500 (450 m) up to 7 miles (11 km) w/ 2.1 dB dipole antenna Up to 57.6 Kbps 19.2 Kbps -110 dBm (@9600 bps) up to 20 miles (32 km) w/ high-gain antenna

Aerocomm Radios The MaxStream radio has a fixed RF Baud rate of 19.2 Kbps and allows a serial interface up to 57.6 Kbps. It was experimentally determined that the MoTeC has a serial data rate of 57.6 Kbps. To allow communication at 57.6 Kbps, the MaxStream radio employs input/output data buffers that change the speed of data before and after it is sent through the air at the fixed RF Baud rate of 19.2 Kbps. While experimenting with the MoTeC, it was discovered that these input/output data buffers in the MaxStream radios would cause a delay in the data stream that results in a time-out by the MoTeC (the MoTeC shows Figure 7. Aerocomm Radios that the data cable is unplugged). To overcome this problem, it is recommended that a data modem with a fixed RF Baud rate of at least 57.6 Kbps be used for any two way communication with the MoTeC. Table 3 below gives a list of the features available with the Aerocomm radios and the capacities that define each of these features. Table 3. Aerocomm Wireless Data Modem (900MHz)
Features Serial Interface Options Serial Data Rate RF Baud Rate Power Draw (typical) Frequency Band (software-selectable) Output Power (w/ 2dBi antenna) Voltage Sensitivity (@ full RF data rate) Range (line-of-sight) Temperature Dimensions Antenna Connector AC4790-200 3V or 5V TTL Up to 115.2 Kbps 76.8 Kbps 68 mA 902MHz - 928MHz (US) 915MHz - 928MHz (Australia) 5 mW - 200 mW variable 3.3V - 5.5V -110 dB in "long range" mode Up to 4 miles (6.4 km) with external antenna -40 to +80C 1.65 x 1.90 x 0.20 inches (4.2 x 4.8 x 0.5 cm) Integrated or external dipole

3.3 Expansion Options Wideband Lambda Wideband Lambda provides the ECU with a specific definition of the air/fuel ratio at which the engine is currently running. Wideband Sensors are able to depict air fuel ratio's as rich as 10.5:1 and as lean as 18:1 and report the exact lambda to the ECU. This is done a number of ways. The MoTeC M4 uses a Bosch 4 wire Wideband Lambda sensor to measure wide band lambda (see Figure 8). This technology takes advantage of

10

the fact that a 4 Wire Wideband Lambda sensor's voltage output is based on not only the oxygen differential between the exhaust pipe and atmosphere, but also is dependant on the temperature of the sensor itself. Sensor impedance varies with temperature, so a MoTeC ECU measures not only Wideband Lambda Voltage, but also the sensor impedance. It is not possible to properly display lambdas without monitoring the sensor temperature. Systems which do not use at least a 4 wire sensor typically have errors in displayed lambda as high as 8%. MoTeC then uses this information to determine the actual lambda and uses it for Lambda Control if the Figure 8. Wideband Lambda Sensor ECU is setup to do so. To setup the MoTeC M4 ECU that is currently being used by the University of Idaho FSAE, a password must be purchased from MoTeC. The following table contains the specifications for the Wideband Lambda option. Table 4. Bosch Lambda Wideband Sensor LSM-11
Technical Data Temperature range, passive (storage-temperature range) Sustained exhaust-gas temperature with heating switched on Operating temperature of the sensor at the connector Temperature gradient at the sensor-ceramic front end Temperature gradient at the sensor-housing hexagon Stochastic oscillations acceleration, max. Sinusoidal oscillations amplitude Sinusoidal oscillations acceleration Load current, max. Specifications 40+100 C +150+600 C +120 C +100 K/s +150 K/s 800 m s2 0.3 mm 300 m s2 1 A

MoTeC Telemetry If the Wideband Lambda option is purchase for the MoTeC ECU, the telemetry option for the MoTeC will be helpful in monitoring engine behavior in real time. A separate radio, from that of the data acquisition system, is needed to provide efficient 2-way communication for the ECU. This will give the user the ability to monitor the air/fuel ratio from the Wideband Lambda as well as give the user access to modify the ECUs engine profile during a drive. The current method of connecting to the ECU is through a RS-232 cable. Wireless Bullet Camera Jd7s wireless camera systems have been developed with the assistance of the UKs leading experts in the extreme sporting fields, along with professional engineers to produce the perfect camera systems solution for any sport. Extreme Vision Cameras are compact, durable, waterproof, remote, independent and can be mounted in prime positions. The video footage can be viewed on a personal computer and written to a VCD or DVD.

11

This camera could be mounted to the vehicle and used to record the driver and car during a race. This would benefit the team during driver training by observing steering position through each turn allowing analysis of driver performance. Table 5 displays the specifications for each feature of the wireless bullet camera.

Figure 9. Wireless Bullet Camera Table 5. JD7 Wireless Bullet Camera

Features Resolution Range Water Resistance Power Dimensions/Diameter Transmitter Specifications True 450 TVL (minimum) 500m (line of sight) Splash proof 9v - 12v operation 23mm, Length 60mm 30mm x 40mm x 3mm

Oil Pressure Sensor The monitoring of oil pressure for the FSAE vehicle accounts for the difference between a working engine and a seized engine. This sensor will remain useful to the testing team when collecting data and to the engine team when they want to checking the efficiency of the engine lubrication at different speeds and turns on the track. The advantages of having an oil pressure sensor that Figure 10. Oil Pressure Sensor will monitor the lubrication of the engine in real-time not only add to the wow factor of the car, but will allow the team to become aware of problems that may occurs so that the engine of the vehicle will endure minimal damage during racing. The table below lists the selected oil pressure sensors specifications. Table 6. Oil Pressure Sensor
Features Accuracy @ 25C Stability (1 year) Overange pressure Burst pressure Pressure cycles Operating temperature Specifications <0.5%BFSL <0.1% 2x rated pressure 5x or 20000 psi whichever is less >10 million -40 to +105C

12

3.4 Software Many solutions are available for the creation of a fully-functioning software application. We researched programs such as Visual Studio 6.0, Visual Basic .NET, OpenGL, and Macromedia Flash. These selections were determined based on certain factors, including: familiarity of group members, suggestions of other professors and mentors, and availability of software due to costs. Visual Studio 6.0 started out as the preferred choice for the software program because it is a language that is more well-known and taught at the University of Idaho. The university also owns a copy of the software for students in the Computer Engineering department to get for no cost. Most of the group members were in favor of this decision due to familiarity but we began to reach the conclusion that this was not as well-equipped of a software program to build a fully functional application with; therefore, the group was forced to look into other options as well. Visual Basic .NET 2003 (VB.NET) is an object oriented program that is designed for writing/developing software applications. None of the immediate members from team Wi-Tel had much, if any, experience with the program but were given some strong suggestions to look into it from professors in the Computer Science department at the University of Idaho. We also had a brief talk with a student that had used this software with the Rabbit Microcontroller to build a basic application for telemetry and suggested that we look into this option. 4.0 SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE The following system architecture includes the options that we have selected out of all the possibilities that were previously researched. A detailed description of the hardware structuring and software flow is given below. It must be understood that this is not a fully functioning software program yet, but is in the beginning steps of development. 4.1 Hardware The hardware that we are assembling for the real-time data acquisition system in conjunction with the FSAE vehicle at the University of Idaho is not only the backbone of the system but also forms part of the showcase of the telemetry system. Since it was found to be more economical to purchase and/or receive by way of donation and sponsorship, the various aspects of the hardware were not manufactured or assembled by the Wi-Tel team. We found that the Race Technology option with the use of the MaxStream radios is the most economical and beneficial since the University of Idaho is already in possession of the hardware. The current hardware setup is as shown below.

13

Figure 11. Hardware Architecture The Race Technology DL1 attaches to the front of the frame under the dash. The various sensors throughout the car, along with the GPS unit are connected to the corresponding inputs on the DL1. Through a serial output on the DL1, the information from the sensors and the GPS get passed to a MaxStream radio that is also mounted on the car. This data is transmitted through a 19200 Baud FM signal to an accompanying MaxStream radio. This radio outputs the signal through a serial port on a laptop base station. In the last stage of the Hardware Architecture, the laptop base station, there is room for variation. The laptop computer needs to easily connect to a MaxStream radio and run the software that is being developed. 4.2 Software The software we are building for a data acquisition system to track real-time data on the FSAE car at the University of Idaho is called Data Acquisition in Real-Time or DART. It will allow the users to view data during and after the vehicle is racing; providing feedback to aid the testing team in making improvements to the vehicle and increasing the points at competition. Although, the software design is in the beginning stages, in relation to the amount of time it will take to provide a reliable, maintainable, easily useable software application, we are confident about the amount of progress that has been made with the DART application. It will follow but not remain limited to certain guidelines that are shown in the figure below.

14

Welcome

Menu

During Race

After Race

Dashboard (Gauges)

Track Map

Lap Times (previous & current)

Load Results

Save Results

Graph

Track Map

Lap Times (all)

Figure 12. Software Diagram Flow DART begins execution through a Welcome window where the name and brief details of the program are given. From here the user must enter or exit the program. Upon entering, a Menu window will appear that gives the user the option of viewing during race data versus after race data. Both the During Race and After Race windows contain menu bars that allow for selected options to be viewed or used. Many of these basic options are similar to both windows but each also consists of its own set of options. They both include the option to view About the team that created the application and information on who to contact in case of a problem.

(a) (b) (c) Figure 13. (a) Welcome window (b) Menu window (c) About window The During Race window is where the real-time data acquisition occurs and the user must be inside of this option to view anything occurring in a current race. Here, there will be a menu bar that allows the user to choose viewable options such as a dashboard, track map, and lap times. At the request of the users, formats may be changed, such as, zooming in or out and resizing of windows.

15

Figure 14. During Race Menu Bar The dashboard is the screen that shows all dashboard gauges for the car and the sensors. Only the sensors that we, team Wi-Tel have determined can be shown in gauge form will be displayed here. These currently include the total miles per hour (MPH), revolutions per minute (RPMS), and wheel speeds for all four wheels. The track map will display a variety of colors that will be determined by the past and current laps. The track will be shown in 2 dimensions and is a direct result of the GPS positioning sensor. Each time the car passes the start/finish line the lap color will change to red and the next lap will begin with a green line to determine the current position. This will mean that all laps for each race will be shown throughout the whole time that the car is racing. The lap times of the current lap, one previous lap, the fastest lap time, slowest lap time, and the total race time are what will be displayed for lap times. An example is shown below on the right side of Figure 15.

Figure 15. During Race Software Layout The After Race window is where the previous race data can be viewed in many forms and analyzed. The first step in this process is to select File then Load Data because

16

the selected file must be loaded from an Excel spreadsheet file so that it can be analyzed. The user will have the option of selecting a given race file for analysis from a directory of all the previous races that exist on the computer.

Figure 16. After Race Menu Bar All of the current data can be graphed with respect to miles per hour (MPH), revolutions per minute (RPMS), lap times, and other sensors that have not yet been placed on the vehicle. An example of a graph with speed versus time is shown in Figure 17 below. This track map option will allow the users to watch a replay of the selected race to analyze the GPS positioning. It will provide the same options as the track mapping option for the During Race section except for the real-time factors which means that this option allows the car to be stopped at any position requested by the user. The lap times in this portion will all be displayed in the form of a list so that they can all be seen at one time and analyzed by the user. There will be the options to search for requested data in that list such as fastest or slowest lap times and whatever else may seem appropriate for the future. This is also shown directly below, in Figure 17. The entire Figure displays some of the possible windows that will appear on the screen in this type of analysis.

Figure 17. After Race Analysis Windows

17

The program can be closed at any time, but if the closing occurs during the race, the data will stop transmitting. For an error check, the user will be asked if they want to quit before the program actually exits so that minimal data is lost. 5.0 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS In doing a cost comparison of the three options, team Wi-Tel believes that the Race Technology DL1 data-logger is the most economical (see Table 7). This option allows us space for more expansion options or to use the money elsewhere on the vehicle. As shown in the table below, the DL1 will cost approximately $1500 with the purchasing of all expansion options. Likewise, we can see that the VDL-1000 will cost about $2700 and the Ground-up option will cost approximately $2400. Since all expansion options are additions to the total of each option we can see that the only source for difference exists in the data-logger expenses. The DL1 is much more inexpensive than the other options because the only DL1 expense comes from the price of sending the data-logger back to England for repairs. The Ground-up option and the VDL-1000 will require purchase of a new system. Table 7 lists the comparisons between options that were analyzed. Table 7. Cost Comparison Option 1 Ground-Up Data-Logger Expenses $950 Expansions Camera MoTeC Radio Wideband Lambda Wideband Lambda Sensor Oil Pressure Sensor Total $250 $225 $500 $200 $230 $2355 $250 $225 $500 $200 $230 $2720 $250 $225 $500 $200 $230 $1455 Option 2 Si-Gate VDL-1000 $1,315 Option 3 Race Technology DL1 $50

As can be shown in the table, adding all the expansion options can increase the price very quickly. The reason for each expansion option is different; certain selections deal with increasing the wow factor and others benefit the FSAE team. A main reason for researching each of these was because multiple people expressed interest in each option. All of the options are available but not all need to be purchased. We will give Dr. Odom and the FSAE team the opportunity to select, in their opinion, the most important options. A factor that must be considered if Wideband Lambda option is chosen is that the sensor

18

will also require purchasing. Team Wi-Tel also recommends the purchase of the MoTeC radios if the team decides to go with Wideband Lambda. 6.0 FUTURE WORK At this time we are concentrating on receiving and ordering the necessary individual hardware parts that are required to be able to continue progress on the software. Once the hardware is completely obtained, the mounting and wiring of the system becomes an essential part of the project along with the development of the user application interface. After completion of the system, both hardware and software, testing and instruction manuals become the main focus of the group. If proper time planning is conducted, all the testing will be done with plenty of times to identify any foibles that may become present. Video and written instruction manuals will not only help in the training of the team but will also benefit design as a multimedia pleasure for those who attend the Design EXPO. The schedule for the milestones of this project, that we intend to reach, is show in Table 8. Table 8. Project Schedule
Milestone Order all necessary parts Build product Bench test Install product on car Support vehicle testing Testing complete Research Paper complete Instruction manual completed System ready for show at Design EXPO Completion Date December 2005 January-February 2006 January-February 2006 February 20, 2005 March 2006 April 2006 April 2006 April 2006 April 2006

19

REFERENCES 1. AEROCOMM - MoTeC Radio Option 2 Oct. 2005 http://www.aerocomm.com/ 2. MaxStream Data Acquisition Telemetry Option 14 Oct. 2005 http://www.maxstream.net/products/xstream/pkg/9xstream.php 3. Dallas Semiconductor - ADC, GPS, Serial Transceivers 25 Oct. 2005 http://www.maxim-ic.com/ 4. JD 7 Wireless Bullet Camera 11 Nov. 2005 http://www.sportscameras.com/index.shtml 5. Parallax - Dual Axis Accelerometer 25 Oct. 2005 http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28017 6. Rabbit Semiconductor Rabbit 3000 Memory Development Kit 24 Oct. 2005 http://www.rabbitsemiconductor.com/products/rcm3365/ 7. MoTeC Lambda Wideband 16 Nov. 2005 www.MoTeC.com 8. TheDataLoggerStore.com Si-Gate VDL-1000 Automotive Datalogger 30 Nov. 2005 http://www.microdaq.com/si-gate/vdl-1000/index.php 9. Race Technology DL1 4 Dec. 2005 http://www.race-technology.com/WebPage2/Products/DL1/DL1Home.html 10. Tech Edge 4 Wire Lambda Sensor 4 Dec. 2005 www.techedge.com/au

20