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Champ car racing today is more
competitive than it has ever been. One reason is that rules stability
has enabled manufacturers to all reach a relative equal level of
performance. However, buying the equipment that can get the job done
is one thing, but how you set that equipment up come race day will
ultimately determine just how competitive your team will be. In this
article we examine the importance of Data Acquisition systems
Whereas in years gone by the
drivers seat of the pants input is what helped determine a cars setup, to
optimize a cars setup today, engineers rely heavily on sophisticated data
acquisition systems to tell them what a car is actually doing out on the
track. Not surprisingly, on some occasions the drivers tells you one
thing, but the data tells an entirely different story. Some people
wonder why it's so hard to pass in Champ Car racing. One big reason is
almost all the teams are now able to hit upon a chassis setup that optimizes
their car for a given track. Gone are the days of really slow
backmarkers out on the race track, barely able to get out of their own
way. Data Acquisition systems are truly an Engineer's right-hand man.
A Data Acquisition System is an invaluable tool to help
a team's engineering staff perform many tasks, including:
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Monitor and improve engine performance
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Evaluate driving style to lower lap times
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Analyze the vehicle's aerodynamic & mechanical characteristics
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Identify the exact track position to correct specific for handling problems
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Provide the driver with constant updates and early warning of potential problems
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Radio data back to the pit crew to monitor all the critical systems
Long after the fans leave the
race track, engineers and drivers will analyze the days data to try to
understand what their car is doing out on the race track and make it better
for the next day. It also helps one driver on a team understand where
they may be gaining or losing time vs. their teammate. Perhaps it's a
different line, or different gearing, etc.
Up until this year PI Research has had a virtual monopoly on Data
acquisitions for CART Champ Cars. However, there's a new kid on the
block, Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI). EFI has entered the Champ Car
arena working with Fernandez Racing. Although EFI started out in Engine
Control systems, they have added Data Acquisition Systems to their repertoire.
Being strictly USA based they believe they can provide a superior level of
service to the Champ car teams and they .
EFI Technology, Inc. was founded in 1988 by Graham Western and has grown rapidly to become a world leader in the development, manufacture and production of advanced electronic engine management and monitoring systems.
The company has become well recognized for innovative ideas and products in advanced digital electronics for racing applications.
EFI Technology produces products for all forms of racing including Indy cars, sportscars, GT, dragsters, motorcycles, offshore powerboats, desert trucks, rally and touring cars.
It's impressive customer list keeps growing.
At Long Beach we had the chance to sit down with Rick Wilkinson, Vice
President of EFI (Pictured right), to learn more about EFI, what they bring to the CART and,
more importantly, what these Data Acquisition systems do for a team running
a high performance thoroughbred Champ Car. We think you will enjoy what he
has to say. Listen to
interview (12:42 min.) Real Player format.
| Dash
Displays |
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STEERING WHEEL DASH
This dash mounts directly on the steering wheel for improved visibility and
displays critical engine data and lap times to the driver. He can select up
to 3 pages of different information and receives alarms of any parameter out
of range. The driver also receives split times as he goes round the track to
provide him with instant feedback on his driving technique.
- 5 user-defined fields
- 3 driver-selectable pages
- Sequential shift lights
- (2) User-defined bargraphs
- Programmable pop-up alarms
- 4 System Warning Lights
- 2 Yellow Flag Warning Lights
- 2 Spare Warning Lights
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MAIN DASH DISPLAY
- 6 user-defined fields
- 3 driver-selectable pages
- Programmable shift point
- User-defined RPM scale
- Fuel remaining bargraph
- Programmable pop-up alarms
- Backlighting (optional)
- External warning lights (optional)
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GEAR No.
/ SHIFT MODULE
Optimizes gear shift timing with:
- Gear position indicator
- 4 sequential shift lights
- Warning Light
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NUMERIC MODULE
Displays critical data with:
- User-defined channels
- 3 driver-selectable pages
- Up to 4 Numeric Module
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| Data
Analysis and Telemetry |
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DATA
LOGGER
The main Data Logging Control Unit records up to 16MB of data from over 100
sensors up to 1000 times per second. This data is downloaded to a computer
in pit lane via USB link for the engineers to analyze the car performance.
The main control unit also controls the dash display and real time telemetry
system that provides the crew with critical engine and chassis data. The
telemetry also sends fuel consumption information to enable the race engineer to decide the best time to make a pit stop. |
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Real-Time
Telemetry Systems
Provides team engineers with one-way real-time data:
- Fuel consumption
- Temperature
- Pressure
- Linear displacement
- Rotary displacement
- Wheelspeed & RPM
- Tire Temperature
- Exhaust Gas Temperature
- Strain gauge
- Lambda
- Aerodynamic pressures
- Yaw rate gyros
- Accelerometers
- Ride Height
- Tire Pressure
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ANALYSIS
MODULE
The Data Analysis program is a very powerful and versatile tool for the race
engineer to review the data from every lap during the practice sessions. The
data can be presented in many different modes and complex math operations
can be performed to deduce the cars dynamic characteristics. Comparisons can
be made from one driver to another or from one setup to another to assess
where and how gains in performance can be achieved The Analysis Module allows a rapid assessment of driver inputs and engine behavior in order to optimize the vehicle's performance. Any changes made to the engine, suspension or aerodynamic settings can be quickly quantified and fine-tuned. When used with one of EFI's data logging systems, data from over 100 sensors can be displayed in a number of formats to help visualize and analyze the vehicle's performance precisely |
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Track Mapping
Track mapping for both cars and motorcycles allows you to determine exactly where certain events occur. Data from different laps can be overlaid to highlight exactly where on the track improvements were gained. Data can be
overlaid on an outline of the track to graphically show driver inputs or vehicle behavior around each lap. |
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Graphical Reports
Graphical reports are particularly useful for debriefing drivers and other team members who can more easily identify data when it is presented relative to the track layout. Graphical Reports are user-definable to display the maximums or minimums of any channel in each section of the track. |
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Split Time Reports
The track can also be split into sections to monitor performance gains. The Split Time Report highlights the fastest section during an outing. |
The author can be contacted at markc@autoracing1.com
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