Cambridge Racing Team Keeps Competitive with High-Tech Tool
Influx Rebel XT Vehicle Datalogger Records Test Data
CHESTERLAND, OHÂ – Cambridge University Eco-Racing (CUER) is a student-run society of 60 undergraduates affiliated with the University of Cambridge's Engineering Department who design, build and race solar-powered vehicles. Their main competition is a biennial endurance challenge consisting of a 3,000 km (1,864 miles) journey across the Australian outback, travelling from Darwin to Adelaide. To keep their cars competitive, the team utilizes an innovative solution to collect vehicle data.
Recording CAN bus Data Improves Performance:
Amy Livingstone, Head of CUER's Electrical Team explains:
"Since we build a new car each 2-year cycle, we have to do extensive testing in a short period of time, which requires maximizing the data collected in each run. CUER began using Influx Technology products in 2013 including multiple add-ons such as the H-box for analog instrumentation. We also had three software licenses for the DiaLog interface software."
"The Rebel XT data logger allows us to collect the information passing down the car's CAN bus, including safety-related information such as battery cell temperature and performance data like the phase current into the motor. We use the H-box to read the analog input from our steering angle sensor to a high resolution, while the software is very helpful for performing initial data conversions and scaling, as well as viewing data on the go through the oscilloscope function."
Compact, Flexible Vehicle Datalogger:
The Influx Rebel XT Vehicle Data Logger is the ideal device to capture OBD, CAN, analog and GPS signals. This compact solution offers versatile and powerful data logging with FREE software enabling users to start recording data in just minutes! With remote data accessibility, the Rebel xt is the ideal solution for CAN bus data recording in developing alternative fuel sources including electric and hybrid transmission, in diesel applications, fleet management, and more.
With 3x (opto-isolated) CAN communications channels, the Rebel xt allows data to be collected from the OBD port using ISO14229 and ISO15765 protocols and also features support for K-Line and LIN 1.2 protocols. The Rebel xt also features an LCD Display, keypad and 8 LEDs, internal and external SD memory storage of 2GB (each), multiple trigger sources, and an option for remote link via a GPRS cellular modem and optional GPS for location tracking. The H-box instrumentation module and expansion box provides electrically-isolated analog instrumentation and temperature measurement via K-type thermocouple inputs.
Amy explains the benefits of using the Rebel:
"We are currently in the process of validating the stability of the 2014 car using steering angle and yaw rate to determine the oversteer and understeer. While conducting constant radius tests and impulse response tests, we needed to collect high resolution data over the course of the testing day in order to evaluate the effect of different weight distributions.
"The Rebel XT was a perfect solution to our data collection needs, allowing us to collect not only the information we knew we needed for analysis, but also additional information such as acceleration which aided in further clarifying the results. For example stability is a very important factor for our confidence in the car and ensuring the safety of our drivers, so the Rebel XT data logger is an extremely valuable data collection tool for us."
For more information on the Influx Rebel xt Vehicle Data Logger, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Applications Specialist at 800-956-4437 or visit our website at www.DataLoggerInc.com.
Contact Information:
CAS DataLoggers, Inc.
8437 Mayfield Rd.
Chesterland, Ohio 44026
440-729-2570
800-956-4437
sales@dataloggerinc.com
www.dataloggerinc.com
