Who is the Data Analysis Software designed for?
The data analysis software is incredibly
flexible and allows our products to be used in applications
where most other "autosport" data logging systems would be
unacceptable. The data analysis software can be used to
analyze data logged on closed circuits, open circuits (hill
climbs and rallies for example), straight line performance
testing, to name just a few. Drivers, technical support
staff, instructors, racing teachers and students use the
software extensively. Because the software runs under
windows using familiar controls and presentation, it can be
picked up by anyone with even a little experience on
computers, quickly and easily.
What does the Data Analysis Software do?
The software is so powerful and flexible
that this isn't a simple question to answer in a few
sentences. The software is used in conjunction with all our
products datalogging products to download the data from the
device onto the PC and view it, analyze it, manipulate it,
graph it, print it, save it to disk etc. It has many
powerful and innovative features and is under constant
development to ensure that it remains the package of choice
for drivers, racing teams, test engineers and vehicle
development organizations.
Features of the Data Analysis Software...
The first function that the software must
perform is to transfer the data from the logging device to
the computer. In the case of the DL90 and the AP22 this is
done with a serial (RS232) link running at high speed, in
the case of the DL1 and the AX22, data is read from the
compact flash card using a suitable card reader attached to
the computer.
The next task the software does it to
convert the data that was stored into useful information.
For example the logger might record a number of pulses per
second on an input, and this needs to be converted to an
engine speed in RPM. Alternatively it might convert a
voltage that was stored on the logger to a steering wheel
angle. The number of variables calculated and the units can
be selected to the users preferences.
Once the data has been converted into useful
"engineering" data, the software can be used to look at the
data. This can be done in one of many ways - the most
straightforward is to simply plot a graph. In the most
simplistic example you could plot the speed the vehicle was
traveling against time.
While looking at data in such a manual way
does provide answers, a more powerful way to look at the
data is by using the analysis features in the software. For
example you can select a bend on a circuit and automatically
plot the lateral g force of that corner on your fastest and
slowest laps. Alternatively you can check to see how brake
pressures or vehicle power output changed over the course of
the race or event.
In addition to the analysis functions there
are extensive facilities to load and save data, load and
save your analysis preferences, print graphs, and export
data to a spreadsheet. The latest version of the Race
Technology software is another huge step forward in terms of
power and flexibility. Some of the features include:
- Synchronizing videos to the data - the
ability to playback the video along side data in a
totally integrated way. For example you can play the
data back along side the data in real time, or you can
view the video files as you click and drag the pointer
across the graphs. The software is very flexible in it's
handling of video files, you can associate up to 10
videos or camera views with each run and view them all
simultaneously. You also have almost complete
flexibility in the video files you can use including
.mpg, .mpeg, .avi, .mov, .wav, .mp2, .wma, .wmv, .asf.
The underlying video code accesses DirectX for the best
speed/performance available.
- Export to video - a very powerful feature
that allows you to generate videos with your own layout
design. Using this feature you can output your own
custom designed videos that include almost unlimited
video windows and graphical data overlays with up to DVD
resolution. Once you've generated a video output file
then it is very simple to write it to DVD using 3rd
party software.
-
Flexible graphs. Each graph can
display up to 5 totally independent X and Y axis, for
example you can view speeds from 5 different laps, or 5
different parameters from a single lap. There are also
numerous options that can be set as require, for example
you can manually set minimum and maximums, whether a
grid is displayed and whether you want data point joined
up or not. There are also extensive facilities for
zooming in on the data, panning across the axis etc, so
you really can view the data in a fast and efficient
manner.
-
Flexible bar charts. The bar
charts are useful for viewing "how often" something
happened. For example you could check what rev range was
used during a race to help select appropriate gearing.
As with the regular XY graphs, you can view up to 5 axis
at the same time, making comparison between laps or runs
very simple.
-
Track maps. One of the great
strengths of our range of data logging products is the
integration of GPS, which allows the system to calculate
high quality track maps. The track map viewer makes the
most of the data and shows a full layout of the track or
run. There are many viewing options available for the
track map, including coloring the map to show sections
of high speed or braking. There are also facilities for
quickly zooming in and out the map, rotating it and so
on.
-
Real time playback. One of the
innovative features of the software is its ability to
"playback" the data in real time. This mode operated
very much like a video recorder, you can play, pause,
fast-forward and even rewind the race and see exactly
what was going on at that particular time.
-
Virtual dashboards. As well as
displaying the data on the graphs during playback you
can also display a configurable "virtual dashboard" to
show the chosen variables on dials for quick and
intuitive readings.
-
Multiple runs. Obviously it is
essential that you compare data from more than one run.
This might be data from last session, or multiple runs
from one day. Currently up to 10 runs maybe loaded into
the software at once and compared directly.
-
Multiple laps. Within each "run"
there maybe a single stage, run or many laps - unlike
other systems we do not limit the laps you can load.
-
Add virtual lap beacons.
Traditional "auto sport" systems require that you place
a light beacon at the side of the track for performing
track timing, however, because our systems use GPS this
isn't required - to calculate lap times or sector times
you simply add a virtual optical beacon or "track
markers" to the track map and base your lap times and
sector times on these. There is almost no limit to the
number of track markers that you can add to a track map,
in practice you can calculate as many sector times as
you require.
-
Perform complex calculations.
Once you have added "track markers" to the track map
these can be used as the basis of calculations to find
minimums, maximums, averages even statistic functions of
any variables. For example you can find the maximum
speed or average throttle opening around a particular
corner.
-
Automatically generate graphs.
Again, once you have added track markers to the track
map you can use these as a basis for automatically
generating graphs. For example you could automatically
plot the speed down a selected straight of the fastest
lap compared with the slowest lap to check your breaking
point or gearshift points.
-
Save data to disk. You can save
either raw data to disk, or you can save your entire
analysis including all the graphs and calculations that
you have generated.
-
Print graphs and tables. The
software includes the facility to generate really high
quality print outs of graphs, track maps, bar charts or
tables.
-
Export data to a spreadsheet or
Matlab. In some applications it can be useful to
export data to a spreadsheet or Matlab. This can be done
in several ways - you can either export all the data
from the run, or alternatively you can export the data
for a table or individual graph. This facility can be
particularly useful if you are including the data in a
report.
-
Save/load multiple vehicle
configurations. Because our systems are so quick and
simple to fit in a vehicle, it is common for them to
find their way into various vehicles. To help in these
applications we provide the facility to save and load
various vehicle configurations, for quick reference.
-
Comprehensive data analysis options.
There are many options that allow you to process the
data in the way you require. For example you can trim
runs, filter data in a number of different ways and even
select how power and distance are calculated.
-
User selectable variables. There
are many variables that are accessible in the software,
but in most applications only some of the variables are
of interest. To speed up the program operation and
reduce memory requirements, you can select only the
variables of interest.
-
User defined variables. One of
the most powerful features of the analysis software it
the ability to add your own, user defined, variables.
These have many applications; simple applications
include converting an existing variable to different
units, converting a voltage to a physical quantity such
as a temperature, or combining data from more than one
channels such as calculating the slip ratio between 2
wheels or shafts.
-
User defined graphs. In a similar
way to defining your own variables, you can also define
your own graphs for quick reference. You can set up all
you preferred options then just select the graph from
this list.
For an overview of how to use the software watch the
demonstration video. |
