Listed below are some of the most popular questions we get asked.
Posted by : salil
Date : 2008-03-18 15:40:45
Answer:
There is no definition for roll & pitch acceleration, you probably mean roll rate and pitch rate.
Acceleration is a linear measurement and is classified as the differential of speed with respect to time dv/dt which gives you metres per second per second m/s/s.
Roll and pitch are different in the fact that they reflect a circular movement and are related to degrees. There are rates available for ROLL and PITCH and these are in deg/sec.
The RT 3000 Inertial Navigation System will measure ROLL, PITCH & JAW. Please see the information on the RT by clicking the link below:
RT3000
Posted by : tommy
Date : 2008-03-18 11:35:45
Answer:
The MicroSAT produces a data file (*.R1) which can be read in either MS History or the 2D 'Race' software.
The MS History is a basic package allowing you to produce a latitude vs longtitude graph.
The 2D 'Race' software for the microsat is a cut down version of the full racing analysis package, the software is free issue when you buy a microsat. The software will allow you to create track maps and analyse the GPS data that you logged.
Date : 2007-12-21 16:16:47
Answer:
MFDD - Mean Fully Developed Deceleration. There are a variety of ways to calculate deceleration using speed, distance and time formulae. The braking of a vehicle is greatly influenced by the initial braking system response to the pedal depression and the pitching of the vehicle,especially at low speed. The MFDD calculation starts at 80% of the start speed and stops at 10% of the start speed, this attempts to negate the effects mentioned above.
Now some equations! The acceleration data may be calculated by different formula:
1/. a(v,t): (Ve - Va) / (Te - Ta): 2/. a(v,s):(Ve^2 - Va^2)/((Se - Sa) *2) 3/. a(s,t):2 * ((Se - Sa) / (Te - Ta)^2 - Va /(Te - Ta))
The MFDD (mean fully developed deceleration) is displayed only after deceleration tests. This value is calculated using the data between 80% and 10% of the start speed. You should enter the desired start and end speed (for example 100 and 0 km/h) in the test configuration. The test also works if it is started either by an external trigger or manually. The end speed should be set to 0. The formula of the MFDD-value is: a_mfdd: ABS (( v_01^2 - v_08^2 ) / (( s_01 - s_08 ) * )) with v_01 = 0.1 * (startSpeed-stopTrigger) if startSpeed > stopTrigger or 0.1 * (startSpeed) if stopTrigger > startSpeed v_08 = 0.8 * (startSpeed-stopTrigger) if startSpeed > stopTrigger or 0.8 * (startSpeed) if stopTrigger > startSpeed s_01 = distance in time of v_01 s_08 = distance in time of v_08
So now you know!
Date : 2007-12-21 16:02:56
Answer:
When famous engineer James Watt was looking for a way of quantifying the work that could be done by his "new-fangled" steam engine he needed to use an easily understood concept.Obviously in the 18th Century the horse was the mainform of power in agriculture and transport.But how to quantify it? What constituted one horsepower? After some thought James decided that a typical horse walking in a circle hitched to a capstan that turned a millwheel or pump pulled with a force of 180 pounds.Observing that the horse walked for approx 181 feet in a minute he then multiplied the two and came up with 32,580 lb-ft/minute so lets say 33,000 for easy calculation.In another study of ponies lifting coal from deep mines he reckined that a pony could raise 200 pounds 165 feet in a minute which backed up his original 33,000 figure. Several engineers contested his figures,in fact, one Mr Simms calculated that a horse working to Watts calculated figure would probably drop dead with exhaustion in a fairly short time.Well J Watt's steam engines proved very popular so his definition of horsepower became the accepted standard and we still use it today as the basis of calculating work done by an engine of any sort.
Posted by : chris@mantado.com
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
No, Datron are able to provide solutions to integrate a wide variety of existing customer-owned sensors into new data loggers.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Datron have many years experience with interfacing to vehicle databus systems, and can help and support you through the task of specifying the correct recording system to meet your needs.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Datron are able to provide sensors and data recording systems for HIRE at monthly and weekly rates.
There are two options:
- Equipment only hire - weekly or monthly
- Engineer and equipment support - daily rates available upon request
Datron will collect the data and then, if required, process the results to provide an easy to understand document.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Vehicle testing can refer to diagnosing faults at your local garage to full blown development testing in Formula 1. Testing generally refers to the evaluation of prototype vehicles by manufacturers to determine functionality & performance.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
CAN-bus systems are now acknowledged as the automotive industry's standard format used to transmit information around vehicles;interconnecting the ECU's and Sensors which are vital to monitor and control all aspects of a modern vehicles systems. CAN is also used as the system-bus throughout our range of data acquisition units and sensors.Our data loggers also have the capability to link to the CAN-bus network on-board a vehicle to log and verify CAN-bus data "traffic".
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Vehicle pitch and roll angles can be determined by measuring the distance between three car-body points and the road or track surface. This process requires an exact knowledge of the geometric arrangement of the sensors.
Calculation of Pitch and Roll is an iterative process. Therefore, it is not possible to calculate pitch and roll angle independently of each other.
Error estimation shows the influence of the different measurement parameters on the results. The CORREVIT® Pitch and Roll System is designed to precisely determine the position of a vehicle relative to a road or track surface. This advanced measurement system incorporates three optical sensors mounted to a vehicle, each of which provides individual dynamic measurements of the distance between the vehicle and the road or track surface. Several sensor mounting configurations are possible, however it must be noted that each of these configurations requires distinct calculations to determine pitch and roll angles. This overview also provides an analysis of possible sources of error and indicates which of the measurement parameters will have the greatest influence on accuracy.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
There are several non-contact sensors using optical and microwave technologies available from Datron which are a proven solution for railway applications.
Microwave (Doppler radar) sensors can be used mounted on the rail vehicle and aimed at the trackbed from a position on a bogie or on the underframe.
The sensor is fixed at a 45 deg angle and the high frequency pulses it emits are reflected by the trackbed back to the sensor. This signal is then processed and, depending upon the model of sensor, will give a number of pulses per metre (typically 100) from which both speed and distance travelled can then be easily calculated.
An alternative sensor is one which aims a powerful infra-red beam directly at the railhead. Using patented technology the scattered light is then captured by a sensing element which electronically extracts a fundamental frequency which is proportional to speed and from which distance can again be calculated.
Non-contact sensors are very reliable,having no moving parts, and give slip-free measurement as their measuring technology is based on reflection from a fixed surface.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
By mounting a Datron/OXTS RT3000 GPS/INS system onto a rail vehicle which is then driven along the track(s) to be mapped. Data gathered from the RT3000’s array of sensors is then used to provide a very accurate log of the position of the vehicle. When the data is extracted from the RT3000 system this positional information can be processed to produce a very accurate track map.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
By using a Datron/OXTS RT3200 Vehicle Dynamics measuring system a full range of performance and ride parameters can be logged during a test run. Speed, acceleration and braking, plus roll, pitch and yaw parameters can be measured. This gives valuable feedback to design engineers involved in traction, braking and suspension systems design. The compact RT3200 can be fitted to a test vehicle in a matter of minutes. If an RT3200 is mounted in a powered rail vehicle and another in a non-powered, then a comparative study of the ride qualities of both can be made and the interactive effects studied.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
The OPTImess Laser Wheel Profile measuring system uses a scanning laser to give an accurate profile measurement in seconds. It’s built -in data logger/processor unit carries out an instantaneous comparison of the measured profile against the required standard. This gives the operator a pass/fail display of flange height, flange thickness and qR. Each reading is stored for download and comparison to previous profile readings. Profile readings from individual vehicles or whole trainsets can be stored, and comparative judgements made to optimize wheel re-profiling tasks.
This Laser based system can cut measurement times by up to 60% for a trainset/passenger vehicle consist and also makes the task a one-man job.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
• Very small size means ease of fitment to bikes
• High channel count, logging capacity and fast sample rates
• Isolated inputs allow use of existing bike sensors – saving money and setup time
• Sensors and software developed for bike use – not modified from car or kart
• Systems designed for future expansion – rather than forcing the purchase of new model
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
2D loggers are CAN capable and will record all data from most current ECU’s so that all signals – motor and chassis - can be analysed with the same powerful 2D software. This is becoming the most economical and flexible package that allows teams to choose the best hardware available which can be carried over to another bike in the future.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Yes. We can offer a complete system WITH sensors and software from around £2400 which gives you the same quality hardware as the MotoGP and WSB teams. The software is exactly the same, just not so much of it. You can upgrade with additional functionality at extra cost when needed.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Because we support so many riders at all levels we know what you are going to need. Just let us know what class you’re riding in and we will have a system – complete with sensors – to suit.
Remember, we are bike enthusiasts too!
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
You get what you pay for. Although a cheap system appears to do everything you want to begin with, they quickly become useless as you get better – as many teams will tell you. Our systems are designed for race bike needs and the developments have followed riders feedback. The software is not the same as car/kart logging alternatives, the sample rates allowed are up to 800Hz (even the smallest logs at 400Hz!), the hardware design ensures fast set-up and the sensors are small and lightweight.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
You could, however there are limitations. For example, the ECU’s main task is to look after the engine and therefore is compromised for logging unless you opt for a really expensive unit, which would probably be too big for bikes. Most ECU loggers have small recording capacity, few spare channels, low sample rates and generally low resolution analogue inputs. For basic logging, the ECU solution is fine and you can still take advantage of 2D’s analysing software and range of sensors, with the possibility to add more later - for more detailed analysing a dedicated logger is required.
So why compromise your data logging? Start as you mean to go on by using the best available, it would work out cheaper in the long run as an added bonus!
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Not true! It is possible to log data without ANY sensors by using the bike’s own sensors – throttle, RPM, wheel speed etc. The easily configurable loggers and software allows any analogue, digital or CAN sensors/devices including ECU’s to be connected and calibrated quickly and simply.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Not necessarily, the 2D equipment is a modular system which can be expanded at a later date.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Unless you use tyre warmers the only way is to ride along. Bearing in mind friction creates the heat, tyres can be encouraged to warm up faster by increasing the friction. So, you could run tyres at a slightly lower pressure, which would cause more deformation at the contact patch, and so create more friction. But this isn't practical for road use. You can cause the tyre to deform more under acceleration and braking because it carries a larger load. This also creates more slip at the contact patch because the tyres aren't just rolling along. So the quickest way to get heat into your tyres would be to ride along with the front brake dragging slightly, or to accelerate and brake heavily. This causes load at the front and rear contact patches, and more heat than simply riding along. In tests we've conducted with 2D non-contact temperature sensors, tyres take about 1.6-1.9 miles to reach a stable temperature with normal riding .
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
The common term of understeer / oversteer is really a measure of the SLIP ANGLE of a vehicle. Does the vehicle slip at the front or back or both? Please look at the download section for the report.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Data logging, or data acquisition to give it it's posh name, not only measures parameters from various sensors around the car, it also records the values,usually against time.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Data logging is purely the collection of data, although we see that there are two distinct areas:
1 - Time based data logging: this is normally used for long term data collection when vehicles are being monitored during extensive durability tests. The data can be gathered onboard and/or sent to a central base using GPRS connection.
2 - Specific data logging: this is where there is a defined start and stop condition to the test, brake and acceleration tests for example. The data logging is started on a pre-defined parameter such as speed or switch and is stopped on a different parameter e.g. brake tests from 100 kph to rest.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Roll angle 'g' is the angle between the transversal axis (y-axis) of the vehicle and the projection of
that axis to the road. 'g' exhibits positive values when the vehicle rolls to the right, and exhibits
negative values when the vehicle rolls to the left.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Pitch angle 'b' is the angle between the longitudinal axis (x-axis) of the vehicle and the projection of that axis to the road. 'b' is a positive value when the vehicle pitches forward, and a negative value when the vehicle pitches back.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
The co-ordinate system for the test vehicle is defined in accordance with the DIN 70 000 standard.
Each of the three co-ordinate axes (x, y and z) originate at the vehicle centre of gravity and
coincide with the three main axes of inertia:
The x-axis corresponds to the vehicle longitudinal axis, pointing forward.
The y-axis corresponds to the vehicle transversal axis, pointing left.
The z-axis corresponds to the vehicle vertical axis, pointing upward.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
Funny Cars are a major category in US drag racing where quarter-mile passes of 4.8 secs and speeds of over 320mph are normal.This class grew out of the Factory Experimental (A/FX) racing in mid-1960's America where the Detroit car makers,seeing the marketing potential of the sport,built some wild machines with altered wheelbases,set-back engines and super light bodies which still resembled production cars.But they looked "real funny" compared to their production line cousins,hence the name.
Todays Fuel Funny Cars have a full space frame chassis with a front mounted "nitro" burning,supercharged engines producing in excess of 6,000 h.p. The driver sits right behind that "beast" of an engine,legs astride the transmission,making it one of the most dangerous places in motorsport;engine explosions being quite common.The whole machine is clothed in a thin,lightweight composite one-piece body which closely resembles a late-model US car.The bodies have many aerodynamic features with wings and spoilers playing an important part in the stability and traction of these "extreme machines".After being "in the doldrums" in recent years the Fuel Funny Car class in Europe is set to have a revival in 2007 with several new cars in the class and some teams changing from Top Fuel. A full FIA backed European Fuel Funny Car Championship is planned for 2008.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
In Drag Racing there is GAS (petrol),METHANOL (alcohol) and then FUEL (extreme power!).
Fuel is an oxygen rich brew of Nitric Acid and Methanol (CH3NO2) which doesn’t burn in the engine like petrol but explodes. A 500 c.i.(8 litre) supercharged engine burning methanol can produce about 2,500 to 3,000 h.p. A similar engine burning Fuel will produce twice that power BUT this makes the engine prone to exploding like a grenade when things go wrong;complete engines sometimes being reduced to just hunks of scrap metal in a split second.
When everything works the results are spectacular !!!! U.S. Top Fuel cars are now recording times of 4.4 seconds at terminal speeds of almost 340mph for the quarter mile.
As 2003 European Top Fuel Drivers Champion “Smax” Smith commented “It’s like firing a gun and riding on the bullet”.
Date : 2007-10-01 00:00:00
Answer:
CORREVIT Principle is the operating principle behind the optical sensors that we supply.
The principle was initially devised by the Leica company in Germany over 20 years ago and has been the basis of the Correvit sensors ever since.
