Electronics Systems
This isn't really an area I covered in my Fisher Fury R1 kit car build as I kept it all very simple but, for this car I'm planning a much more advanced set of instrumentation, data logging and communications. By electronics I mean:
- Digital and analogue inputs required to perform vehicle data logging.
- Electronics to drive a display with some key information, described below.
- Accelerometer data logging.
- GPS positioning data logging.
- Digital video capture and storage.
- Wired and wireless communications, telemetry and data analysis.
- 3G/4G remote communications.
The first question I'm currently trying to answer is ... 'Is it not just easier to use an off the shelf system?'
Half of me thinks it would be easier just to do it all on a high resolution OLED display so that you can choose and change the graphics at will. A decent large Smartphone or tablet screen would be up to the job.
Required Features
Mileometer / Odometer
Required for IVA. It worries me that this has to be tamper-proof and I'm not sure if any certification is required for this element.
Trip
Not really required but easy enough to add and usually part of an off-the-shelf solution.
Speedometer
Want an analogue gauge but, also need to add to data log, so going to have to use a digital sensor to drive and use the electronics to drive an analogue dial. Sounds odd but, you can do those clever things with the needles on engine start, where they sweep far end of the range and back. Simple things :-)
Tachometer
Want an analogue gauge but, also need to add to data log.
Fuel Gauge
It is all very well having a digital fuel gauge on the Fisher Fury R1 but it is far from linear and it varies by quite a lot depending on whether you have been accelerating or braking. Typically this is an analogue sensor that requires A/D conversion and an algorithm to smooth out the displayed value. Would also want to capture this in the data logging as it impacts on the weight and thus performance of the car.
Oil Pressure
This needs to be a digital readout on a bike-engined car as it varies from about 10psi to 63psi on my Fisher Fury R1, depending on engine revs and oil temperature. I'd like a clear warning when it is out of bounds for a given engine speed and I want this included in the data logging.
Oil Temperature
This needs to be a digital readout as you can gain value information from a bike engine installed in a car. I'd like a clear warning when it is out of bounds and I want this included in the data logging.
Water Temperature
This needs to be a digital readout as you can gain value information from a bike engine installed in a car. I'd like a clear warning when it is out of bounds and I want this included in the data logging.
Data Logging
The data logger needs to capture the following data:
- Throttle position
- Brake pedal position
- Brake pressure
- Current gear
- Engine speed
- Speed
- Water temperature
- Oil temperature
- Oil pressure
- GPS location
- Accelerometers
- Distance / mileometer
- Fuel level - not hugely useful on the face of it but, weight of fuel affects performance.
Hardware Choice
Needs to be small and compact, quick boot time, low power, low weight, capable of being driven off a 12V power supply.
A key requirement is that it can drive a 4" high-resolution display.
Hardware Interfaces
T.B.C.
Operating System
T.B.C.
Development Environment
T.B.C.