Any interest in track-related data logging in MHD?

barry@3DM

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Jun 4, 2018
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Not sure if we could repurpose the current input which is on/off for oil pressure to be able to process 0-5V. Perhaps it would be easier to just replace the current "has / doesn't have" pressure sensor with one that will say it doesn't have pressure at a more useful safety psi.

@jyamona what is your take on additional analog sensor logging, in other words how many "slots" are there in the DME for adding 0-5v inputs?

Maybe it already does this or someone mentioned it and I missed it, but it would be nice if MHD had an auto start log function. Scenario being the following...

You get all your gear on, get in the car, head to the grid, and start waiting for everything to go. This could be a good 5, sometimes 10 min of which you don't care to log anything. Touch screens don't work well with driving gloves either. Then there is the whole part of remembering to start logging in the first place, lol. It would be nice to have it start logging after a parameter was hit, say 3000 RPM or 60 MPH, neither of which of would happen in the paddock but would on pit exit as you head out on the track.

This also would be a good way to have MHD data synced with other loggers. You could set both to start logging at the same parameter effectively syncing them together.
 
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Jake@MHD

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None free really, not without a good amount of work. And if doing that work, it would probably be used for something very specific, like flex fuel was.

If all you want is to log additional items and have them coincide with your current logging, the best bet would probably be creating some sort of logging box device that can take multiple 0-5v in, and have bluetooth out. It wouldn't be too hard to sync something like that on the MHD side. No sense in sending them in to the DME first.

As for auto logging, there currently is some auto logging capability in MHD, perhaps it could be expanded upon.
 

noorj

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Jul 12, 2017
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None free really, not without a good amount of work. And if doing that work, it would probably be used for something very specific, like flex fuel was.

If all you want is to log additional items and have them coincide with your current logging, the best bet would probably be creating some sort of logging box device that can take multiple 0-5v in, and have bluetooth out. It wouldn't be too hard to sync something like that on the MHD side. No sense in sending them in to the DME first.

As for auto logging, there currently is some auto logging capability in MHD, perhaps it could be expanded upon.

something like this? how could we go about getting MHD to set this up? I would love to have a few spare TC and pressure measurements in my logs

 

gmx

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Dec 8, 2017
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Not sure if we could repurpose the current input which is on/off for oil pressure to be able to process 0-5V. Perhaps it would be easier to just replace the current "has / doesn't have" pressure sensor with one that will say it doesn't have pressure at a more useful safety psi.

I'd love this. I don't get why OEMs have on/off at a "you're fucked now" psi anyway.

The issue with monitoring vs something already DME side is... There is no way I'm watching gauges other than the cluster hanging on for dear life. All I see is the corner ahead apart from the one I'm already negotiating. I'm much more likely to respond to something popping up in the centre of the cluster. And if the DME has it's own internal responses, even better.
However, where monitoring is USEFUL is overlaying g's, sections of the track vs time. And oil pressure vs time. Shows you exactly where oil pressure is lost (braking, turning left/right).

I guess something like 0-5v feed to logging box -> do something similar to what Acquamist does for it's failsafes could be hacked together. But, I'm a minimalist.

I had an external oil pressure sender switch hooked up (another car entirely) wired to a LED that lit up inside the cluster. Cool, but not really what I want to do again.
 

SJ_1989

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Aug 7, 2018
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I'd love this. I don't get why OEMs have on/off at a "you're fucked now" psi anyway.

Likely chose a switch due to it not being referenced in software other than the warning so why use a sensor.

Construction OEM's lag the automotive industry, but they are going to all sensors to support autonomy and data analytics, I assume that's why the N55 has a sensor.
 

Bnks334

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Dec 1, 2016
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I asked about this for N55 way back... doesn't seem like MHD has any intent on putting any effort into logging channels. Relative to E-N55 MHD, there is still tons of other projects that need attention (Jake, that 2048 limiter needs your attention lol).

I would just like to be able to be able to do basic data overlay when recording video... I'd easily pay $50 or so for an "add-on" that unlocks a track-oriented pack of logging pids. Steering angle, actual pedal angle instead of throttle angle, actual brake pressure/angle, x/y/z forces from the cars accelerator. I don't know the technical aspect of it, but, I do know that some of this data is not available through standard OBDII? It runs through the COM port?

With additional MHD channels I could then record with a separate camera and then add the data to the video later. It's still not a prefect solution but as of right now we don't really have any solution. An Aimsolo or something like that is cool but not even close to being worth the expense for the average enthusiast.

Here is a basic comparison I did at a recent autocross. I had to decide between recording the runs with track-addict to grab g-force and video data vs using the OBD port and MHD to log the cars performance... I have no idea what turns/g-forces I was seeing in these logs. With better data logging I would be able to see things like: what g-force was I seeing during the oil pressure dips? What direction was I turning? Was I braking? It would go a long way... In this comparison you can see oil pressure, without the Accusump on, is dipping to 40 psi when it should be above 60psi at all times in this log (>2000rpm).

https://datazap.me/u/banks334/autocross-accusump
Accusump-Comparison.png



On a side note, I spoke with Trackaddict (race render) asking for these same logging channels and they said they would be happy to add any memory addresses the community has available. They said they are working on integrating a function into the app for users to input "user defined" logging channels.
 
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BDriver

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Here's some overlaid data.
The engine data Log from MHD. Track data from RaceChrono. RaceRender was used to overlay data on video. Video is from iphone se. I'm currently having trouble with the MHD logging freezing. I've used many types of devices and cables. I'm hoping the new wireless dongle will fix the issue. Justin from Twisted Tuning says the dongle may be available next month. Here's a link to some BMW PIDs but I don't know how to get them to work with RaceChrono. Here are instructions to get the PID to work with Torque Pro. https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1483707
 
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Asbjorn

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Here's some overlaid data.
The engine data Log from MHD. Track data from RaceChrono. RaceRender was used to overlay data on video. Video is from iphone se. I'm currently having trouble with the MHD logging freezing. I've used many types of devices and cables. I'm hoping the new wireless dongle will fix the issue. Justin from Twisted Tuning says the dongle may be available next month. Here's a link to some BMW PIDs but I don't know how to get them to work with RaceChrono. Here are instructions to get the PID to work with Torque Pro. https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1483707

This is pretty neat! Btw I saw 246F coolant at the end there. I would really try to avoid that and cool down before exceeding 230F.

I have had success doing the same overlays with MHD + AiM Solo 2 DL + Dashcam in Race Render. Those rare instances where I also needed to log oil pressure and radiator outlet temp, I just video logged the analog gauges and inputted the data manually in excel.

Im sure you would agree the main problem here is that it takes forever to synchronize everything up. This is why the AiM SmartyCam makes sense. Less costly solutions include the datalogging phone apps which can make video overlays such as harrys laptimer etc. But the list of missing channels is endless, even with AiM connected directly to the DME.
 

Bnks334

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The engine data Log from MHD. Track data from RaceChrono. RaceRender was used to overlay data on video.

how are you getting data to both MHD and RaceChrono? Trackaddict uses an OBD wireless Dongle so I have to choose either between getting data with MHD via OBD or using track addict. Without the OBD dongle, Track addict doesn't provide any data other than GPS data from your phone. No g-force data is available. Not sure why since I am pretty sure it is using the phones accelerometer... I tried using an OBD splitter to run both but that obviously didn't work lol.
 

KevinC39

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Jun 27, 2017
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That's really cool. Love the data overlay stuff. I messed around with that a few years ago with a Garmin and GoPro for cycling and it actually worked out pretty well. Nice job
 

berns

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Jan 15, 2018
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Oil Pressure would be awesome. +1 for more of a warning system. +100 for bluetooth capability to avoid running wires around the car on track, or at least the ability to run logs with a phone in your pocket (something I did years ago with JB4 bluetooth).

For those saying to invest in more data tools, like an AIM Solo DL -- sure, nothing is going to replace that. But a little more functionality on the MHD side would be a benefit. I run an AIM Solo 2 (non DL), and would like to be running logs on MHD simultaneously.
 

gmx

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Dec 8, 2017
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Anymore details about the AIM Solo?
I'm thinking of whipping an Arduino for oil pressure and using that as an input for the AIM (0-5v sender). The reason for the AIM, I imagine it has all the GPS sensors necessary to measure position on a given track as well as lateral/longitudinal g-forces. I think for the time being, this is enough for me.
 

Asbjorn

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Anymore details about the AIM Solo?
I'm thinking of whipping an Arduino for oil pressure and using that as an input for the AIM (0-5v sender). The reason for the AIM, I imagine it has all the GPS sensors necessary to measure position on a given track as well as lateral/longitudinal g-forces. I think for the time being, this is enough for me.

You'll need the MXm or higher to connect external sensors. I regret getting the Solo 2 DL due to this. I did save alot of money runing analog gauges and std sensors though... The non DL is awesome as a track learning tool, and combined with mhd manual logging you have almost everything except for brake force, steering input, fuel level, individual wheel speed etc. But even with the MXm connected to DME you will still need mhd logging to get stft, wgdc, boost, iat, timing, trans temp etc etc

So if you install external sensors and need to log more than a few times, get the MXm, otherwise Solo 2 + temporary analogue gauges is fine. The DL needs direct can connection to be of any value, dont choose the obd version of DL. If you want serious feedback on your driving (brake logging) get DL or MXm or higher.
 

BDriver

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Mar 8, 2019
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how are you getting data to both MHD and RaceChrono? Trackaddict uses an OBD wireless Dongle so I have to choose either between getting data with MHD via OBD or using track addict. Without the OBD dongle, Track addict doesn't provide any data other than GPS data from your phone. No g-force data is available. Not sure why since I am pretty sure it is using the phones accelerometer... I tried using an OBD splitter to run both but that obviously didn't work lol.
The RaceChrono app for my iPhone works to provide GPS speed, Lap Time and accelerometer data without the use of a OBD dongle. The RaceChrono app provides a .csv file that can be imported into RaceRender. In RaceRender the RaceChrone .csv data file is combined with the MHD .csv file.

Another option is to render an overlaid video from RaceChrono and add the MHD .csv data over it using RaceRender. Here is an example of this method.
This example has overlaid video from two gopros add over the iPhone RaceRender video. Once the gopros and iPhone are running I'll clap my hands to help synchronize the videos using the sound.
 
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F87Source

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Bumping an old thread, but I too would pay $50 for MHD to have a track feature pack where we can have a laptimer with the app interact via bluetooth to an external bluetooth gps sensor for positional data. Then also have the app be able to overlay video from a go pro. This way we have data logging from mhd as per usual, with lap times from the gps (albeit I dont expect it to be as good as harrys lap timer with preset track data, just something simple like stop timing a lap once passing over a preset start point) and video to see how the car behaves at certain time points and turns.
 
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BDriver

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Bumping an old thread, but I too would pay $50 for MHD to have a track feature pack where we can have a laptimer with the app interact via bluetooth to an external bluetooth gps sensor for positional data. Then also have the app be able to overlay video from a go pro. This way we have data logging from mhd as per usual, with lap times from the gps (albeit I dont expect it to be as good as harrys lap timer with preset track data, just something simple like stop timing a lap once passing over a preset start point) and video to see how the car behaves at certain time points and turns.

@F87Source Yes, that I think would be a "killer app" that could be very profitable for MHD to make. I too would like to see a few more concurrent parameters as mentioned by other in this thread such as braking, acceleration and oil pressure. People are paying a lot more than $50 for this type of data over video logging.
 
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F87Source

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@F87Source Yes, that I think would be a "killer app" that could be very profitable for MHD to make. I too would like to see a few more concurrent parameters as mentioned by other in this thread such as braking, acceleration and oil pressure. People are paying a lot more than $50 for this type of data over video logging.
And anything under full canbus integration which costs thousands offers crap data logging compared to MHD.
 
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Skevo8

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Oct 1, 2020
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Hi, anyone managed to get trackaddict reading with MHD black obd adapter? What port has to be setup for the connection? Thansk