Racecar Data Acquisition and Analysis

I.D. #

C0829

Duration

2 Days

Data acquisition is an invaluable tool for establishing racecar and driver performance. The technology, once used by high-end racing teams with considerable financial resources only, has found its way to all racing disciplines during the past decade. Today, systems are available that provide an enormous amount of data logging capabilities, even to the club racer. This two day seminar covers the latest available technologies and teaches the participants how to analyze the data logging system's output and convert this knowledge into a key advantage on the racetrack.

The seminar begins with a general introduction into data acquisition and measurement technology. The participants will then learn how to analyze the driver activities and use this analysis to improve driver performance. Vehicle performance analysis is extensively covered with an emphasis on vehicle balance, stability, wheel loads and weight transfer, aerodynamics and shock absorbers. The seminar concludes with the application of simulation software within the data logging environment.

Numerous practical examples will be provided and the participants will receive detailed course notes and illustrations. Attendees will also receive a copy of Jörge Segers' textbook Analysis Techniques for Racecar Data Acquisition.

***Participants are expected to bring a laptop computer with Microsoft Excel to the seminar for class exercises.***

Learning Objectives

By attending this course attendees will be able to:

Choose the appropriate hardware for your data acquisition system
Identify the basics of electronically measuring physical parameters
Designate the best way to visualize and organize your data for efficient analysis
Diagnose problems from logged data
Compare the performance of different drivers and cars
Determine a vehicle's balance from logged data
Perform aerodynamic measurements on a vehicle
Analyze and alter the transient vehicle balance through damper tuning
Calculate, measure, and analyze wheel loads
Plan an appropriate race strategy
Create a simulation model of your racecar and correlate the simulation results to logged data

Who Should Attend

This seminar will benefit anyone in the racing community wishing to expand their knowledge about racecar data acquisition and analysis. Engineers, crew chiefs, drivers, mechanics, and motorsport engineering students will benefit from the real-world examples and applications. In addition, individuals responsible for vehicle performance measurements in the passenger car industry will benefit from the data acquisition and analysis techniques presented in this seminar.

Seminar Content

DAY ONE

Introduction: Why Data Logging?
- Course outline, brief description of topics
- Diagnostics
- Performance analysis - driver
- Performance analysis - vehicle
- Vehicle development
- Simulation
- Running logs
- What to measure?
- Data categories
- Data system cost
Measurement Basics
- A/D conversion
- Measurement accuracy
- Types of sensors
- Data acquisition hardware - current trends
- Sensor configuration
- Wiring
- Troubleshooting
Different Ways to Display Data: Their Advantages and Disadvantages
- Time/Distance plot
- Statistics
- Histograms
- XY plots
- Mathematical channels
- Filtering
- Data export
- Templates
- Data organization
The Car's Vital Signs: Problem Diagnostics
- Primary task of the data engineer
- Data organization for effective troubleshooting
- Dashboard warning signals
- Telemetry
- Tire pressure monitoring
- Engine fuel mixture
Comparing Performance: The Lap Overlay
- Determining where time is gained or lost
- Time compare channels
- Improving the accuracy of the lap overlay with damper position sensors
- Improving the accuracy of the lap overlay with GPS
- Segment times and what we can learn from them
Analyzing the Driver
- Techniques for objective driver performance assessment
- Comparing yourself to the competition
- Driver coaching techniques with data acquisition
- Acceleration
- Braking
- Gearing
- Cornering
- Driving lines
- Consistency
- Video logging
Analyzing the Car
- Acceleration
- Braking
- Gearing
- Cornering

DAY TWO

Vehicle Balance and Stability
- The traction circle
- Diagnosing oversteer/understeer
- Quantifying the car's roll stiffness distribution
Aerodynamics
- Air density
- Drag measurements
- Downforce measurements
- Straightline testing procedures
- Aero measurements on the racetrack
- Ride height measurement
Shock Absorbers
- Damping basics
- Using the shock speed histogram for damper tuning
- Establishing the road profile
- Determining damper forces
- Frequency analysis
Track Characteristics
- Statistics that determine racetrack properties
- Using racetrack properties to establish car set-ups
- Time spent in friction circle quadrants
- Determining the road profile
Race Strategy
- Fuel consumption
- Tire wear
Simulation Tools
- What is lap time simulation?
- What advantages can a good lap time simulation model bring?
- Introduction to Chassissim
- Building up the model - getting the data
- Circuit modeling
- Model evaluation with data logging
- Using simulation during races or test days
- Suspension kinematics simulation
- Interaction between data logging software and kinematics simulation
Seminar Evaluation and Conclusion

Instructor(s):

Jörge Segers

With an educational background in automotive engineering, Jörge Segers has been involved with racing disciplines such as GT and sportscar racing, single seaters, and touring cars since 1998. He began with an apprenticeship at PK Carsport (formerly GLPK Racing), a Belgian team active in international GT racing. Mr. Segers became the team manager only three years later. After finishing his studies, he was employed at BPR Competition Engineering as track engineer in the International Sports Racing Series and later as development manager at Eurotech Racing. At Eurotech, he was responsible for the GT racing activities of British sportscar manufacturer Marcos Cars.

In 2001, Mr. Segers became the youngest team manager ever in an FIA organized championship. At PK Carsport he is still responsible for the team's activities and the FIA GT Championship. Subsequently, he has been working for other teams such as Henrik Roos Motorsports (FIA GT), Racing for Holland (Le Mans 24 Hours) and Carsport Modena.

SAE published Mr. Segers' first book Analysis Techniques for Racecar Data Acquisition in 2008.

Fees:

$1305

SAE Members*:

$1044 - $1175

* The appropriate SAE Member discount will be applied through the Registration process. Discounts vary according to level of membership: Elite Member 20%; Premium Member 15%; Classic Member 10%

CEU

1.3