Copilot for Power FC
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Current version: 3.5.4.
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March 23, 2009
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The latest and greatest Power FC data logging, display, editing, tuning, and replay software is now available.
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It is loaded with new features.
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Some of the new features which were not in the 2.0.6
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"Lite" version include:
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Online Auto Tuning
Previously you had to do data logging while connected
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("online"), run it in offline mode and click Analyze, then run it in online mode and write the new base map.
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Now you can set it up so it reads, logs, analyzes, and writes as you drive.
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This includes auto tuning the base map and/or ignition timing.
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Online ignition timing changes are limited to retarding only for safety reasons.
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Improved Auto Tuning Algorithms
This is rather complicated, but basically samples are weighted and balanced, and you have a clearer picture of what is happening due to additional maps which can be displayed, some in higher resolution than the 20 by 20 Power FC maps.
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For ignition timing auto tuning, the program looks at what is happening for each knock sample obtained, for example whether or not you are shifting gears, and decides whether the knock is most likely true knock or false knock
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(false knock can be caused by shifting noise).
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Also, if you want it to, it will retard timing when there is knock
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(even a small amount, which you may think is just noise) until the point at which retarding it further does not reduce the knock.
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Street Dynamometer
The program looks for conditions that indicate a full throttle run in one gear and saves the data associated with it
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(not just HP and torque, but also AFR, knock, airflow, injector duty, boost, etc) in a Dyno file that can be opened later.
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If you want, the Dynamometer window will open automatically when there is new data.
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You can compare any two runs.
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Amplifying information, for example the car's weight and other factors affecting the HP calculation and notes, are saved and can be viewed as well.
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Export to Google Earth
If you have a GPS antenna connected
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(example: DeLorme's LT20
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-- around
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$60 and includes mapping software which can run at the same time), GPS data will be saved in the log, so you will be able to use the Export to Google Earth function.
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I've posted an example
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.kml file before
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(Google Earth input file).
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Complete Replacement for FC-Edit
Well, almost.
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You cannot reinitialize the Power FC yet.
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I've added all the Fuel Injection Factors, Ignition Factors, Sensors, and so on.
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There are new windows for displaying, editing, saving, load, and writing all this new data.
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Different Ignition Maps per Gear
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- REMOVED
This is actually described pretty well in the User's Guide.
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Unfortunately, I had to disable this code due to the complexity of the ignition timing auto tuning.
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It may be put back in later.
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Better Communications Error Recovery
The Datalogit box is prone to communications dropouts.
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I have tried many things in software to work around this and the latest version seems to do a better job.
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I went for a two hour drive today and there were 6 momentary dropouts, all of which were handled automatically within a couple of seconds.
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The only reason I know it happed at all is there were messages in the log saying that it had handled them.
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UPDATE: Nope, that was too much to hope for.
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It still stops responding at times.
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Yet another update: It is working very well now after some more changes.
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Rescaling Maps
A previous version added map rescaling, but I did not catch a bug that prevented the new map reference from being written.
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So this is just a bug fix, but it will not be in the Lite version.
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.
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.
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I am done updating the old code.
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It is just too much work to maintain two separate versions of the software.
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Boost Gauge, Oil Pressure Gauge
These have not been tested, but should work with at least some of the sensors out there.
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Like the other virtual gauges, the data driving it is logged and replayed, so the gauges all work when replaying.
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Additionally, there is a Boost map, Boost trace on the chart, and Boost is included in the Dynamometer plot.
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The Boost map is 20 by 20 and can be displayed as average, min, and max, all per gear(s)
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(like HP and Torque maps).
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Export to Excel Workbook
Most of the data, for example all the maps, airflow, and map reference, can be exported as a complete Excel Workbook.
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In a later version I will expand upon this to include all the data.
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Having the Power FC data in Excel makes it easy for people with Excel talents to implement their own formulas.
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You can also print, of course.
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Whether or not this particular feature works for you depends on what version of Excel you have.
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.
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.
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no guarantees that it will work on your computer.
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Expanded I/O Capabilities
With Datalogit, you get 4 Analog Inputs.
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Copilot also supports Phidgets 8/8/8 boards, which give you another 8 analog inputs, 8 digital inputs, and 8 digital outputs.
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The inputs are all logged and analog inputs can be used for a wideband O2 sensor
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(faster and more precise than Datalogit or even LC-1 digital), an oil temperature sender, oil pressure sender, or boost sensor.
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That's all I have defined at present.
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I have built a hand controller with 8 buttons that connect to the Phidgets 8/8/8 card and do dedicated funtions in Copilot.
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Let me know if you have any special I/O needs and I can work with you on the software.
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Copilot works with a Phidgets accelerometer and any GPS antenna and driver that outputs NMEA
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(standard protocol) GPS sentences on an actual or virtual comm port.
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Graphical User Interface Improvements
Many improvements here.
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.
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.
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too numerous to list.
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Audio for Limit Check Alerts
You can now have it play any WAV file when a parameter
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(e.g.
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, water temperature, knock, injector duty,
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.
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.
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.
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up to 12 in all) exceeds a limit you define.
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A different WAV file can be used for each parameter, if you wish.
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A variety of WAV short files are installed.
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2D Plot of Course and G Forces Display
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This is an overhead view of where the car is with many features.
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A GPS antenna is required for this feature.
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The plot is a separate window and a miniature version showing just the track and vehicle position can be viewed on the Dashboard tab.
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Control of both plots center and scale is done via the 2D Plot of Course window, which you can set up to keep the vehicle on the plot
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(anywhere), keep the vehicle in the center, or keep it centered on any position.
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The Dashboard tab can now
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(as of 3.0.4) display a different style AFR gauge and a G forces plot
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(different from the G Forces window).
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Just click the different gauges/displays to make them change function.
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See the Jan 1, 2008 post on Page 17 of this topic for more information.
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Video
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Now
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(3.0.5 and greater) you can replay an AVI file in synch with all the other data
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(Power FC, wideband, GPS, accelerometer).
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This will be expanded upon in the future.
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Economy Display
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Computes and displays fuel economy as you drive.
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Similar to a Prius
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"Consumption" display.
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