AIM Dataloggers

[Belatti]

Hi!

After using Motec and Pi in a couple of teams I worked for, I decided to purchase AIM to work as a freelance data engineer (mostly for teams that doesnt have enough budget to pay a full time engineer)

The reason was simply price () , the chance to learn to use a different system and that there are no sellers I know for for Motec and Pi in Argentina...

The first issue I saw was that AIM dataloggers seem to be made for amateurs: not too many channels and not many memory. Once you raise datalogging frequency you have not much time to record. Connector quality is questionable, too.

I have purchased EVO4 (the best I could see on their page, it has integrated GPS and 3 axe accelerometer), it comes with MyCron3 dashboard, then I added:
- 2 brake pressure sensors
- 4 linear potentiometers
- throttle sensor
- 4 speed sensors
- steering wheel sensor

Of course that for all this I had to buy data hub and a channel expansion.

Then it happened that I thought I could connect the 4 speed sensors but I could not: you need a special cable to connect 2 sensors from the datalogger box.

The the lap beacon stopped working. I bought another but it doesnt work. I am splitting laps using GPS, but the drivers still cant see splits in the dash.

Now Im afraid the problem is in the box and the moron that sold the box to me will last 1 month to send it to Europe or the States to get it repaired, so Im using it without lap beacon .

Anyway, I will buy a current tester to check if some voltage is comming out the lap beacon connection pins.

Regarding the software, it has somethings better and somethings worse than the competition, just a matter of getting used.

[Casper]

You should set be able to set up splits in GPS manager and the driver should see them. Is he seeing predictive timing? We have no issues with plugs but they do require very careful fixing to the chassis to prevent cable breakage within the plug, tie the plug and the cable each side of the plug to prevent cable movement.

We have been using AIM loggers for years on karts and there is no rougher environment and the plugs and cables last if looked after. Has someone changed the obscuring period for the beacon or the number of splits in the dash configuration? this will make it seem it is not working correctly. Yes, they aren't the most robust logger in the world but bang for the buck they are a good thing.

Sorry I can't help with the speed sensor cables as we don't use a EV4, maybe Graham Templeton might have some insight there.

[RF_Racer]

Have just sent you a PM. I should be able to help you with the AIM stuff.

[RPD Motorsport]

AIM can do everything the other can, but the softwear can be a bit backwards and Italian!

More often than not issues with AIM systems are caused in the configeration stage, where they are sensative. Often the settings required are not systematic if you use custom/CAN signals, and if you follow the AIM manuals they often lead you down the unclear path...

Best to have somone experianced with several custom AIM setups to take a look as we have seen several ocations where people have replaced things that just needed an italian style re-format!

AIM is easy to use, once set up. Getting it there can be a pain though if not doing simple things!

[Belatti]

Thank you all. I have still to check the Dashboard configs to see how the driver can see GPS splits.

In Race Studio 2 dashboard configurator, you only enter RPM leds and 4 channels with alarms to look after.

[Casper]

Originally Posted by RPD Motorsport

AIM can do everything the other can, but the softwear can be a bit backwards and Italian!

More often than not issues with AIM systems are caused in the configeration stage, where they are sensative. Often the settings required are not systematic if you use custom/CAN signals, and if you follow the AIM manuals they often lead you down the unclear path...

Best to have somone experianced with several custom AIM setups to take a look as we have seen several ocations where people have replaced things that just needed an italian style re-format!

AIM is easy to use, once set up. Getting it there can be a pain though if not doing simple things!

Amen to that, as mentioned AIM's biggest problem is documentation closely followed by software that never gets out of BETA. Always keep an older version of RS that you know works as using a new version is like playing a slot machine, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

Another is RS has some entrenched problems that have never been addressed, the track report being one. It will not give multiple lap reports/results and has been like this for years with no explanation or attempt to fix it. The big plus is that all the software is given freely by the company which means you can always have the latest version even if it might be a bit buggy at times. Given the problems it is still a good bang for the buck but local support always counts in these things.

[Belatti]

Thanks Casper.

Anybody had a problem with the personalized sensor calibration?

I create a sensor, type in the curve values and then when I want to check in the "online" to see if it is working, nothing seems to be moving...

So, till now I have to use "linear" sensor calibrations...

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Belatti

Thanks Casper.

Anybody had a problem with the personalized sensor calibration?

I create a sensor, type in the curve values and then when I want to check in the "online" to see if it is working, nothing seems to be moving...

So, till now I have to use "linear" sensor calibrations...

I have never had issues with custom sensors, it is important to select the correct sensor in the drop down menu before anything else, this goes without saying I suppose. Graham T who posts here occasionally would be the best to comment on the total process as it has been a couple of years since I have done one and I have old timers disease. Send him a PM.

[JNWRF01]

Guys - new convert to AIM - using it my kids cadets karts. I have the GPS units installed - have set the logger to the correct setting in terms of weight etc etc - how accurate do you think the BHP/Torque settings are on the logger? Or you just think I can use it for a benchmark reference against the engine tuner's dyno?

Love the GPS addition - but struggling to see how I can calibrate the "lines" on Google maps perfectly. We are about 5meters out! Also - how can i see what lines he is taking on a normal graph'd map?

Thanks

[Michael24]

Originally Posted by JNWRF01

but struggling to see how I can calibrate the "lines" on Google maps perfectly. We are about 5meters out!

That would be Google Maps in my experience (AIM+Smartycam and Driftbox).

Michael

[tristancliffe]

Torque/power channels are, at best, a complete guess, and aren't even comparable between the same car in different sessions.

GPS, at the affordable end of the market, even when complimented with accelerometer channels, isn't even accurate to 5m really, certainly not in absolute terms (in a given session, with more than 5 satellites visible, they can be relatively accurate to within a couple of meters). As such they can't REALLY be used for driving line analysis. Onboard video is far better for that!

[JNWRF01]

I have cameras on the karts for that reason... Shame as the AIM website looks great on the GMaps overlay..

[Casper]

Originally Posted by JNWRF01

Love the GPS addition - but struggling to see how I can calibrate the "lines" on Google maps perfectly. We are about 5meters out! Also - how can i see what lines he is taking on a normal graph'd map?

Thanks

The simple answer is you can't. The only way to get true maps is to use physical channels. The sprint karting community has been convinced you only need an M4 and GPS and that is simply not true. Despite what your kart shop says data logging requires physical channels. Forget DA for a while and just get the kids to drive and learn what happens on a track. Been there, done that many times.

[Paceracing]

Originally Posted by Casper

The simple answer is you can't. The only way to get true maps is to use physical channels. The sprint karting community has been convinced you only need an M4 and GPS and that is simply not true. Despite what your kart shop says data logging requires physical channels. Forget DA for a while and just get the kids to drive and learn what happens on a track. Been there, done that many times.

Dead right. GPS simply isn't accurate enough. I have used it in both military and professional top level motorsport and it simply isn't accurate enough for driver line analysis. Save your money and buy a little GoPro camera. It'll be the best money you ever spent. For proper driver line analysis, video can't be beaten.

[tristancliffe]

Funny how the Racelogic's marketing strategy is on the apparent virtues of GPS driving line analysis, usually at Rockingham's first hairpin (which is a corner with about a dozen legitimate entry lines). I've never had the heart to tell them that they're wrong!!

Anyway, my AiM stuff has arrived, and I've powered it up but haven't plugged my laptop in to program it or check all the channels work (assuming it can show live data over USB?). That's a job for tomorrow and the weekend. Not sure if I'll bother with the MemoryKey. Turns out that I'll need to buy a Data Hub to use it and the mini dash display, and I've spent enough already. Another £50 to get the MemoryKey, or just download via USB but miss out on the 'backup' that the Key provides...

Also, with the GPSManager, how do they cope with track configurations? If I set start/finish and splits for, say, Brands Indy and Brands GP, there is no way for it to know which circuit I'm using... is there?

[Casper]

You do one lap and log that lap to the GPS, a very rough summation of the process. What sort of dash/logger are you using? Go to here....
http://www.aim-sportline.com/pages/d...umentation.php

All the docs are on that page, the GPS stuff is fairly up to date fortunately and make sure your firmware is up to date. AIM specialise in updating the firmware/software without documentation and leave it up to the user to sort it out. Both firmware/software revisions seem to have slowed down lately which is good or it means a major re-write on the way and we will all be back in the dark again.

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Paceracing

Save your money and buy a little GoPro camera. It'll be the best money you ever spent. For proper driver line analysis, video can't be beaten.

This is for kids and video does not work, what works is physical tuition and marking the track for them. Don't complicate the process, kids do not retain concepts they retain being shown for instance at a particular corner what is expected of them. if you ask a child to clean up his room he will not do it until shown because a child does not understand what clean up means. The same thing applies to driving, they have to be shown or learn by example as in following someone who is doing things you expect the child to do. It does not take them long but it is necessary.

Kart shops make a killing by telling new starters that DA for kids is necessary and it is all BS. They compound this by saying an M4 + GPS is the panacea of all things karting and that is more BS.

[Belatti]

I forget about this topic!!!

After what I posted I solved my problems and been using the EVO4 and an MXL Pro with no problems at all.

Never understood GPS manager at all, but I can live with that.

Dont tell me "read the manual" as its badly written, has poor information and you simply cant do the things that it teaches you (or the buttons doesnt work or a bugs crashes your computer)

Anyways, interesting discussion about the GPS. I found a solution: did 2 laps in my street car: one following the outside line of the track and another following the inside. I export GPS data to excel and plot the traces with the track limit lines and the racing car lines. With excel you can modify gps coordinates to "fix" the traces, knowing one place the car passed (from the video).

[tristancliffe]

So, I got my Evo4 + TG Dash, and it's working well. A typo in the GPS coords of Donington didn't help my delta time, but as it was so wet it didn't really matter.

Thought my brake pressure sensor had broken (output constantly about 1.3 volts), but I think that channel 2 (and linear damper pot) has gone wrong somewhere and was interfering with channel 1 (brake pressure).

Anyway, it's all going well, and the software is easy to use, especially once I'd got a decent User Profile sorted out. But how can I plot a graph from the entire session? E.g. water temp over 25 minutes of recording? I can get it over one lap, and I can use the Channel Report to see max, min, average etc, but I'd like to plot it if possible?

Anyone know?

[tristancliffe]

Too late to edit - I know that I can see an overview of it on the graph of the laps at the bottom of the screen, but you can't get values, and if more than one channel is selected you get a fuzzy mess that you can't understand.....

[Casper]

Not having done that I would think the only way is to export the data to excel and do it from there.

[JNWRF01]

I 100% agree on DA not being for kids... I have a GoPro on their karts for them to learn and the AIM GPS systems so I can check I have set the kart right/geared correctly/engines working fine etc etc.

When I have shown then their traces - I might as well ask them to do more maths homework. But the GPS has shown me immediately the flaws in their techniques - eg braking pressure etc. So it's great for Dads if not next kids..

[Casper]

Originally Posted by JNWRF01

I 100% agree on DA not being for kids... I have a GoPro on their karts for them to learn and the AIM GPS systems so I can check I have set the kart right/geared correctly/engines working fine etc etc.

When I have shown then their traces - I might as well ask them to do more maths homework. But the GPS has shown me immediately the flaws in their techniques - eg braking pressure etc. So it's great for Dads if not next kids..

That is the whole point, it can't show flaws as the system is nowhere near accurate enough. What it can show you is the GPS is flawed for any type of accuracy you think you are getting. Every dad thinks he needs GPS in sprint karting but all it does is lead you up the garden path and makes the kart shops richer. I can teach a child to be quicker around a circuit while you are looking at a GPS track map.

As for the track recognition, the GPS will plot the coordinates it is at any track it has been to an automatically pull up the track map. Early on there was an issue with the proximity of two circuits under a certain distance but they did away with altitude IIRC to fix this issue.