Category: Racing News
FPT Industrial breaks a Guinness World Record, recorded by Datron Technology.
Piloted by Fabio Buzzi, the 1700+ HP boat stormed to a new World Record of 277.515 km/h over an average of 1km.
For more information and pictures, please click here
Please take a look at the PDF document below for more information on:
– Installation
– Which channels are available
– Calibration
– KIT license examples (Track Mode, overlaying data etc)
– ZX-10R Special Channels
There’s a common misconception in motor sport that data logging will always be prohibitively expensive. This view seems to widely held, particularly amongst bike racers. Actually this is a bit of a myth and isn’t necessarily true. A basic Datron 2D kit system can cost as little as £1,900: even if you were to add 2 suspension pots into the equation, you’re still only looking at a cost of approximately £2,300 excluding VAT. Now when you consider that teams have very limited track time to finely tune their racing set-up, and that it can cost bike racing teams tens of thousands of pounds just to be in a championship for a year, the cost of a 2D system seems comparatively minor. But do motorcycle racers really need the sophistication of a 2D kit logging system? Couldn’t the information be provided equally well by using an ECU with internal logging?
What sort of information will a basic 2D system give a bike racer?
A basic data logger with 2 suspension pots will tell the rider the GPS track position and speed, the suspension movement and suspension acceleration, the RPM, and therefore the gearing, the throttle response, the wheel speed using the supplied sensor and the lap times supplied on a mini-dash. In essence that’s pretty much all of the information any motorcycle racer would ever need, served up for a reasonable price.
Why do racing teams use 2D?
- The 2D kit system is small and ideally suited for use on motor bikes. It has a high channel count, logging capacity and fast sample rates. The isolated inputs save money and set-up time by allowing the use of the existing bike sensors. The 2D sensors and software have been specifically developed for bike use, and are not simply modified versions of car or cart applications. The 2D kit system is also scalable and has been designed for future expansion.
- 2D loggers are CAN-capable and will record all data from most ECU’s: all signals from the motor and chassis can be analysed with the same powerful 2D software. 2D loggers are also economical, flexible and transportable and can be transferred to other bikes for future use.
- The 2D system is designed for race bike needs and has been developed using rider feedback. The software has been designed specifically for bikes, and the hardware-design ensures fast set-up and the sensors are small and lightweight.
- The 2D system comes complete with logger, dash, loom and software. The system is modular and can be added to and expanded if the need arises.
So, why not just use an ECU with internal logging?
In theory racers could do just this, but there are limitations. An ECU’s primary task is to monitor and look after the engine. Therefore the ECU will be compromised for logging purposes and will not be able to deliver the depth and quality of information you might need. You can, of course, buy a very expensive ECU, but the costs are prohibitive and they are generally too large for bike use. Most ECU loggers have only a small recording capacity, few spare channels, low sample rates and generally low resolution analogue inputs.
Go Racing Developments was started by owner Mark Sadler in 2003. The company specialises in the construction and development of all aspects of on or off road racing motorcycles. Mark originally trained in the aerospace industry, but was obliged to pursue his other passion for motorcycles following the downturn in the aircraft industry. He started working for Alfs Motorcycles in West Sussex and was instrumental in helping them win the KRC Motorcycle Racing Endurance Championship. Mark then worked for Ricardo where he specialised in prototype manufacturing and assembly. His final destination before establishing Go Racing Developments was working with Tom Walkinsham (of the Orange Arrows F1 team) in Indy Car technology in the race engine arm of the business. Mark specialises in preparing race bikes for meetings and for this he relies heavily on data acquisition systems like the 2D system. Datron was fortunate to catch up with Mark earlier this week and talk to him about data logging, the 2D system and what the future holds for his company and Datron.
Why do you choose to use the 2D system in preference to other data acquisition systems?
"Being able to analyse and understand what the rider and the machine are experiencing is a crucial part of motorcycle racing. I've been using telemetry for a number of years now to help with machine set-up and rider development, and it's made a huge difference. However, I find the 2D datalogging system the best to work with personally. There are maybe other systems available that could possibly give you more information, but the 2D system is the best all round performer in my opinion. It's not just the quality of the components: it's the interaction of the software that makes it special. Some other data logging systems will show you a lot more information, but interpreting that data can be a bit of a nightmare. With 2D I know where to look for the information I need: you can't necessarily say that for other systems."
What's so special about the software then?
"All data loggers will give you vast amounts of information, but the problem for most of them is in how they display and present the information. It can be very hard to read and process all the data. 2D, however, is much more straightforward. You can tell that the developers have put an awful lot of effort into developing this software, and that means that interpreting information is far easier to do. It's intuitive I suppose. From my point of view, it's proved to be a godsend. I've used other systems but it can take 2 or 3 times as long to try and find the information I want. With 2D I can access this data instantly. That's why when riders come in to me with bikes that aren't performing like they should, even though some other person's used a data logger on the bike, I can get to the root of the problem quickly and fix it. Information's great, but not if you don't know how to use it."
Have you got any future plans in the pipleline?
"I'm hoping to be working with Datron, in collaboration with a UK-based suspension manufacturer called Nitron in the next year. They're based down in Whitney like me. They've had a large presence in car suspension sector for some years, and have tried to break into the motorcycle shock absorber market. Unfortunately it didn't really work out. From my point of view their products just weren't suitable for racing bikes. We had a meeting with the company and now I'm helping them to develop a new set of shocks and fork kit suitable for motorcycles."
"To be able to do this, we'll need a large amount of data to show us how the shocks and the forks are performing. That's where 2D comes into the equation. It impossible to develop a new product unless you have a reliable and accurate data system that can tell you how the changes you make to the product are improving or altering it. John Grist's keen on working with us on this, and we think we can really make it work. If we achieve what we set out to do, it'll be good for Nitron, good for Go Racing and good for Datron. What's more it'll be good to get another British product out there."
Every successful working business relationship relies on trust, co-operation and a pooling of either resources or expertise. Not all these relationships are guaranteed to be a success, but when the elements gel together well, they can prove to be particularly effective and mutually beneficial. Datron Technology has been in such a working relationship with Oxford Technical Solutions (OxTS) for over 10 years now, and the relationship continues to go from strength to strength. So, what makes this working partnership such a success? What were the mutual advantages and benefits that the two companies identified, and how does the relationship work in practice? We managed to catch up with Brendan Watts, Director of OxTS earlier this week and asked him for his opinions on the matter. In the first of this two part interview, Brendan discusses how the relationship first began and how it functions in practice, and in part two he talks about how he sees the relationship developing in the coming months and years.
OxTS designs and manufactures world leading products, by combining the best of Inertial Navigation and GPS/GNSS. Its focus is on low-cost INS, using MEMS gyros and precision accelerometers. It uses Kalman filters to extract the maximum information from GPS to deliver high accuracy measurements with low drift rates. They are a small company dedicated to designing simple to use products that deliver reliable results and back it up with first class service and support. The working relationship with Datron Technology began after a chance meeting at an exhibition in 2001. Both Datron and OxTS were relatively small companies at the time and both were looking to consolidate their respective positions in the market place. OxTS was looking to expand its product range into the automotive market and was looking for sales partners, as they preferred not to deal directly with end users. Datron had extensive experience of the automotive industry and was already dealing with the type of customer that OxTS wanted to target. The rest, like they say, is history.
Can you remember that first meeting?
"I think we met at an exhibition some time ago, but I'm ashamed to say I can't exactly remember when. Datron were making a product at the time which, whilst it wasn't a direct competitor to ours, was used by the same type of people. I think John (Grist) would agree that our product did a lot more than Datron's did, so they were of the view that we were competition. I guess John was interested in us because of that. We were of the opinion that Datron's expertise and extensive knowledge of the automotive industry could prove to be very useful to us. "
"I can't exactly remember how the working relationship initially got started, and by that I mean who made the first move. We were trying to sell our product to the UK and because there were only 2 or 3 of us at the time, we didn't really have the numbers to devote one of us solely to sales. It occurred to me that it was going to be better to sell through people who had experience in this market place, and new all the major players in the sector. We started distributing with John and Datron around about the same time as we started selling through a lot of our other international distributors. It made sense to sub-contract the sales process to outside distributors, rather than have our own dedicated sales people at OxTS. If we'd gone down the other road, we might've finished up with just one sales person dealing with the whole of the UK, and we would have therefore missed out on Datron's experience and in depth knowledge of the market. Besides, we couldn't have a dedicated salesperson for the French market because he couldn't be flying off every time a customer, or prospective customer, wanted to discuss issues with him. So, we followed John's advice and negotiated individual distribution and sales deals in different countries. We're certainly glad we followed this advice, and are really grateful. I guess in essence, John saw our product as being useful to his customers, and we recognised that John and Datron were the experts in knowing who these customers were. So it was a mutually beneficial arrangement."
So, how does the relationship work?
"Originally Datron sold just the RT 3000 for us in 2002, but since then we've added the RT2000, RT 4000 and the Inertial + system. The UK actually proved to be a difficult place to market to initially, a bit of a tough nut as it were, more so than other areas of Europe. But Datron went out and promoted it to people in the UK and interest and sales started to pick up. The advantage of using a company like Datron is that it has an exemplary reputation, and that generates interest and enthusiasm."
"We work together as a unified team: both sides of the business complement each other. We view Datron as being the sale's arm of OxTS. We do the marketing, and when we get any enquiries we then pass them on to Datron. From Datron's point of view I think the relationship with OxTS has helped them to get a foothold in markets they might previously have been unable to. It's the same in other territories we deal with, and works in precisely the same way. We ask that Datron, and the other companies we partner, go round their respective countries and attend exhibitions to promote OxTS products. They'll do the demonstrations at these exhibitions, and we'll provide whatever help might be necessary. Datron have their own demo equipment, but can borrow any other equipment they might need."
There can be no doubt that riding a motorcycle can be a thrilling experience. However, with speed also comes risk. That unfortunately is the problem of riding on only two wheels. Accidents do happen, and because of the nature of motorcycles these accidents can be especially nasty. Of course motorcycle leathers can offer some protection to the rider. However, the key to surviving any high speed bike crash lies in protecting and cushioning impacts to the upper torso and neck. Engineers and scientists believed that the solution to the problem lay in using the type of airbag technology found in cars: unfortunately, the cost, bulk and the practicality of incorporating airbag technology into motorcycle clothing presented their own set of problems.
2D were called upon to provide a small, lightweight, standalone datalogger/ sensor package capable of detecting the conditions for a crash, in order to trigger the airbags. 3 accelerometers and 6 angular rate sensors can detect even the most subtle of movements; combined with complex algorithms, the sensors can recognise the difference between a rider tucking the front, and snapping into a highside.
This is not the first time that 2D have adapted a system for use on the athlete, rather than the machine… using strain gauges reveals just how much force a pair of skis are subjected to during a jump, and GPS/ accelerometer technology on horses can quickly diagnose any problems (e.g. overloading one particular leg, lameness). 2D have even stretched to football, with GPS technology aiding in tracking players and revealing tactics!
So how does the Dainese D-Air suit work?
The Dainese D-Air suit uses an Intelligent Protection System that combines an air bag system with highly-evolved micro processor technology to increase the overall level of protection available to motorcyclists. The Dainese D-Air Race suit system uses a GPS sensor to measure a rider's speed combined with movement sensors which are built into the suit and which differentiate between a normal racing movement and a crash situation. These sensors can identify a high-side slide and the wearer tumbling across the track, which triggers the in-built airbags, and a low-side slide off the bike, which doesn't. The bags are triggered and inflated within 45 milliseconds within the suit itself and deflate after five seconds or so, and therefore, all being well, the rider can get back on the bike and continue racing. It is currently the only airbag suit on the market that works wirelessly without any connection to a motorcycle.
The Dainese system comes as a result of over 10 years of research between the company, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Padova and the German 2D Company which specialises in data collection, processing and development software. It has been developed with the help of motorcycle racers like Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi, Marco Simoncelli and Leon Haslam, and is now extensively used in Moto GP.
Does the D-Air suit have other applications?
In addition to its safety features, the D-Air Racing suit also features data acquisition software developed by German company, 2D, which also supplies software to some of the top teams in MotoGP and F1, providing riders with an effective tool to monitor their riding performance. With this new data acquisition software, the suit is able to record telemetry data, which can then be downloaded and displayed on a computer. Its functions include recording lap time data, assessment of braking spaces and lines through bends. Acceleration data is also available and the system is compatible with Google Earth, which enables plotting of racing lines on a mini map.
The company is also planning to bring out a street version of its racing suit in the next few months. The D-Air Street shares many of the features of the Racing suit, but has been specifically designed for street use, as the name implies. The D-Air Street has a sensor on the bike which is linked to the front wheel and recognises if the bike is involved in a collision or if it starts to slide.
We are always looking for more partners to work with, and if you have an application that you want to discuss, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Bruce Dunn, a bike tester and journalist for Motorcycle News and Performance Bike has been in the industry for many years and certainly knows a thing or two about data logging. He's worked with other competing systems over the last decade or so, and understands and appreciates better than most, the qualities that make certain systems better than others. In the second and final part of his interview, Bruce tells Datron how the superb aftercare and support offered to customers by the staff at Datron give it the edge over the rest of the competition and all about his new venture to use 2D for performance testing on track days to demonstrate its potential to new and inexperienced motorcyclists.
Did you find the transition to the 2D system difficult and was help and support on hand when you needed it?
"I've known John Grist for years. When we first started testing bikes this way, we used Microsat equipment. When we moved onto the 2D system, I told John I wasn't really that keen on the standard software provided and asked if that was a problem. John said if you weren't completely happy with the software and needed something changing, he'd sort it out. The beauty of the 2D software is that it allows adaption to a wide range of applications."
"I was surprised at this and didn't really expect such a level of aftercare, but Datron were quite happy to tweak the software for my needs, because I needed a more sophisticated performance measuring system. They asked me for a list of what I wanted and went away and tweaked a piece of bespoke software specifically to meet these needs. It's alright having all this equipment, but if you do encounter a problem or have an issue, you need to know that you've got the support to back this up. This is ‘key' as far as I'm concerned. Alex and John at Datron have been great and are always ready to offer support at both events and during normal office hours."
What about the plans to use 2D for performance testing on track days and club races?
"I'm looking to start offering speed testing at track days and club races for anyone who might be interested in getting accurate speed testing done. The aim is to offers riders an affordable way of finding out what they're doing, and where they might be able to make improvements to their riding. I'm quite an experienced rider myself, and have raced at every level; club racing, national, European and even a Grand Prix 250cc wildcard entry in 2004 for being the top British rider at the time. I'm also involved in all the performance testing for Motorcycle News, Performance Bikes and Bike magazines. So I understand things from a rider's point of view and know what type of things they encounter when riding a bike."
"The testing's aimed predominantly at club riders who are learning their way. Experienced riders and those at the top end of the sport already have systems in place for performance testing. But there's a gap there for track days, novices and restricted club riders to learn about their riding techniques and abilities and discover some of the ways in which they might improve these. I can easily fix the equipment to the bikes in a matter of minutes and run a quick software check, and then they're off on the circuit. Because I know what I'm doing I can provide them with lap time readouts, in-line G, lateral G, lean angle and how they're braking on the circuit, and reference these measurements against the data I already picked up about the circuits over the years."
"Obviously we're not trying to turn them into a Rossi overnight, but it should prove helpful and will act as a measurement. It should be good for both Datron and me: I can offer my services to those who might wish to use them and I can also demonstrate what the 2D system can do: that could prove to be useful for John and Datron, as these riders might turn out to be potential customers."
Anyone wanting to take advantage of Bruce's new track day and club racing testing services should contact Bruce via Datron Technology: info@datrontechnology.co.uk
If you ever need to gather information about motorcycle testing and data logging, then the best person to speak to is a professional tester. Datron Technology Ltd has been fortunate enough to have worked alongside Bruce Dunn for many years now and value his opinion highly. Bruce is a motorcycle tester and journalist, working for some of the most respected newspapers and magazines in the industry, notably Motorcycle News, Performance Bike and Bike magazine. He's tried a variety of data loggers throughout his career, but has learned from experience that only the best equipment can deliver reliability, ease of use and ongoing support. That's why he's an advocate of the 2D data logging system supplied by Datron. We were fortunate to manage to catch up with Bruce recently. Over the course of the next couple of articles he'll tell us his view of the 2D system, and why he rates it so highly.
Why would you recommend Datron's 2D data logging system?
"When we test the bikes, the main thing I'm responsible for, and kitted up to do, is the performance testing. So, when a reader reads Motorcycle News and other publications I've been involved with, they want to see that the bike's been tested properly and accurately. That means we don't rely on the bike's speedometer: we use an independent means of verifying the actual speed of the bike. I've been doing this sort of thing for 15 years now, and I know I need to have the best equipment available to do my job properly. That's why I use the 2D system. Cost for me really isn't a factor: I know there are cheaper systems out there, but they don't deliver. The 2D system we use which costs us around £2,500, and we mainly use the GPS functions which give us around 10 channels of data. We don't have any problems with signal dropouts, and that's very important. With some of the testing situations we've been involved with, it's critical to know the equipment we use is accurate and reliable."
"I've been all over Europe and have conducted lots of one-off tests, like testing a new MV or a new Ducati, or we've managed to get hold of a new Masano for the afternoon: in these circumstances to have anything else but the best system available for testing is out of the question. You've got to have the best gear, and that's the 2D system. You only get the one chance to test, so it has to be completely reliable. As I've already said there are cheaper systems that might be able to do the job, but you can't always rely on them. The 2D system always delivers without fail. It's robust and hardwearing and extremely accurate. You have to remember that it's a hostile environment on a motorcycle, so getting anything electronic to work is difficult at the best of times: yet the 2D system manages to do it time after time without any problems."
What makes the 2D system special?
"The 2D system has been described as intuitive, but that's only half the story. There's no doubt it's easier to use than other systems and logical, but because my job's media-related, I don't often have to go too deeply into the system and use some of the other available functions and channels: for example we don't look at the throttle position, as it's not relevant to what we're trying to test. If somebody gives me half a dozen bikes to test at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground or anywhere else, I can move from one bike to another and so on very quickly indeed using this system. In terms of ease of use and transportability, it's as good as anything out there. Years ago we had to use systems where you had to put a wheel-speed sensor on and measure wheel circumference, but the modern way of doing things using GPS systems like 2D is superb. The 2D system is intuitive and very easy to use and the analysis software is extremely easy to pick up and easy to read."
Bob Gray, a bike tester and journalist, currently working for MSS Colchester Kawasaki, knows a thing or two about data logging. He's worked with many competing systems over the last decade, and understands better than most what makes some systems better than others. In the second part of his interview, Bob tells Datron what he believes makes the 2D system unique, and what gives it the edge over the rest of the competition.
Why don't more data engineers choose the 2D system?
"What I've found over the years with people who use data logging equipment, is that they tend to stick with what they know and what they're used to. If people have used a Motec system or a PI system they'll always tell you it's the best and won't be prepared to try anything else. I guess that people stick to what they're comfortable with. It might not make sense in a competitive way, but that's just how it is. It's kind of like an aversion to change."
"It's slightly different for me because I've been forced through circumstances to use different systems over the years, and I've learned to approach them all with an open mind. In all the years I've never seen any good or valid reason for me to use anything other than 2D. I've never found any other system's that's as quick or simple to use. So it's worth remembering it's not only as competitive as the other systems, and certainly no more expensive than any other data logging system, but it's also much more efficient. Efficiency really is the key to this: it delivers the information you want quicker, so you can get more work done, and that makes me happy."
What makes 2D so efficient?
"The beauty of the 2D system is that it lets you gather information in 4 or 5 different ways, rather than having to follow a rigid set procedure like you do with some other data logging systems, like Motec and PI. It's like trying to copy text on Microsoft Word: you can click copy, or you can click Control C, or you can right click. Each method produces the same result. People who like to click buttons are happy as are those who like shortcuts. They get to where they want to be in the end, but by different methods. The 2D software is the same."
"There are so many different ways to achieve the same result and get the information you want with 2D. When you first look at the list of options on the menu it can seem a bit daunting, but you soon get used to it. I guess it's like learning to drive: when you first start you don't know how to work the gears, but soon you start to drive without having the need to think consciously about it. After a week or two of using the 2D software you begin to appreciate the fact that you're not hemmed in by it, or forced to work to somebody else's rules."
"The Magneti-Marelli system I have to use at the moment is a right pain because I can't change the shortcuts: I have to click on one button to bring up a list of options and another button to open something. It's so regimented, whereas with 2D I know I can tap a couple of buttons and all the information I need is there. I don't have to work too hard to get it. The best thing is it makes me look great, when in fact it's the system, but I wouldn't tell them that! All of which brings me back to what I mentioned earlier: people who've used one system most of their working lives, don't want to try other options because as soon as you put them in front of a strange piece of software, they don't look very good."
Is 2D's the best data logger in your opinion?
"I haven't worked with 2D for about 18 months now because the team I currently work for (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) were given a load of ‘free' Magneti-Marelli equipment and couldn't afford to buy any other: they just hadn't got the money to pay for another 2D licence as well. Although the Magneti -Marelli equipment does its job, it just can't compete with 2D. As far as I'm concerned 2D is the best and most efficient data logging system for motor cycles that I've ever worked with, and I look forward to using it again."