Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!kitty!larry From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Data Acquisition on a Kart Summary: Various products available... Message-ID: <4242@kitty.UUCP> Date: 12 Dec 90 19:17:51 GMT References: Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY Lines: 37 In article , froncio@caip.rutgers.edu (Andy Froncioni) writes: > My brother and I run a small karting team in Canada. Lately, > we've wanted to collect some engine data on-board in order > to "profile" the race tracks. > ... > We are in need of a small, light data acquisition board that > would collect data from about 4 channels every second or > so, for about 20 minutes time. The board should be able > to download its data to an IBM compatible PC. The most > important feature is that it should be self-contained (no > external power supply). Such data acquisition systems are available from a nuber of vendors. One of the lower cost systems is sold through such distributors as Omega Engineering (Stamford, CT), Cyber Research, etc. This system has a maximum of four channels, and it can be had fully equipped for less than $ 1K. > With the same application in mind (namely, karting) we would > also like to know if there are controllers that are available to use > input from a few ports (temperature, rpm's, etc...) and auto- > matically determine settings for a couple of different stepper > motors (which control fuel/air mix, exhaust-port length, etc...). > Again, the same requirements apply that the unit must be > self-contained power-wise. You could use a small industrial PLC supplied with a battery power option, but you may not like the price. By the time you purchased the PLC, I/O options and development software for use on a PC, you will probably spend at least $ 3K. You could also go the route of a single-board computer with on-board basic interpreter and A/D, D/A, such as the Octagon SBS-2300, with your initial cost being less than $ 1K. However, while *I* would go the Octagon route, there is less high-level programming support for control applications than available with most PLC's. Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. "Have you hugged your cat today?" VOICE: 716/688-1231 {boulder, rutgers, watmath}!ub!kitty!larry FAX: 716/741-9635 {utzoo, uunet}!/ \aerion!larry