What is a Data Logger?
Functionality, Applications, and Requirements in the Automotive Industry
Data loggers play a vital role in modern vehicle development. They record and analyze vehicle data, especially during the testing of new vehicle models. With their help, control unit as well as bus communication within the vehicle can be monitored and all available analog as well as digital signals can be recorded in order to identify errors and evaluate road performance under real-life conditions.
What is a data logger?
Data loggers are electronic measurement devices that acquire and store data from various sources. In the automotive area, they record the data traffic (signal- or trace-based) of the vehicle bus systems, such as ETH, CAN FD or LIN, as well as analog data. These data can then be used for evaluation, optimization, and diagnostics.
Functionality
A typical automotive data logger includes several components:
- Processor – processes incoming signals
- Storage medium – to save the acquired data
- Interface to the vehicle busses – to communicate with the control units
- Real-time clock – for precise measurement data timestamps
- Power supply – wide-range voltage supply with intelligent power management via the on-board supply system or an internal battery
During measurement, the logger records the communication between the control units. Messages can be filtered and stored in different formats. Modern devices can also analyze the data in real time and transfer them, if necessary, via modem or WiFi to a company server or the desk of an employee.
Automotive applications
Data loggers are used in various areas of the automotive industry:
Vehicle testing
When developing new vehicles, it is essential to analyze the interaction of all electronic components. Data loggers can record sensor and control unit data, evaluate them, and provide an error analysis, if needed. Detailed data acquisition at an early stage is especially important for the introduction of new drive technologies, such as electric or hybrid drives.
Long-term and endurance tests
Data loggers are used to analyze the reliability and lifetime of components in durability tests. These tests help identify potential weaknesses early on. By recording vibration and oscillation patterns, developers can gain insight into material fatigue and wear.
Troubleshooting
For sporadic errors, a continuous data acquisition is essential. Data loggers can trigger critical events, record configured measurement data, and aid with error analysis. This helps workshops and developers locate and fix problems and sporadic malfunctions efficiently, saving time and money.
Fleet management and telematics
Modern fleet management systems use data loggers to monitor fuel consumption, road performance, and vehicle condition, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing costs as well as facilitating the planning of maintenance intervals and minimizing unexpected downtimes.
Autonomous driving and driver assistance systems
The ever-growing automation of driving changes and increases the requirements regarding data acquisition and storage. In addition to the usual automotive networks, such as CAN, LIN, or FlexRay, high speed data from cameras, radar systems, and LIDAR have to be recorded as well, e.g. in order to precisely analyze the vehicle environment. This helps developers optimize algorithms for autonomous driving.
IPETRONIK solutions
IPETRONIK offers a wide range of innovative data loggers for vehicle development, testing, and endurance runs. Our solutions are highly precise, ruggedized, and versatile. The most important technical features include:
- Modular design – adaptable systems for various testing requirements
- Support of all automotive interfaces – CAN, CAN FD, LIN, Ethernet, FlexRay
- Highly precise timestamps – direct synchronization at the measurement input via GPS or external time sources
- Real-time data analysis – fast processing of large amounts of data
- Cloud connection – data transmission and analysis via secure networks
IPETRONIK’s solutions have been designed for the specific requirements in vehicle development and testing. Our ruggedized, precise, and flexible devices are ideal for applications like fleet or endurance tests as well as the validation of new drive systems.
Product overview data logger
IPE853: Designed for fleet testing under extreme conditions, the IPE853 offers 16 CAN FD SIC inputs, 8 of which can be switched to LIN via software. It can be combined with M or Mx modules, such as the M-THERMO3 16 temperature measurement modules of the M3 series, for highly precise temperature measurements within the engine bay, gearbox, or exhaust system.
ARCOS 2: This modular and ultra-compact high-performance data logger has been developed for the vehicle networks of the future. With its Ethernet inputs, it is especially well-suited for complex ADAS tests including video recording.
IPE833: The IPE833 is perfect for the large-scale acquisition and analysis of vehicle operating data and parameters during fleet testing.
ETHOS 2: This high-performance data logger is designed for the validation of large and complex on-board supply system architectures. With 28 CAN FD inputs, an SFP+ interface, as well as 8 LIN and 2 FlexRay inputs, it is ideal for fleet testing and test drives.
Product overview software
IPEmotion PC: the powerful software package for PC applications regarding the acquisition, analysis, visualization, as well as storage of measurement data from various modules.
IPEmotion RT: With this data logger software for all IPETRONIK logger types, measurement data can be acquired, processed, visualized, and stored in real time.
dataLog: Designed for large and complex logger fleets, dataLog is a high-performance data logger software base for the acquisition, management, and analysis of extensive data streams.
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