TrckrX - OBD-II data logger

[jayjaya29]

A buddy of mine who is an electrical engineer had to design and build a project using microcontrollers for a class he was taking. He wanted it to be OBD2 based since he has quite a bit of experience with the system. I recommended a data logger and readout and after some brainstorming (and a shit ton of work) this is the result...

Wanted the whole thing to fit into the sunglass cubby (which was the toughest constraint on the project). Prototyping with cardboard template:


1/4 ABS plastic sheet to build the enclosure:


Everything mounted on the face, on the left of the LCD screen you have button to start the logging (red LED above button to tell you when its logging). SD card below the LCD screen and power button to the right:


How it sits in the sunglass cubby, its not a perfect fit (was our first time working with ABS substrate), but its securely mounted with super high strength velcro (the type used with EZ passes):


Guts of the system:


Mounted in the car:


So what does it do?
The LCD displays instantaneous speed, RPMs, and coolant temperature.
When you press the data logging button it starts to write to the SD card every second the following parameters: speed, RPMs, coolant temp, lateral g-forces

The whole device is entirely powered by a hookup to the OBD2 port.

Used it for the first time last Sunday during an AutoX event. Worked damn near flawlessly. My favorite part is that I can keep an eye on coolant temps (fuck the buffered cluster gauge) and flick my aux fan on with a hardwired switch when temps get a little too hot.

Full report written by my friend here with a TON more technical details (and videos of the device working and my horrible driving skills):
ECE 4760 TrcrkX - OBD II Data Logger

[DBlair126]

Fit/Finish aside that's pretty damn awesome. Well done!

Maybe I'll be able to actually do a cool project in my mechanical engineering major. over 3 years in and still no awesomeness

[aavi]

That is a very cool project...I can understand the finish of it, but I would actually buy it if sold like that as long as it served the purpose (meh)

I she thinking making more of them?

[cracky]

now thats a badass little project.


you can do a lot of cool things with arduino's too(something else you may be interested in looking into if you havent heard of it)

or
For $13 use a ELM327 bluetooth dongle and the free version of Torque on an Android phone.

[jayjaya29]

I think the fit/finish could be improved. I have some left over ABS sheet if I get the urge to make a better fitting enclosure.

All the components you need to make one yourself is in the link I posted above:
ECE 4760 TrcrkX - OBD II Data Logger
Just need to have really really good soldering skills.

There is some more info as to what exactly you would need to build your own here:
TrckrX - OBD-II data logger for AutoX and Track Days - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum

[jayjaya29]

Just got posted on hackaday.com:

OBD-II TrckrX: data logging in a BMW E36 M3 - Hack a Day

[eatsleeplax]

Very cool. I also have torque on android and their track add on which will videotape and put live data on top of the video. Gives me the idea to make something in my ece classes that uses my gopro

[PurduinaM3]

Looks awesome man! Good job and like I said, if you ever make it down to Nassau I'd love to try it out in my car for shits and giggles!

[jayjaya29]

Originally Posted by PurduinaM3

Looks awesome man! Good job and like I said, if you ever make it down to Nassau I'd love to try it out in my car for shits and giggles!

I'm aiming for the event on June 24th.