SEAT Tests Vehicles Faster With HBM’s Autonomous DAQ System

Volkswagen Group specifications require that vehicles are tested during the development phase at SEAT in order to ensure that quality and durability standards are met. The challenge for the SEAT team was to set up a data acquisition (DAQ) system that is fast enough to provide more precise control over the instrumented parts and the entire data acquisition. The team developed an autonomous acquisition, communication and analysis process that meets all requirements – the ADAQ system. 

Together with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, SEAT has developed a system for an Autonomous Data AcQuisition process, also called ADAQ. It is comprised of QuantumX DAQ modules, catman software and an electronic circuit that guarantees both the power supply for all devices and the vehicle-pilot interaction. The following DAQ systems and sensors were used: the QuantumX MX840B universal module, the MX1615B strain gauge module and one CX22B-W datarecorder, thermocouples, accelerometers, strain gauge bridges, displacement sensors, and, in addition, 14 CAN channels and GPS. Due to the wide range of conditions in which the vehicle is likely to be tested, the QuantumX equipment was securely mounted in the vehicle. 

The Autonomous System

catman was the software of choice for the ADAQ project, because it provides many different automation options. The setup includes the auto launch of catman, the auto loading of the acquisition project and the automated execution of the first DAQ job. Data files are recorded every 10 minutes. If an unexpected error occurs, the ADAQ system will record up to the moment the error is detected. So no data will be lost. The following filename format is used: XXXYYMMDDHHMMSS, with each letter corresponding to digits for project identification, year, month, day, hour, minute and second. The start and stop acquisition triggers use GPS parameters. This feature that provides greater precision requires three conditions to be specified for starting and stopping acquisition: latitude and longitude coordinates and vehicle speed (greater than 0 to initiate acquisition and equal to 0 when the test is completed).

Control Device Communicates with Driver

A control device (CD) has been designed to control the electronics and distribute power to each module. Besides the CD, a voltage rectifier and a driver control box have been installed. Thanks to the electronic circuit implemented and the use of CX22B-W digital outputs, four different statuses have been established in order to notify the driver of the different ADAQ phases. This is made possible by two LEDs installed on the vehicle dashboard.

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