Tire Temp Prototype - with a little luck a product soon

[PeteInCT]

Here's a very early view of a Tire Temperature device that we have been working on recently (well, actually many months : ). This solution, when completed, will allow you to take accurate tire temp readings at the track very quickly and have all the data logged on an iPhone, iPad or more recent Android phones, as well as support related calculations (temp differences, etc) that will be stored and retrievable any time. Some of the system attributes are:

• Portable - runs off a 9v battery
• VERY accurate - to 0.1 degrees centigrade
• Interfaces to your smartphone/tablet using the new LE Bluetooth technology - low power consumption and VERY fast bluetooth connection time (less than 1 second)
• Uses infrared technology that can 'see' the heat in the tire carcass
• Has a laser LED 'pointer' for quick, accurate aiming of the IR temp sensor device on your tire
• logging feature allows you to take 12 tire temp readings very quickly, and analyze the data afterwards
• number of readings are only limited by your handheld device memory (each reading session uses very little storage)

There is still a fair amount of work on the IPhone/IPad side to create a user friendly interface, but the basics of the system including all of the microcontroller coding that supports all temp/humidity sensors and the bluetooth communications is pretty much completed. My goal is to have the whole system commercially available by the springtime.


Alpha Version 1.0 Prototype Circuitry



Infrared Temp Sensor and Laser LED



IPad display of 12 IR temp samples + ambient temp and humidity readings



IPad display of inside/middle/outside readings for each tire and the temp difference calculations



Enclosure for Beta Prototype

 

[Berol]

In for updates

 

[WinterSucks]

Looks like someone has been shopping on Sparkfun?

 

[VoodooBoss]

Very cool and good luck with your product.

 

[PeteInCT]

Looks like someone has been shopping on Sparkfun?

Mostly digi-key and Adafruit.

-Pete

 

[ls110]

Pete - This is going to be a great tool. Count me in as one of your early testers!!

 

[dmichaels]

Can't wait to see it in action at the track Pete. Very cool

 

[F.D. Sako]

Is there a suitcase full of electronics associated with that hand held? like the early cell phones ;D

 

[PeteInCT]

Is there a suitcase full of electronics associated with that hand held? like the early cell phones ;D

Not at all. The prototype boards make changing the circuitry easy and flexible but they do take up space. What is quite complex is the software behind all this, but those are just bytes of data in flash memory ;D

 

[WinterSucks]

Will one of the features be to dump out a file that can be imported into a fancy racing data logger? That way one could track temps over the course of the track. Certainly not important at my level, but could be very useful for some.

 

[PeteInCT]

Will one of the features be to dump out a file that can be imported into a fancy racing data logger? That way one could track temps over the course of the track. Certainly not important at my level, but could be very useful for some.

this is not a real time on track temperature login system, it's meant to be used in the hot picture in the paddock. However, what you're implying is actually also in the works but is much farther off from an availability standpoint. The major issue is the sensors are very sensitive and installing them in the wheel wells of a race car poses technical challenges that still need to be overcome.

 

[WinterSucks]

this is not a real time on track temperature login system, it's meant to be used in the hot picture in the paddock. However, what you're implying is actually also in the works but is much farther off from an availability standpoint. The major issue is the sensors are very sensitive and installing them in the wheel wells of a race car poses technical challenges that still need to be overcome.

You definitely don't need something as powerful right now, but I have switched from using PICs (and recently an Arduino because I got lazy : ) to the STM32 ARMs.

Built-in USB and CAN, 24-bit A/D, 32-bit ARM processor, etc.. It's like Christmas in a little tiny box!

 

[PeteInCT]

You definitely don't need something as powerful right now, but I have switched from using PICs (and recently an Arduino because I got lazy : ) to the STM32 ARMs.

Built-in USB and CAN, 24-bit A/D, 32-bit ARM processor, etc.. It's like Christmas in a little tiny box!

we should trade notes sometime. the Arduino base for this system has enough I / O memory and clock speed.my other designs utilize a mega 256. I also have a galileo board coming in.

if you know someone who can program well under iOS let me know.

 

[PeteInCT]

Beta prototype finally completed. Without a custom circuit board it wasn't easy fitting it all into a case even this size, which is at least twice a large as it needs to be and it's more delicate than the final version would. But it's working perfectly!

I'll be testing it at Limerock Park on 10/24 and 10/25.



-Pete

 

[ls110]

Beta prototype finally completed. Without a custom circuit board it wasn't easy fitting it all into a case even this size, which is at least twice a large as it needs to be and it's more delicate than the final version would. But it's working perfectly!

I'll be testing it at Limerock Park on 10/24 and 10/25.

Looking good Pete. Let us know how the testing goes.