Having acquired a EeePC 4G XP this last month, I had been testing it out for track datalogging.

This past weekend was the true test of this laptop as I used it for three days straight at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah during the Redline Time Attack, on our Street - AWD Class Evo.

Specs:

Eee PC 4G
Windows XP
4GB internal SD storage
8GB optional SD storage (side port)
Upgrade to 2gb RAM (from 512mb)

Using Evoscan v0.99 for logging
DataLogLab for quick log visualization
EcuFlash v1.30 for tuning and flashing
Keyspan USB to serial adapter for connection to Zeitronix Wideband
Tactrix OBD2 Cable

The #1 advantage to using this small laptop is that I was able to place it into the glove box along with a portable G2X lap logging device as well. With all the cables and everything. It just blew me away that all this fit into the glovebox. No having to deal with mounting devices or anything and it stood up to everything the driver did with the car in a competition setting. Bouncing off track curbing, hard braking, cornering G's, etc. The laptop NEVER skipped a beat. Full logs every single session.

Here are some photos of how I set it up in the car:

The laptop itself:


In the glove box with the G2X and all wiring:


The Evo it was all in:


We would enter the pre-grid, I would start logging, and shove it in the glovebox. After the session he would come into the hot lane and I would pull the laptop out and stop the logging. No drama the whole weekend, it just worked, and worked well.

In between sessions I would pull the log off the EeePC with a USB thumb drive and move it over to my normal Acer tuning laptop and go over the logs. I did this for speed, I could see using the EeePC for this as well but it would take a bit longer to go over these huge logs with it.

I would run the full sessions logs through DataLogLab and make changes to the tune where I felt it needed it. This data was invaluable for me as a tuner as Miller Motorsports Park is at 4300 ft altitude. I bit different than almost sea level altitude I usually tune at in the California Bay Area.

Here is the log of the final Time Attack session this weekend:

Overview of the whole log:


Zoomed into lap 1:


Zoomed into lap 2, a cool down lap:


Zoomed into lap 3, the final lap:


And lap 3, with just Wideband AFR and TPS:


So far this logging solution is passing with flying colors. It made a huge difference in the ability to log and quickly make changes to the car in a competition situation. With some real heat this past weekend, a higher elevation and very close competition, it was an indispensable tool.

 

You need to build a wifi antennae in the car with a base station and antennae. Real time logging and tuning!

 

love looking at the TPS on the track :P

yeah im going to get a 9" EeePC when they come out...

 

If you guys really want in car logging and real-time live display, why don't you just make a CarPC. I've had one in my car for a couple years now. It has a motorized touch screen as well, so you can make live gauges for anything you want or just view realtime graphing, etc.

It really doesn't cost that much and isn't too hard to do. It just seems like not many people know about CarPCs and their capabilities. It's all run right of the ignition, so the computer turns on with the car and shuts down gracefully when the car is shut off.

Nothing better than having in-car logging and a live display as well, not to mention the other benefits of a CarPC, like GPS, music, movies, games, WiFI, whatever floats your boat.


Eric

 

Hey Eric,

While a CarPC would be a good solution for my personal Evo, It wouldn't work very well for customers and track tuning.

The EeePC is great as I can just swap it around cars with no issues.

 

Sweet setup, I do the same thing. I run my logs to a flash drive then review and make changes on my home computer. It's the easiest way.

 

Does this little bugger have USB ports? Is the processing power of the unit good enough to go through 4 minute long longs at normal logging rate logging 10 or so variables. Do you think it could handle a drop off the seat?

 

3 USB ports.

It logged the 20 minute track sessions before the Time Attack no problem all weekend long. The log in the first post is probably over 6 minutes long.

I was logging more than 10 variables.

It already flew off my seat while testing with no issues.

 

I was looking at an Eee but its so damn small even the new 900 series is tiny. My fat hands will mistype all the time. Im glad it worked out for you.

 

Great laptop i have the 4gig model and the 12 gig. The solid state drive is fast but the keyboard takes some getting use to Ive used my AEM with it no problems whatsoever

 

dan l,

Here are screenshots of a 15.5 min log done on Friday at the track. 17 variables logged.



Zoomed in on a small section:



Lots of samples/sec

 

Nice. I was just wondering if the processor could keep up with the bigger files but it must have a nice mix of ram and solid state hard drive that helps out. When I get a few bucks I'm going to purchase one in the fall. Now that I can log my DSM with Evoscan I can use it in both cars which works out really great for me.

Also, how long do the batteries last? That is my main concern now that I think of it. Does it use much energy in sleep mode. When I go to the track for a test and tune day that runs from 10am till 4pm. If I can make 30 runs with 10 min of computer on time each run and hibernate in between that would be awesome!

 

Yea I am sure the solid state helps. I upgraded it to 2gb ram from 512mb standard. That cost an extra $50. You could probably get away with 1gb ram total but I wanted to make 100% sure it would have no problem with 20-30min track session logs.

That is a good question that I still need to find out. On friday it last three 20 min sessions. 100% at the beginning and 70% at the end of the third. I plugged it into my inverter in the car after that just to make sure it would last. I have a feeling it would have. With the laptop closed and the monitor not on I bet it barely sucks power.

On fri-saturday, the real time attack days, I plugged it into the garage wall socket after every session just to be 100% sure.

 

A nice CarPC for viewing realtime data, logging and editing the ROM = COOL!

 

Good point. I'm always thinking about permanent installs rather than portable.

The EeePC definitely looks like a nice solution.