An embedded telemetry system has been designed and implemented into the solar-powered racing car "Mad Dog 3". The system shall assist strategists in making decisions during a solar car race. It delivers input data for a computer simulation model and for reconstruction of situations when failure occured.<br>System requirements have been analysed and the scope of solutions on the market has been explored. As a result, the choice of hardware and peripheral components has been made in favour of a microcomputer-based system.<p>Strategy-relevant quantities in the solar car are measured by transducers and at the same time displayed on panel meters in the cockpit.<br>Measured data are transmitted via bus system to the central processing unit, which consists of the world´s smallest PC. From the sensor signals the car´s performance data is computed.<br>As a result of computation, sets of performance data are sent to a laptop computer in one of the support vehicles by a pair of wireless modems.<p>For safety reason, the system has been designed redundant. There is a digital device and second-analogue-instrument for all key measurements.<br>Communication equipment between the solar car driver and support staff has been reviewed and recommendations have been given.<br>The project has been completed successfully, i.e. project aims have been reached. This was confirmed during a test drive. The range of the wireless modems has been proven satisfactory. CB radios have been shown not to be appropriate.<br>There is a wide scope of additional investigation and supplementary features, due to the flexible nature of a microcomputer-based system. |
