Data Acquisition & Instrumentation

Low-Cost Performance Data Logger System

Skills: Arduino & C++ | Electrical & Mechanical Design | Leadership

Tools: Visual Studio | MATLAB | Autodesk EAGLE

  • Conceptualized and delivered 50+ low-cost Arduino based data logger systems, tailored for seamlessly instrumenting bikes, and enabling a big data approach to field testing
  • Developed firmware code in Arduino and C++ to enable low-latency data logging to an SD card and support general user interactions with the device
  • Designed a serial based command line interface (CLI) and corresponding MATLAB package to facilitate easy interaction with the device via a USB cable. Notable features include:
    •  Designed and optimized a serial data transfer protocol to transmit files at the limits of the hardware (~1.2 MBps) with 100% reliability
    • Ability to reconfigure logger and update firmware remotely
  •  Built a database and corresponding MATLAB package to uniformly store all test session data with advanced functionality for local to cloud synchronization based on connection availability
  • Defined system requirements and mentored one extremely talented intern (now a full-time engineer) to execute on the electrical and mechanical design of the data logger assembly
  • Mentored three interns over several semesters to design various low-cost analog accelerometers, potentiometers, and mounting solutions.

Data Logger Features & Specs:

  • Internal 6-DOF Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
  • 18 Analog inputs (13-bit usable resolution)
  • 6 Digital inputs (CAN bus capable)
  • Maximum stable logging rate: 
    • 500 Hz (All channels) 
    • 1 kHz (without internal IMU) 
  • Maximum recording length: 2 hours
  • Mass: 112 grams (with Garmin mount)
  • Battery life: 10+ hours (continuous logging)
  • Rapid battery charging via micro USB

†Higher rates achievable with different channel configurations

Field Testing With Complex Telemetry

Skills: Transducer Design & Fabrication | Design of Experiments

Tools: 2D Meßsysteme DAQ | AiM Sportline DAQ | DTS Slice DAQ

  • Utilized three different commercial data acquisition (DAQ) systems to conduct controlled field testing experiments accross the globe with the following objectives:
    • Simulation model validation
    • Product performance evaluation
    • Optimization of bike setup in a race environment
  • Designed and conducted double-blind studies on instrumented bikes with multiple test subjects and numerous test runs for each rider/product combination to produce results with statistical significance
  • Employed anti-aliasing filters and other pre/post-processing techniques to measure the most accurate and time-synchronous signals possible with minimal noise
  • Designed, fabricated, and calibrated numerous force transducer devices using strain gauges and amplification circuits
  • Gained extensive experience with off-the-shelf sensors:
    • Accelerometers & Gyros
    • Barometric pressure sensors (elevation)
    • GPS modules
    • Hall-effect sensors & reed switches
    • Pitot tubes (multi-directional)
    • Potentiometers
    • Power meters