EvoErik

...uhm...was does that mean?

Regards,
Erik

Mestre

it means he's hacked the gibson. :O

Good job Fast.

FastHatch

It means that 8,000 lines of code from FC Tune can be compiled for and run in the Power FC with no change.

I'll get a development board and compiler ($2,500 ) for the NEC 78K/3 next week. The CPU is already out of production and NEC doesn't have any development stuff anymore, but I've found a company that borrows me their board and compiler they have left over.

The source also compiles on the Macintosh and for the Atmel microcontroller.

But I won't be able to write a new firmware for any other cars than Hondas. I would have to buy a PFC for each model to find out which sensor connects to which pin of the CPU, get manuals of each car and a car for testing. That's impossible.

I'd would be happy to publish the source code as open source, but i'm sure some people would take the source code to sell their own software and products.

I'll try to get FC Tune out within the next 2 or 3 weeks.

Here is the list of features for the FC Tune box:

- Gear based ignition
- Gear based injection
- 2 Step Rev Limiter
- Anti Lag
- Remote Boost Switch (Setting 1 / 2)
- Shift Light
- Fan Control
- EGT vs. ignition
- EGT vs. injection
- Input for wideband, can be used for auto tuning the fuel base maps
- Programmable inputs (ignition and injection correction)
- Programmable outputs

(Reaction time is about 0.1 second)


Target price is $200, but i think i'll offer one version with the above features and one with no additional inputs/outputs/features for less than $100. For the people who have already bought a Datalogit the software will be for free. I think that's fair for 6 month of work, spending hundreds of hours writing 20,000 lines of code so far.


There will be some more products in the future.


Andre

Nzo

Ok so the FC Tune box will be instead of the FC Datalogit correct? Could you give a comparison list of what features the FC Tune will have that the Datalogit does not and what the Datalogit has that the FC Tune will not include?

FastHatch

Right.

I've posted a feature list above. But i think most people are not looking for additional features but for the cheapest way as possible to tune the PFC with a laptop.

Nzo

Exactly what I'm looking for. So it will include logging abilities? Also what applications are you planning to support (nissan please?)

FastHatch

Monitoring and Logging is supported, that is a software feature, not a feature of the box.

All models are supported and it is only 1 programm, not 1 programm for each model like the Datalogit.

I just need to get some dialogs done and then i can release the software.

I guess most people have never used the features of the datalogit box.

APEXL8T

plug to play with generic communication subjects? The FASTHATCH box would manipulate any PFC as long as you have base parameters for that model car/PFC?
IF soooooo wooo hoooo!

Nzo

So the box and the software will be platform independent? What did you mean when you said you wouldnt be able to write a new firmware for any other cars than Hondas? Sorry for the stupid questions I'm a little slow with this stuff

Nzo

Also will it include an autotune feature or did you not pursue that?

FastHatch

Yes, the box and software will work with all models. There is no reason why you need one box for each model.


I'll try to write my own firmware for the PFC itself. I don't know yet if i even get the car to idle. Also that's just a private just for fun project, not something i'm looking to release.


Autotune will be included in one of the updates. The fuel correction map can be used as a target AF map and then the basemap is altered till this value is reached.

Nzo

Ok I see so the firmware is just for your emulation and testing? Something else I just thought of, I have no idea how the PFC works internally but would it be possible to tell a MAF based (L-Jetro) version of the PFC to control a MAP sensor (D-Jetro) or is this ability hardware dependent? Also could the PFC rev limiter be changed from fuel cut to ignition cut?

FastHatch

You could wire a MAP sensor to the pin where the PFC expect a MAF sensor, both have a operating voltage of 0 to 5V. Electronically it is the same A/D converter.

It would be also possible to use the TPS sensor as a load source.

You just have to set up either the pressure sensor settings or the air flow map properly.

It would be possible to change the rev limiter from fuel to ignition cut, but the firmware within the PFC would have to be rewritten. And if i am even able to do this than only for the Honda PFC.

Nzo

Hmm interesting, so there is no difference that you know of between the MAF and MAP based PFC in the hardware or firmware? I guess that could make sense since only one version of datalogit is able to interface with both the MAF and MAP versions of the PFC.

FastHatch

The firmware is different, you have different settings for MAP and MAF based PFCs.
You just have to set up the air flow (voltage) map properly. The air flow / mass is not the same if both sensors read the same voltage.

But does it matter if a setting is labeled Injection vs. MAP voltage or Injection vs. Air Flow voltage?

FastHatch

Would a G-Sensor be a cool feature?
Or logging the GPS position?

Nzo

G-sensor would be a nice feature but not if it significantly increases the price. GPS would be fun but probably even more expensive than a g-sensor.

NewbernD

iTrader: (1)

If this means "built-in accelerometer a la g-tech" then that could be a very useful way to test different runs while tuning (depending on how useful the software analysis was.)

If you mean skid-pad type info then I don't see as many people appreciating that kind of thing.

Same thing with GPS... would be neat to trace your path but probably add $$ to the project that only a few would use. Shouldn't be difficult to socket the GPS though.. could be an add-on.

EvoErik

Both!
You could use this as a cheap alternative for Motecs datalogging. Imagine graphs that draw your position on a racetrack together with speed, rpm, gear, boost, ignition, etc.
Whew!

GPS devices are cheap and talk serial protocol...

I also fancy a version that allows all this logging to a PDA as these are easy to mount in-car during trackdays and have a lot of space to store logging.

Regards,
Erik

Nzo

Bump, any updates?

FastHatch

Yes, the calibration can now be saved as a Datalogit file.
Also the communication part is now done for all 128 models except some very early versions.

I need to work about 1 more week on the software and then i'll release the first version.

I will continue adding features to the software (not like the Datalogit guys) like 2D and 3D graphs, auto tuning, file comparison etc.

But open, editing, saving, up- and downloading the calibration is now almost done.

Mestre

im still a tad lost, does this mean you made your own box/computer connection so we can buy the connection/software from you instead of waiting for months to get the actual datalogit software/comp connector? Or do you still need to already have the datalogit connection thing from the PFC to your laptop to use your software? Im sorry im a bit lost.

T.c.

FastHatch

Yes and yes

The software is free and can be used with the Datalogit box, the FC Commander Pro cable or the FC Tune box. The freeware version that will be available for download can only be used with the Datalogit box. Otherwise there are no limitations.



The box is not ready for sale yet. I think the best thing would be if the box is flashable, that means updateable. That way i can add more features (and bugfixes) later.

fritts

iTrader: (5)

If your looking for suggestions I would like the box to be compatible with a palm. The palm could be setup as the commander with logging and sensor display capabilities, possibly setup to display an aftermarket wideband as well. That way I don't have 3 different displays. A palm would also be easier to view when compared to the display on the commander.

Xeros

Hey fast hatch what are the updates with the software? Can't wait to see this stuff man.