My cyborg 2ZZ-swapped Spyder

[Kevin Beane]

Bow to my nerdliness.

If finally got some video synched up with a data log containing GPS, accelerometer, and other sensors. This demonstrates basically all the replay features available in Copilot.

Pictures of my setup are at the bottom of this post. Note: Pictures are very old. Interior is quite different now... much neater.

Download the latest version of Copilot and install it. An earlier version might work, too.

http://www.mr-s.org/copilot/Copilot_3_0_16.zip

Download the zipped folder jan08.zip (58.6MB!)

http://www.mr-s.org/copilot/jan08.zip

and unzip it so there is a folder inside Copilot's AutoTune folder called jan08. Example:

C:\Program Files\Copilot\AutoTune\jan08

Inside jan08 are the files Copilot will use when you set the AutoTune Folder to jan08 (explained below). There are maps in Power FC format and other data files defining my current setup. There are also two subfolders, Datalogs and Video. Datalogs contains a log I made today and Video contains the AVI file I made at the same time using a Unibrain Firewire camera. It is a huge file because the video is uncompressed. Yikes. That's why the download of jan08.zip takes so long. (By the way, I just forgot to start a new auto tune folder for Feb or March for that matter. All this was done March 1, 2008.)

When I made the data log I had the following hardware all working at the same time:
- GPS
- Phidgets accelerometer (lateral Gs)
- Wideband O2 connected to Datalogit analog input (not LC-1 like I usually do because I needed another USB port for the Hand Controller)
- Hand Controller (see pictures below). This is a hacked Microsoft Sidewinder joystick part connected to a Phidgets 8/8/8 USB I/O board. Copilot responds to the 8 buttons (trigger, hat switch up/down/left/right, and 3 other buttons) by doing various things like starting a new data log, turning O2 feedback on/off, showing/hiding windows, enabling/disabling auto tuning, etc. Why? Because I can.

1. If you have Google Earth (and an internet connection), you can see where this data log was made in the world. Locate the file:

C:\Program Files\Copilot\AutoTune\Datalogs\200 80301_135612.kml

and double-click it. Google Earth should open and zoom in to the location (Jacksonville FL). To the left is where I started from a stop, making a left turn on to Julington Creek Rd (not that you can see the name of the road). You'll see a whole slew of squares indicating position. Click one. It will show a balloon with:

Lat G (lateral Gs)
Lon G (longitudinal Gs... accel/decel)
Speed
Throttle %
Gear
RPM
HP (will be 0 unless I was at WOT, which I wasn't)
Torque (same deal as above)
Boost PSI (will be 0, since my car isn't boosted)
Load
Oil T (and I did have an oil temperature sensor connected, so there's real data there)
Oil P (will be 0... no oil pressure sender connected)
Water T
Intake Air T
Airflow %
Inj Duty %
Knock
Accel (redundant -- same as Lon G)
Heading
AFR

Cool, eh? You can explore that window using sliders or whatever. It isn't dynamic... doesn't update with replay.

To replay the video and data log in synch

2. Start Copilot and check Replay (must do within 4-5 seconds), then Start.
3. Select Settings --> I/O Settings and make WBO2 on AN1-AN2 is checked (upper left) and "Use LC-1 data from COM" is not checked, then click OK.
4. Select File --> Open AutoTune Folder...
5. Click jan08, click OK. Note: If you don't see jan08 in the list of available folders, you didn't unzip jan08.zip to the correct place, so fix that.
6. Select View --> G Forces and position the G Forces window wherevever you want. Note: my accelerometer is mounted up high, so it will be "noisier" than it should be, meaning the lateral G forces are exaggerated.
7. Select View --> 2D Plot of Course and resize/move that window. You can decrease the scale by clicking a scale button like 1 mile, using the vertical slider, or magnifier (zoom in has a "+" sign) tool.
8. Select View --> Valve and Ignition Timing and move/resize that window as desired.
9. Select View --> CG Circle and move/resize that one.
10. I'd select the Dashboard tab to start off with, but feel free to see what's available for viewing on the other tabs. You can click Stop anytime during replay.
11. Click View --> Video, then open the AVI file using the File menu on the Video window. The AVI file is not in the place Copilot will look by default, so you'll have to browse to find it. It is in the Video subfolder of jan08 (probably C:\Program Files\Copilot\AutoTune\jan08\Video) and has the same name as the data log but with an avi extension. The video won't play until you start replaying, but you can move and resize the window however you want in preparation for replay. Note: Try to maintain the original aspect ratio when resizing. Video was recorded at 640 by 480, so if you make it very large, it will look grainy. Also note that resizing the window while replay has started (but is stopped) will cause the video to play out of synch with everything else, which is paused. If this happens, click Stop and then Rewind and start over.

Now we are ready to open the data log and replay it.

12. Click Open Log and open the only data log (.csv file) in there.
13. Click Play. You can click Stop, Rewind, and Play however you want. The data log lasts a few seconds longer than the video. As you replay, or when stopped, try moving the mouse over the 2D Plot of Course. If you don't see a balloon with data in it, go under the Display Aids menu and check Show Vehicle Dynamics Under Cursor, then try again. You can right-click anywhere and select Zoom In or whatever. You can also click the drag (hand) tool and drag the plot around. While the drag tool is selected, there won't be a ballon with info. Under the Track Type menu, select "One pixel wide" and "Green for accel, red for decel". The track color will indicate places where the car was accelerating, going about the same speed, or decelerating.

Pictures:

Don't even start talking trash about the ricer boy steering wheel cover. It was a gift from my daughter and after it all, it does have spiders on it so it goes with the gearshift knob and steering wheel badge.



Camera up near rearview, tablet PC, too many stinking cables. Hand Controller right next to parking brake, out of the way of my arm while resting or shifting, but easily grabbed. All the center area where the radio etc was is gutted now because I play MP3s on the tablet PC using either earbuds or noise cancelling headphones (while not getting pulled over for same). Sounds amazing with a Total Bithead external headphone amp.


On the back of the tablet PC mount is a Phidgets accelerometer held on with velcro. It should be mounted lower. The exact angle doesn't matter because Copilot can calibrate its output. GPS antenna plugs into any USB port and Copilot reads and parses the sentences to get latitude, longitude, heading, altitude, etc. Headphones and earbuds in the bin, too. Yes, it is kind of messy. I don't like the cables going everywhere, but it will be a lot of work to route things in a better way.


There's a little video preview window on top of Copilot's main window.


USB hub is visible beyond shifter. I need to make something to mount that and the headphone amp. Another project.


Innovate Motorsports XD-1 AFR gauge mounted in tachometer opening. That was Corky's idea. The stylus hanging down is hooked to the tablet. I don't interact much now that I have the Hand Controller installed permanently (did that today).


Gauges tab with video preview overlay. The video preview isn't part of Copilot (I wish it was so I could control recording). It is Unibrain software. I could use this for a rearview mirror if I had a car with bad visibility (like an Exige ).


I didn't feel like messing with the video settings. The color balance is way off. It is also out of focus. Oh well. I was suffering from self-induced information overload today.


There's enough room to grab the contoller with parking brake up or down. Yes, my car is dirty, as usual.


Welcome to the machine.


lovely hardtop, Aero Catch hood pins, badges


clear side markers, Gregg's MK1 MR2 nose badge (perfecto), white dragon sticker on the quarter panel from Deal's Gap. Not too tacky, is it?


Modifications:

o 2ZZ-GE with Monkeywrench Racing (MWR) titanium valves and springs, ARP studs, ported and polished, balanced and blueprinted, painted red, MWR chromoly flywheel, 6 speed, Little Rocket swap header, TRD 160 deg. thermostat, Moroso oil pan -- all installed by Little Rocket
o Lotus valve cover covers
o Corky and Company Front Member Brace, Midship Member Brace, and Rear Member Brace
o TRD front STB
o Power FC tuned using Copilot, revs safely above 9K (but rev limit was lowered to about 8600 just to be safe)
o HP TR3000 Tablet PC with shock-mounted hard drive, custom-made tablet PC mount by Corky (my design)
o USB devices: Datalogit, DeLorme LT-20 GPS antenna, Phidgets dual axis accelerometer, Phidgets digital/analog I/O, Phidgets relay outputs to control fan and warning lights, Innovate Motorsports LC-1 wideband O2 sensor, Total Bithead headphone amp/external sound card
o 8-button Hand Controller
o Innovate Motorsports XD-16 AFR gauge
o Audio: Panasonic noise-cancelling headphones and Shure earbuds (for passenger), iPod Touch
o Unibrain Fire-i firewire camera
o Maxbore bored out throttle body
o Bosch oil temperature sender
o Earl's 16-row oil cooler with Spal fan controlled by Copilot via a relay, turns on/off based on oil temperature
o Radio, ashtray, cupholder, storage bin doors, heat shields, drip tray, diaper, visors, and misc. other nonessential parts deleted
o Recaro seats from an EVO 8 (not shown)
o DWM Center Console (not shown) with warning lights controlled by Copilot
o Custom made Engine Start switch ("JETTISON") using aircraft parts (not shown)
o JNZ Tuning decat pipe, Team Moon single SS exhaust (to be replaced soon with a custom Borla 2.75" ID all the way through)
o Koni inserts, TRD Race springs, TRD front and rear sway bars
o SSR Competion wheels in 16" and 15", Kumho Ecsta SPTs, painted calipers, 3mm spacers all around
o Stoptech cross drilled rotors (not shown), stainless steel brake lines
o Custom made (my design) intake air scoop, ITG foam filter, custom (Corky's and my design) made aluminum 2.75" ID intake tube with honeycomb insert
o C-One side vent covers with inside fender mods to direct more air into the engine bay
o C-One (Beatrush) front underpanel
o "Beane Rush" (my design) rear underpanel
o CF over FG hood painted to match body color
o Pre-facelift front bumper (not shown)
o AeroCatch hood pins
o Midship Runabout spider steering wheel badge, one of a kind "Powered by Little Rocket" badge, YAMAHA badge, Mk1 MR2 nose badge, Tail of the Dragon decals, Gregg's bling plate
o Clear side markers
o Lightweight Hawker Genesis G13EP battery in custom made battery box designed by Corky and me
o OEM hardtop
o Spoiler Depot spoiler (not shown)
o Bama wind blocker
o Hella horns
o TRD quick shift kit, TRD duracon shift knob (not shown... the one shown was an Arachnaform knob)
o JNZ Tuning Mk1 design billet oil filler cap
o Inverter and power strip, powered USB hub
o VVTL-i sticker (adds 5HP)

Over seven years in the making.

Future plans:
- replace suspension
- Some kind of forced induction - To Be Determined

[Optimus Prime]

Very nice. So...I'm techno-retarded. Do you know what numbers you are putting down?

[fr0st m0nkey]

That is possibly the ugliest carputer I've ever seen. Hiding wires is key. Nice car btw. Visit mp3car.com and take a look at getting a more permanent carPC solution installed.
EDIT: I do like what you've done with the sidewinder, btw. Very cool, very creative.

[Kevin Beane]

Oh yeah, I know it is ugly. Trust me. It was (and still is) important to install/remove many times because I update the software on it almost daily and use it in the house, too. Someday I'll replace it with a smaller UMPC like Paul Price's which will be mounted in the instrument cluster. I just don't have time to make things pretty (cables everywhere). Emphasis is always on making something actually work. The tablet removes in about 10 seconds... disconnect cables (I lay them on the floor) and pull tablet straight up.

~180HP

[scootrkitz]

insane man, first time ive seen your car on here!

[sxlostv1]

so... you can go back in time... right?

[MrMojo]

Is your spyder a prototype for this?

just kidding.

[Kevin Beane]

Yeah, but it doesn't exactly look "factory". Heh heh heh. I've thought of it as a testbed and the cables etc. don't bother me much, but I can know it looks like Frankencar inside and I'm getting to the point now where I'd like to have my clean looking, uncluttered interior back. If I don't replace it with something smaller, I may just move it down where the radio was, hide all the cables, and make it permanently installed and look like it belongs there. On the plus side, compared to other options, the screen is big and it has a shock mounted hard drive. OK, so stay tuned. Maybe in a few weeks I'll have a nice looking interior again.

[scootrkitz]

Show us some engine shots!

[midshipman01]

While reading, I found myself chuckling with almost every click of the scroll. Not laughing you, with you is more like it. I can tell that you know how long ago you passed reasonable on the way to obsession, and believe me, it shows! Everywhere you turn in this car, there's some little device controlling the whatever of this other device and so on and so on. It's crazy!

Actually, the word I'll use is impressive. While this is the most cluttered interior I've ever seen, that clutter shows some real knowledge about how things work. I'd like to understand electronics so well.

[Kevin Beane]

Obsessed? Moi? I scoff at this idea. There are some hours left in the day when I am not making a buck or working on the car. I sometimes bathe, eat, scratch myself, and watch the tele. I've only written about 100,000 lines of code. The car hasn't become sentient yet.

Yeah, I'll round up some engine pictures that I've posted before and turn this into a full-fledged YAY FOR ME topic.


AeroCatch


C One Side Vent Covers


Massive Intake Box being constructed


another day at "the office"


Lotus valve cover covers


just enough clearance


XD-16 AFR gauge installed


YAMAHA badge





























Little Rocket using FC Edit to do the initial tune on the Power FC


Lil' Hottie

[cool_apple]

boy first it was like a read-up on "computech"/"popular mechanics" then it progress into some "Maxim" type photo.

u ought to get your head right...

[tonic_tiger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kevin Beane @ Mar 2 2008, 07:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Obsessed? Moi? I scoff at this idea. There are some hours left in the day when I am not making a buck or working on the car. I sometimes bathe, eat, scratch myself, and watch the tele. I've only written about 100,000 lines of code. The car hasn't become sentient yet.

Yeah, I'll round up some engine pictures that I've posted before and turn this into a full-fledged YAY FOR ME topic.


AeroCatch


C One Side Vent Covers


Massive Intake Box being constructed


another day at "the office"


Lotus valve cover covers


just enough clearance


XD-16 AFR gauge installed


YAMAHA badge





























Little Rocket using FC Edit to do the initial tune on the Power FC


Lil' Hottie[/b]

very random

[Kevin Beane]

Random only if you don't know Little Rocket. That's his wife. He did the engine swap and took the pic with my engine. It was her avatar for quite a while.

[wangerin]

Looks good, really like the c-one vents, look of the engine, the wheel complement the body very well.


First borg'd spyder

[txdude3013]

dman™™™ dude.

im a technogeek myself, but it looks like robocop barfed in your car.
very cool setup though, you seriously need to go crazy with some twisty-ties and run those wires behind the dash

lol i just looked around my room and noticed while my spyder is clean, my room is cluttered with gutted cases, PS's, drives, and cards galore


well that awesome nonetheless

[Bus-driver]

that motor makes up for the wires!!! looks sweet!!


btw, i have a pic of that same laptop..lol.



the master at work.


one more thing, tonic tiger....edit your post and take the pics out of it .

[tonic_tiger]

yes sir....

[Spargo]

Looks great to me, I mean the setup is what you need it to be and then when you have all the code doing what you want it to you can switch to a more reasonable solution.

I personally would hold off a short time, solid-state hard drives are becoming very popular. My advice would then be to do a full gut, remove your dash and hide all your goodies, then set it up so you can have a removable hard drive in the dash. Then if you need to do editing of your software just take the hd with you, do what you want with your files on a desktop, and return it to the beast.

I would really like to see most of all you combine all of these features in a way I know you want to. A video, with map overlay, and play by play of everything your engine is doing. Hell even for a newb like me that'd just be damn cool, and when it comes to the possibilities for a track user or even autocrosser its pretty intense.

Very good work though either way.

-Spargo

[LordTakuban]

Nice.

Those C-One vents look even better in person. I know about the wire problems. That's what takes me the most time with some of these mods is my wire management. Since I'll be really cleaning up my car for the big Florida MR2 Meet coming up in less than 2 weeks, I'll take some pics to show my wire solutions. .... That reminds me.... Kevin, are you coming to that? It's in Orlando at Old Town (Where we had that other meet) April 11-13. The "Show and Shine" portion is on Saturday, the 12th. The website is flmr2s.com. There's a link to the "Spring Fling Meet" and a message board.

Anyway, hope to see you again there.