AUTOMATED DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING FOR BRAKE TESTING

A data logger used for collecting brake test data is a compact, lightweight unit which can scan eight data channels simultaneously. It is powered directly from the vehicle's 12 volt battery supply or from the standard factory power supply for bench applications. Signal levels are formatted onto magnetic cassette tape with a storage capacity of 500,000 characters. Details are given of the scanning rate and method, instrumentation, hardware for replay, processing, output, system development, and analysis programs. Both computation and plotting are automated. The data logger greatly increases both quantity and quality of gathered data, and reduces manpower in both testing and data analysis. Disadvantages of the system are that transients cannot be recorded and that instant visual appraisal of results during testing cannot be made.