Quote:
Originally Posted by PST
IR sensors would work well for that. I've been trying to sell people some for a while now, but no one's been really interested.
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I have been looking into this for years.
I have even found the sensors for $20 ea. and built my own datalogging system for the racecar.
My next piece I intend to build is a better thermal logging system that has 4X IR sensors and at least 8X Thermocouple sensors.
My current system logs all engine parameters, displays it to the driver in realtime (if they choose to look), and is downloaded via WiFi to a laptop as soon as the car pulls into the paddock.
I told people about the thermal imaging of tires idea many years ago and got shot down because "it would never work" and "the driver could never use that much data".
I tried to explain that the data was not for the real-time use of the driver, but for post-race analysis.
Now if you watch F1 you will see that the techs in the pits are watching the tires using IR cameras transmitted from the car in real-time.
They can tell instantly if you flat-spot a tire or have alignment issues from contact.
My idea above about the RF tire temp datalogger was more for maintaining inventory than for diagnostics.
It would be nice to know "Oh, this tire looks like crap but has only had 2 heat cycles, while this other one looks great but has had 14 cycles".