Data Acquisition Example
CAN Bus Data Logger and Automotive Test System
Reading, logging and acting on automotive computer data over the CAN bus.
Sciotex built an automotive test system that reads and logs data from an automotive computer over the CAN bus, then uses that data to control experimental conditions through the outputs of a data acquisition card. It runs in manual or automatic mode and logs everything to file.
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Data from the automotive computer
Data drives test conditions
Development and production runs
Data logging control and output
Example Overview
CAN Bus Data Acquisition for Automotive Testing
What is a CAN bus data logger?
Vehicles and many industrial machines share data between their electronic control units over the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus. A CAN bus data logger listens to that traffic, decodes the messages and records them, so engineers can see exactly what the controllers were doing during a test.
This system goes a step further than logging. It reads data from an automotive computer over CAN and uses it, through the outputs of a data acquisition card, to control the experimental conditions of the test itself. That closes the loop between what the vehicle electronics report and how the test responds.
At a glance
- Interface
- CAN bus connection to an automotive computer
- Function
- Read, log and act on vehicle data
- Control
- Experimental conditions set through DAQ card outputs
- Modes
- Manual and automatic operation
- Output
- Data logged to file
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How It Works
How the CAN Bus Test System Works
Vehicle data is read, recorded and fed back into the test, so conditions respond to what the controller is doing.
The system joins the CAN bus of the automotive computer.
Messages are decoded and logged to file.
Data is checked against the test logic.
DAQ outputs adjust the experimental conditions.
Automatic runs continue; manual mode allows intervention.
What the System Does
Software Built for Closed-Loop Vehicle Testing
Turning a logger into a test system means acting on the data as well as recording it.
CAN bus acquisition
Data is acquired from industrial-style CAN sources.
Closed-loop control
Logged data drives DAQ outputs that set test conditions.
Manual and automatic modes
Engineers can run automated sequences or take control.
Logging control
Data logging is controlled and written to file.
Hardware and Software
System Capabilities
The system combines CAN acquisition, logging and analog or digital control. See hardware-in-the-loop testing for a related approach.
| Data source | Automotive computer over the CAN bus |
|---|---|
| Acquisition | Industrial-style CAN bus sources |
| Logging | Data logging control and output to file |
| Control outputs | Data acquisition card outputs set experimental conditions |
| Operation | Manual and automatic |
From logger to test system
A logger only records. Using vehicle data to drive the test turns logging into automated testing:
- Vehicle data drives the test conditions
- Repeatable automated runs
- Manual override during development
Need a CAN bus or vehicle test system?
Sciotex builds data acquisition and test systems that read vehicle and machine networks and act on the data.
Additional Resources
Learn More
Testing Vehicle or Machine Electronics?
Talk to a Sciotex engineer about CAN bus data acquisition and automated test systems.