Dewesoft X3 SP7 Released

Combustion engine analyzer

The Combustion Analysis (CA) module has been replaced by the new Combustion Engine Analysis (CEA) module in X3 SP7. When opening already done setups where CA was used, this module will still be available, whereas new setups will only have access to the CEA. This ensures that old setups created with CA are easily transferred to the CEA interface.

The module has a fresh user interface with a simplified setup design. Modifications of the setup no longer require rebuilding of formulas and all linked channels are always kept on visual controls as well as in formulas.

The module has several new features, which are thoroughly described in the CEA webinar:

• Firing order – predefined from a drop-down menu or by custom input

• Cylinder deactivation – from a CAN or AI channel

• Zero level correction – separate correction mode for each cylinder (mixed sensor type)

• Polytropic coefficient – dual polytropic coefficient, for compression and for expansion

• Variable compression ratio – Switching between multiple volume curves based on a CAN or AI channel

• High angle resolution – from 2° to 0.025° angle resolution with raw data also available in the time domain

• Multiple combustion analyzers – an unlimited number can run in parallel

• New outputs

  • Compression curve – theoretical compression curve plot

  • Polytropic coefficient – Calculation of polytropic coefficient and automatic input of the calculated polytropic coefficient (dual fuel engines)

  • Thermodynamics 2

• Automatic channel color and scaling information transfer from analog inputs

All outputs are grouped in a single tab where current or statistic outputs can be activated for each of them. The setup for every output is available directly next to the output.

Four predefined displays are automatically generated once the combustion analyzer is added. In the global settings for the module, it is possible to define how many engine cylinder values are displayed every time these displays are generated. Two displays show the engine overview, one shows MEP values while the other contains heat release outputs.

The licensing options have also been simplified from the previous four options to only two options – CEA base and CEA advanced.

TestBed

Along with the new combustion engine analyzer module, the Testbed plugin has also gone through a complete rework. Most of the functionality has been kept and some new features making usage easier have been added.

Testbed still works via ethernet or RS-232 using the standard AK-protocol, D2T, Puma or Tornado specific commands. It is now possible to export and import the complete transfer channel list. Channels not needed can simply be disabled with a click of a button instead of having to remove them from the list. Multiple combustions analyzers can run in parallel and it is possible to select which one is the reference for the cycle count for the TestBed. Instead of storing and triggering based on cycles only, time as an interval can be defined in seconds. This makes the testbed perfect for electric and hybrid motor testing or NVH applications.

Another newly added function is the ability to always run the measurement in fullscreen mode. This hides the buttons to stop the measurement unless the ESC key is pressed, preventing the operator from accidentally stopping the measurement and therefore the transfer of data from the TestBed. For easier handling of recorded data files, an option to automatically create a subfolder for a complete sequence of multi-files can be enabled.

3D map

The Map visual control has been upgraded with 3D visuals, a 3D Earth model, additional camera modes and support for over 40 different 3D model formats including .obj, .gltf, .fbx, and .3mf. Switching between various 3D models that are shown in place of the arrow is seamless, and the models themselves can be customized with user-specific orientation, center point and dimensions.

Next, to the standard camera modes (pan, rotate and zoom), we have also added support for first and third-person views. The standard camera retains the same user experience as the previous version of the map with the addition of the middle mouse button for controlling the rotation in 3D.

When the object displayed on the map is airborne, an elevated track will be drawn on the screen with the optional curtain mode, which can be seen on the image below. This mode extends the representation of the elevation from the ground level for easier analysis.

Relevant to 2D and 3D mode users, Dewesoft now also offers an additional satellite layer with a resolution of approximately 20 m per pixel, which can be selected from the preset layer list.

Vehicle testing suite (VTS)

The Vehicle Testing Suite was developed by the car testing company Leane to speed up the process of objective Vehicle Dynamics testing. VTS uses a dedicated plugin for vehicle dynamics calculations in Dewesoft while the user interface is custom designed for easy operation and quick checking of the test data on the track.

Some of the key features of the VTS solution are:

• Quick look display of the main parameters for maneuver validation

• Data overlay and statistics from multiple test runs

• Dewesoft integrated into the VTS measurement panel

• Support for DEWESoft Vehicle Dynamics plugin

• Modular architecture for easy extension and further customization

• Support ISO or custom test protocols

• Management of vehicle data and sensor coordinates data

• Automatic test file naming and storing in a predefined folder structure

List of vehicle dynamics test maneuvers

For more information about the application feel free to listen to the following webinar.

OBDII

The OBDII plugin received a total makeover! The graphical user interface is now more intuitive and plenty of new features are added. Users can now easily access diagnostic data of various vehicle subsystems as well as the VIN number and the current diagnostic trouble codes. New is the ability to define custom diagnostic messages which are not part of the default OBDII messages set. Furthermore, the plugin can decode text and numeric values with several scaling possibilities, the result of which can even be seen in the setup mode as part of a live preview feature. Finally, users can import and export the definitions of diagnostic messages using XML files, allowing for better portability.

The new plugin fully replaces the current version of the plugin, which will no longer be maintained. All users that have previously purchased the OBDII functionality will have access to the new plugin using the Add/Remove feature within Dewesoft. Please note that any existing OBDII configurations will have to be recreated in the new plugin. Additional information on the plugin is available in the Dewesoft manual.

CAN raw data analyzer

The CAN raw data analyzer is an additional, free of charge functionality for the CAN module which allows searching for specific signals in the raw (undecoded) CAN traffic. If all signals contained in the CAN bus are not explicitly defined within a DBC file it can be very time consuming to sort out which message or part of a message contains information about a specific signal, for example, the car's steering wheel position.

Identification of signals can be achieved by monitoring which CAN message and their respective parts are more active than others and then sorting them based on their activity. When the CAN raw data analyzer is active, the color of bits will start to change based on the activity of the bus and the selected analysis mode, providing a very clear graphical overview of what is happening on the bus.

To stick with the original example, turning the car's steering wheel will highlight bits containing the information about its position, as can be seen on the image below.

A more detailed description of the CAN raw data analyzer is available in the Dewesoft manual.

DS-IMU1 RTK

The DS-IMU1 units supplied this year have a new GPS receiver built-in, which also has the RTK-L1 capability as standard, without additional license or cost. The accuracy of this RTK is down to 3 cm.

The difference between L1-RTK and the traditional RTK is that L1-RTK uses GPS L1 and not GPS L2. This means the baseline distance is limited to a maximum of 10 kilometres and the initialization is slower. The major advantage of L1-RTK is the cost. It is much less expensive (50+% less) than traditional RTK systems. The precision obtained from a GNSS-L1 receiver is equivalent to that of an L1/L2 receiver when the reference station is located within 15-20 km from the survey sector.

DS-IMU1 RTK only works with RTCM v3 correction data. These can be received from a base station via a modem or from an NTRIP caster. If the unit has an RTK capable receiver, the option to enable RTK will be available in the settings for the device.

A new standard navigation channel has also been added to the list of available channels for the DS-IMU1/DS-IMU2 and can directly be used on the 2D/3D map visual control.

For general usage guidelines of the DS-IMU1 and DS-IMU2 please check out the recently published webinar.

SIRIUS firmware upgrade over EtherCAT 

The X3 SP7 release has made firmware upgrades of Sirius EtherCAT devices even more convenient, as their firmware can now be upgraded directly via EtherCAT, meaning that a USB cable connection is no longer required. This is especially useful for fixed or remote installations where devices are only connected over the EtherCAT bus and are not easily accessible.

Please note that the firmware that has just been released (7.3.45.75) is a condition to facilitate this functionality, therefore a pure EtherCAT upgrade will only be possible with future firmware versions when devices will already have 7.3.45.75 installed on them. A power reset of devices will also be necessary after upgrading their firmware.

Other

Convenience/Usability

• Device plugins have moved from the extension list to the “Add device” window

• Optimized channel buffers for visualization (advanced setting)

• Improved parsing speed of Dewesoft NET commands

Devices

• Support for all Vector CAN FD cards

• GPS standstill velocity is user configurable

• CNSS fix status channel on 10 Hz GNSS devices

• Multiple CAN message out of one pattern

• Option to reverse the byte order in CAN

Math

• Basic Statistics

  • New reset function for statistics based on storing

• Octave Analysis

  • Option to stop the CPB calculation after N averages

• Order Tracking

  • Selectable Peak or RMS amplitude results

• Balancing

  • Autoscale for smaller displacements

• Cursor Module

  • Manual (timestamp) cursor functionality

Dewesoft X3 SP7 is a free upgrade for all existing users. The 64- and 32-bit installers can be downloaded from the download center.

Learn more:

DewesoftXAward-Winning Data Acquisition and Digital Signal Processing Software