New Mini-Expansion Unit Software

[TimH]

There is now new software for the MEU which takes advantage of the latest Syvecs S6 firmware that allows full GPS information to be sent, alongside the existing “slave protocol”.

This allows the MEU to not only provide its 4 additional inputs, plus the EGT/Bosch lambda/barometric pressure data, and an H-bridge driver output, but also all the GPS data – latitude/longitude/course/speed/satellite info etc. And all at a 50Hz update rate.

The GPS protocol used also includes all motion sensor data (lateral/longitudinal/vertical G and yaw/pitch/roll).

The MEU also has GPS beacon functionality that sends a “blip” to the ECU when you drive through the configured beacon zone. Useful for lap timing.

The upgrade also, at long last, adds support for “VR” speed sensors (e.g. typical 2-wire ABS sensors) as well as Hall Effect types. No hardware mods needed – just a firmware update.

Some bug fixes too

[stevieturbo]

Does that mean the Accel and latG etc are no longer configured as analogue voltages ?

And presumably this needs latest Syvecs firmware ?

[TimH]

That's correct - motion sensor data is sent "properly" so no need for analogue-style linearisations.

And it does need latest S6 firmware, yes.

FYI I did find the issue that would have cause the occasionally missing motion sensor data that you reported

[Mark_r33]

Does this mean it can be used alongside an X10 now and still leave the CAN output useful for a dash?

Sounding good this Tim

[TimH]

Does this mean it can be used alongside an X10 now and still leave the CAN output useful for a dash?

Not quite.

X10 is an expander in its own right, and has a second CAN port that will transmit the generic datastream at normal speed for a dash. You can only use 1 expander, so just the X10, or the MEU, not both, not 2 of each.

An S8 has 2 CAN ports so, again, you can use one expander and still have a CAN port free for a dash.

You can, however, use the MEU in a pure GPS mode. This gives full GPS data and the motion sensors - it is a cost effective alternative to the Life Racing 50Hz GPS or even the Syvecs version.

You can also still make use of the H-bridge driver, using data from the generic transmit stream (e.g. DBW duty driving it in full bridge mode, or both BBW outputs in half-bridge mode) using the PC program to set it all up. That's on S6 and S8.

On an S8 you can also send EGT, Barometric pressure and lambda data using generic receive, but this feature is not available on the S6 so there is currently no way of getting this data in. I could also potentially allow the 4 inputs to be used, but the data has to be sent already-linearised, so it would either have to be limited to a specific set of sensors or I'd have to enhance the PC software to allow user-linearisation data. My feel at the moment is that this is of minority interest.

I have been looking at using the Bosch M4 protocol to send wheel speed data - if there's sufficient interest. That would then just leave the EGT/Baro/Lambda data as unavailable on the S6, unless Syvecs/Life Racing decide to port generic receive down to the S6.