Otaniemi Flying Finns jumping on board the FreeEMS wagon!

[Oskar]

Helsinki University of Technology's Formula SAE team, Otaniemi Flying Finns, decided today to base our vehicle control electronics on FreeEMS.

Other considerations where MS and VEMS.
VEMS went out the window because they require a non disclosure agreement to be signed to get the source code, prohibiting us from releasing any subsequent code.
MS just doesn't have the omph to do what we need. Would require 2-3 separate boxes talking together, creating a nightmare to program and debug.
FreeEMS is based on a chip with enough outputs and inputs and memory. Having 8 hardware PWM outputs for instance will greatly simplify coding (we will be needing all 8). No "done" code to modify and add to, but definitely enough to get started with, so this was a quite easy choice in the end.

I ordered the prototype board and a jimstim to get us started.

Control targets:
Engine:
-sequential control of 2-cyl 180º engine
-direct vnt-control (based on map, compressor intake pressure or turbo rpm)
-possibly onboard WB lambda
Gearbox:
-dual clutch control
-active diff lock control
Suspension:
-semi-active ride height control
General:
-launch control
-datalogging

Timeframe:
vehicle initial testing mid-April

Our electric team:
Janne
Oskar
Hossi

Our home page:
http://fsae.sytes.net/ (needs even more work then the diyefi.org site)

We will definitely be releasing all our work, although I don't know how much help to the general project we will be. Due to our timeframe and code performance considerations we will be writing setup specific code. A lot will probably be able to be used with only minor modification though.

Progress reports:
12.2.2009 Recieved the Technologicalarts prototype board
14.2.2009 Successful firmware upload (loop time 0.3ms)

[Fred]

That's awesome news Oskar! :-)

Just let me know if I can be of any assistance to you at all.

May I suggest/ask one thing though :

Please use Git to do the work and publish as you go. That will allow you to take my changes as they come as well as the reverse in the easiest possible way.

Where is the racing occurring? If it's in the UK I will come and meet the team and watch your performance.

Regards and good luck,

Fred.

[AbeFM]

Hey, that's awesome! Nothing useful to add,but wanted to say congrats. Nothing like a deadline to make something happen.

[sry_not4sale]

Hows your python?

[Oskar]

We're using SVN for our other files, but could probably use git in parallel for this part just to have this FreeEMS spin-off code at the same place as the "real" FreeEMS code.

Janne is our code/electronics guy taking the lead of our electronics group. He knows c.
I'm our engine technology guy and my c is non-existent (have done some visual basic and java coding though), so shouldn't take that long to be able to produce useful c.
Hossi is a electronics guy and his c learning speed should be quite good also.

Our scheduled competition is in Silverstone on 16-19.7.2009
http://www.formulastudent.com/
You (all of you guys) are more then welcome to come say hello.

The code will probably be far from complete in April, but we need something working that will operate all our stuff somehow then. Optimization will come after that.
We anticipate that 70% of the car will blow up (or not work very well) during testing so we need time to make everything work, and work well. (if a part doesn't break it's overdimensioned and needs lightening)

[Fred]

We're using SVN for our other files, but could probably use git in parallel for this part just to have this FreeEMS spin-off code at the same place as the "real" FreeEMS code.

Well, worst case you could use SVN and git-svn bridge into a private git instance that starts at your import point. With that you could generate patch commit series files and i could apply them back into the main line easily. It would be better if you just used git for this aspect though, you could always put snapshots into svn for others to look at etc. You may even like it ;-)

Our scheduled competition is in Silverstone on 16-19.7.2009
http://www.formulastudent.com/
You (all of you guys) are more then welcome to come say hello.

Hmmmmm, my visa expires 8 June or so, but I'll be here for a bit longer after that, probably leaving the place just around then. I'm sure we'll work something out :-)

You realise Silverstone is about 20m drive from where I live right? :-)

I nearly went to the last one there because my Swedish friend's team was racing. Perhaps I can meet you both then.

Fred.

[jharvey]

Nice, I like.

Do you have plans to post your electrical designs? I'm willing to offer a review if there's some way to get me schematics, layouts, ect. Seems much easier to criticize then it is to originate. A fresh set of eyes might be helpful, and I'm willing to offer a set.

I've been quite happy with KICAD. With other soft packages, I find I'm disabling most advanced featured because they simply can't do it right.

I like your time frame, I'm looking forward to observing your progress.

[Oskar]

Thanks for all of your positive attitude.

We haven't decided about the release process yet. Absolutely everything will be released after the competition (or slightly before), including the schematics etc.
We will be releasing (via git for instance) our work in progress, but not necessarily the whole thing, the suspension and diff lock control software details might be kept secret until the final release.

But we'll see, there will definitely be plenty of stuff for you guys (and anyone else) to comment on during our development.
Schematics will probably be released continuously.

We'll definitely be posting problems we encounter also, and trying to use you to solve them.

Seems that we will definitely be meeting you Fred

I'm also going to slap a FreeEMS logo on the car (unless everyone else in the team objects, highly unlikely), so you now have a deadline for that.

[Fred]

I'm also going to slap a FreeEMS logo on the car (unless everyone else in the team objects, highly unlikely), so you now have a deadline for that.

Just make sure there is a DIYEFI one next to it ;-)

Like this :

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii15 ... stmuel.jpg

I'll kick the resident artist into action :-)

Fred.

[jharvey]

I want one that claims "FreeEMS inside" with the intel look and feel.