TELEMETRY: SENSORS FOR THE COLLECTION OF IMPORTANT DATA OUT ON THE TRACK

Max Bernardi

18 May 2017

While, in the past, the task of reporting the sensations out on the track in order to improve the set-up and performance of a kart was solely down to the driver, nowadays the telemetry’s role has become of vital importance. This is not just for recording chronometric times, but also for optimising the set-up, carburetion and improving the driving style thanks to several sensors that acquire strategic data on the kart.

STEERING SENSOR

Its job is to record the steering angles in terms of degrees used by the driver when taking bends. By comparing them to the optimum values, it is possible to analyse the balance of the kart in order to understand whether it is oversteering or understeering. For example, if the optimum way to take a bend is to turn the steering wheel 15 degrees and the driver takes it at 25 degrees, then the kart is understeering. Conversely, if the steering is turned the opposite way halfway through a bend, it means that the driver has had to correct and, therefore, the kart had been oversteering.
To install the “rotary potentiometer”, remove the steering column, insert the pulley and the belt and position the sensor on a bracket at the right distance before adjusting.

The steering sensor checks the balance of the kart and helps understand how to adjust the set-up depending on how rubberised the track is. You could say that this data substitute (or complement) the driver in describing the sensations of the kart when entering and exiting bends

PEDAL POSITIONS

Brake and accelerator sensors provide precise indications as to the position of the pedals and, therefore, the measurements of their strokes, detecting the moment and intensity of acceleration and braking. By combining the data of the two sensors, it is possible to check the exact points of throttle-off or, for example, whether the pedals are pressed down at the same time and at what point on the track, providing a great help to the driver in understanding their faults and improving their driving style. The waterproof sensors use the readings of the magnetic field; there are no wires or connections between the sensor and the pedal, meaning they are not intrusive and can be installed quickly onto any type of chassis.

In order to calibrate the brake and accelerator position sensors, the foot pedal is measured in the rest position and at maximum stroke. From that moment onwards, the sensors are able to detect the exact value of pedal travel