Dyno Dynamics Dyno Control

[Tre-Cool]

So sometime in 2019 i managed to modify the app that runs on windows mobile devices to control windows based dyno software. specifically to support the motorola hardware i was able to get in easy quantities.

Now with all my new fang dangled AI knowledge... I originally set it out to make me an android version since I can get some rugged style phones etc. Then it occured to me, why not try and make it run under Windows directly on my laptop. I always have it in the car anyway. at-least for testing.

With some initial bluetooth connection problems to solve first. i.e you don't search or find the base bluetooth unit in the EDM (Engine Diagnostic Module, has sensors & bluetooth adapter in it converting back to can/usb to pc). There's essentially no security to negotiate, u just target the MAC address of the bluetooth adapter. Took about 10 minutes to figure that out with some log captures and a successful connection was made.

DynoCommandPC_5kUS6HhaJC.png

I'm still building out the UI menu options & logic and putting safety's in, as i noticed that at anytime u can put in speeds much lower then the active speed & the dyno will do it straight away. not good for locking up the driveline.

https://youtu.be/y5rXN40LubI

Will update as I progress, just hit my 5hr usage window.

[MPC001]

[Tre-Cool]

Used it to tune a car today, i've had this dyno for 10+ years now and it's the first time i've used the hands-free mode.

got all the safety functions added in, so you can only do 10kph step changes, then it queues further speed changes until the roller speed keeps within that 10kph window. I.e you cant be holding 100kph speed & then have the dyno drop to 50kph in 1 hit.

[antus]

Nice one! very cool stuff. Good to see safety front of mind too.

[Tre-Cool]

I would of thought that the main dyno application running on the pc would have this stuff built in, but clearly it doesn't. You can kind of use the dyno without the pc software running as you can engage the dyno brake, but i think that comes down to a service running in the background. I know i've forgotten a fair bit on how the pc/pit box all communicates because it just works. It was just the early PDA's that caused issues.

[antus]

I guess that long ago MCUs were smaller and less capable. It probably made sense to put more logic in the PC app which would have been the main control option with the greater resources. Now with embedded systems being as powerful as full computers in many cases it probably makes more sense if starting from scratch to put it in the controller and a thinner front end layer so you can support more options without repeating yourself.

[Tre-Cool]

so after i made my last comment. I rebooted the pc and refreshed my memory (loaded memory.md) lol. Dyno Pit board has main power supply & sensors for controlling retarder. Talks to Communication Hub over serial or CAN. I'm going with CAN, since the comms hub then talks to pc via USB & the EDM box over CAN, EDM box has Bluetooth adapter/antenna along with some sensor input modules.

So it's Pit Box --- Comms Hub --- EDM --- Handheld
Pc talks to comms hub via FTDI driver which likely acts as CAN gateway talking to the other modules, which would make sense since they can all talk/receive at the same time on different ID's.

Anyway I've now got the following:
Windows App - Confirmed working
Windows App + EDM Simulator function
Android App - Confirmed working on my Motorola phone & Samsung Rugged tablet to my laptop simulator. Has a service running also so that you can flip in/out of the app & bluetooth connection stays active.

I'm back at work now, so not home for a week to verify it against the dyno, but since the simulator works the same way as the client. It's a pretty good certainty it will work.

DynoCommandPC_RlZtNCfZwh.png

DynoCommandPC_fFk1nF6b8x.png

DynoCommandPC_qmXS7JdvK6.png

From my Phone:

Screenshot_20260701-004637.png

Screenshot_20260701-160132.png

dyno-icon-screen.png

[hjtrbo]

Winning!

[Gareth]

Watching this with great interest

[Tre-Cool]

So it definitely works on my phone. i tuned a car with it the other day. i just adjusted my screen lock time out to 5 minutes other wise i had to keep unlocking my phone.

I also ended up doing some more UI changes to hide buttons once you were in certain modes.