ECUMaster GPS to CAN

Connectivity External GPS Modules
1

It appears that the ECUMaster GPS to CAN with IMU module is configurable via their software. I skimmed thru the manual and only found some vague data. I know the module is pricey but I need it for the position update frequency 25Hz and IMU update frequency 200 HZ for drag racing, Looking at RD Target IDs confused as to the acceleration data. ECUMaster calls it X,Y,Z angular rate and X,Y,Z Acceleration. RD Target IDs list X,Y,Z Acceleration and X,Y,Z Acceleration Raw. Not for sure if the definitions are the same.

If the Acceleration values are correct for the Target IDs could I then just use the Angular Rate in the Dummy Target IDs so that I can log those as well?

Here is a sample of the format output:
Byte (bit) Channel Data type Range Multiplier Divider Offset Unit

Ecumaster output ID (default: 0x400)
0 Latitude 32bit signed -90 – 90 1 107 0 °
4 Longitude 32bit signed -180 – 180 1 107 0 °

Ecumaster output ID+1 (default: 0x401)
0 Speed 16bit signed -1179 – 1179 36 1000 0 km/h
2 Height 16bit signed -32768 – 32767 1 1 0 m
5 Satellites number 8bit unsigned 0 – 72 1 1 0 -
6 (0) GPS frame index 4bit unsigned 0 – 16 1 1 0 -
6 (4) Empty frame index 4bit unsigned 0 – 16 1 1 0 -
7 (0) GPS status 3bit unsigned 1 – 5 1 1 0 -

Ecumaster output ID+2 (default: 0x402)
0 Heading motion 16bit unsigned 0 – 360 1 1 0 °
2 Heading vehicle 16bit unsigned 0 – 360 1 1 0 °
4 X angle rate 16bit signed -250 – 250 1 100 0 °/s
6 Y angle rate 16bit signed -250 – 250 1 100 0 °/s

Ecumaster output ID+3 (default: 0x403)
0 Z angle rate 16bit signed -250 – 250 1 100 0 °/s
2 X acceleration 16bit signed -4 – 4 1 100 0 g
4 Y acceleration 16bit signed -4 – 4 1 100 0 g
6 Z acceleration 16bit signed -4 – 4 1 100 0 g

Channels description:
Latitude – latitude position in degrees
Longitude – longitude position in degrees
Speed – ground speed in kilometers per hour
Height – height above mean sea level in meters
Satellites number – number of currently visible satellites
GPS frame index – increments cyclically from 0 to 15 for each position frame
Empty frame index – increments cyclically from 0 to 15 for each empty frame
GPS status – position fix status:
• 1 - “NoFix” - no position fix acquired
• 3 - “GPS-2D” - position is fixed in 2D space using GNSS satellites
• 4 - “GPS-3D” - position is fixed in 3D space using GNSS satellites
Heading motion – direction of vehicle motion in degrees
Heading vehicle – direction in which vehicle front is heading in degrees
X, Y, Z angle rate – angular velocity around longitudinal, lateral and vertical axis (referenced
to the vehicle frame)
X, Y, Z acceleration – longitudinal, lateral and vertical acceleration (referenced to the vehicle
frame)
UTC year, month, day – UTC date from navigation satellites
UTC hour, minute, second, millisecond – UTC time from navigation satellites

2

You can map the device X,Y,Z acceleration to RealDash inputs 6,7,8 (Acceleration X,Y,Z). The acceleration raw is accelerometer values with earth gravity.

RealDash does not have ready made inputs for angular rate, but you can specify ‘name’ attribute instead of ‘targetId’ to make custom inputs for those. For example:

    <frame id="0x402">
      <value name="ECUMaster: Anglular Rate X" offset="4" length="2" signed="true" conversion="V*0.01"></value>
      <value name="ECUMaster: Anglular Rate Y" offset="6" length="2" signed="true" conversion="V*0.01"></value>
    </frame>

    <frame id="0x403">
      <value name="ECUMaster: Anglular Rate Z" offset="0" length="2" signed="true" conversion="V*0.01"></value>
    </frame>
1 Like
3

Thank you that explanation helps a lot.
Do I need to setup the module so that it has to be polled or can I just push the data?

4

Perhaps we can get this device implemented within the app as an external GPS, I’ve thought of getting one too.

5

From my understanding the device configuration can be edited. It would be nice to create a generic configuration that would make it easier to interface with RD. I haven’t loaded the software yet because I believe I will need the device interfaced from can to the computer. The software reads the can bus to see what devices are on the Bus for editing.

Will load the software later today and capture a screenshot of the editor screen so we can know what can and can’t be configured.

6

You can load the defaults in the editor without the device connected and edit them. You have to select offline when the program starts. I was able to export the default CAN Bus configuration either in DBC, HTML , or CANX formats. For this I exported it in HTML so I could share it here.

Capture
Capture932×1189 180 KB

7

I can make a XML file for you to test, ok? We can then add it to RealDash.

8

Here is a XML for testing.

ecumaster_gps.xml (2.4 KB)

1 Like
9

Thank you very much for helping out. Now if the GPS modules will come off backorder I can get one on the bench for testing.

1 Like
10

Will realdash be able to be mock location on android systems so this high rate GPS can be used for other applications aswell?

11

No, RealDash will not act as GPS mock source. Mainly this is because RealDash is a app instead of background process.

1 Like