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New Megasquirt ECU - What features do you want?

 
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Old 06-26-2012, 03:16 PM
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Default New Megasquirt ECU - What features do you want?

I have been designing a new Enhanced Megasquirt ECU and I would love some feedback.

What features do you want? Nothing is cast in stone yet, so assume that it may be either an MS2 or an MS3. Just speak out freely, anything is possible and the only dumb idea is the one that hasn't been suggested.

Let's hear it!
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Old 06-26-2012, 03:36 PM
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Automatic shutoff/failsafe mode for:

Oil presure
Coolant temp
Knock
Whatever
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Old 06-26-2012, 04:06 PM
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What constraints are realistically understood to apply in dreaming up such a wishlist? Both software and hardware.

In other words, I assume that the stock MS3 CPU assembly must be used, so we can't wish for a single-board solution. Must any other stock B&G hardware be used?

What if certain features requested make assumptions about software functionality which is contradictory to the existing codebase? (I know you've done some custom work here in the past, but I'm not intimately familiar with it.)

And how knowledgeable / comfortable are you with FPGAs?
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Old 06-26-2012, 04:36 PM
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Assume zero limitation on both hardware and software. A single board solution is also feasible by obtaining a license. As you've already said, firmware modifications are already in my Enhanced MS2, combined with extra hardware mods.

I'm not familiar with FPGAs at all, any reason why you are asking?
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Old 06-26-2012, 05:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Reverant
I'm not familiar with FPGAs at all, any reason why you are asking?
Well, gate arrays (and to a lesser extent, CPLDs) are a fast, cheap and easy way of implementing things like PWM injector current-limiting, input debouncing, precision timers, and so on. All of it can of course be done in software as well, FPGAs just tend to be extraordinarily deterministic, and their individual operating blocks are inherently atomic. Makes life easier when you're working with high degrees of parallelism in a real-time environment.

I was mostly just curious.
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Old 06-26-2012, 05:23 PM
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Low oil pressure warning light.
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Old 06-26-2012, 05:33 PM
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A service for modding existing systems.
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Old 06-26-2012, 05:42 PM
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Somewhat relevant to my interests
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Old 06-26-2012, 05:54 PM
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As someone that will be doing business with you AGAIN in the near future, here is something that comes to mind (and as you said, I'm just spit-balling).

Some (or maybe even most) of these things are already implemented from what I gather skimming the ms section, but whatever:

-MS3x (or whatever the latest and greatest is)
-completely PNP
-VVTuner built in
-knock control rivaling the AEM2 (knock-windowing, the whole 9 yards)
-all the ait and coolant corrections and bugs (that we had in the ms2e 2 years go) ironed out and non-existant
-Map switching on the fly (with a button/****/etc)
-Solid CL/OL boost control that with multi-maps that also switch with above
-lean cut (very few systems have this, but it is uber-awesome)
-boost by gear (though not high on my priority list)
-DBW throttle body control (obviously would have to be from a newer or different car)
-effective flex fuel/fuel blend sensor (octane goes up, timing goes up and vice versa)

That's all that comes to mind after working an 8 hour shift and being tired. I'll think of more later.
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Old 06-26-2012, 06:01 PM
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It would also be nice to be able to set it to passive piggy back mode. For example allow the stock ecu to control everything however have the ecu change injector timing to the correct.

What i mean by that is us that have to pass emissions and are running big injectors... it would be nice for the ecu to be able to take the sent pulse from the stocker, shorten the injector pulse and then send it to the injectors.

This could be taken a step further and make the ecu take over at boost or whatever you choose it to do. Imagine not having to tune spark and fuel for stock/cruise area, imagine not having to tune cranking fuel or idle.


Something else i wish my adaptronic had was volt outputs for specific readings such as coolant temp sensors and intake sensors.

For example sending out .93 volts for "93 degrees" it measures at the coolant temp sensor, and .34 volts to another volt meter for ambient temp or something like that.

Reality is i'd rather be able to stagger few simple 5 bucks digital volt meters than have to buy an expensive display display that shows exactly the same thing.

Last edited by triple88a; 06-26-2012 at 06:15 PM.
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Old 06-26-2012, 06:07 PM
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Piggy back / Parallel already does that
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Old 06-26-2012, 07:12 PM
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Headphone jack for knock listening...if the signal from the knock sensor is as good as my Polish det-cans.
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Old 06-26-2012, 08:57 PM
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Oh one more thing, a calculator that automatically converts ms to cc of fuel injected that adds stuff up so you can do a cc per minute or hour whatever of fuel usage.

Hustler didnt MS3 do that?

Also spark auto tune of some sort.

I'll be honest, the spark autotune and "it will pass emissions" bs was why i got adaptronic... but now few years later we all know how well those worked. (Not bashing adaptronic, just would like to see them working (properly) in MS)
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Old 06-26-2012, 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by triple88a
Oh one more thing, a calculator that automatically converts ms to cc of fuel injected that adds stuff up so you can do a cc per minute or hour whatever of fuel usage.

Hustler didnt MS3 do that?
I'm an MS3 newb, I don't even know MS2 that well. I'm pretty much only "good" at tuning, I am not the braintrust.

Originally Posted by triple88a
Also spark auto tune of some sort.
Unpossible.
Originally Posted by triple88a
I'll be honest, the spark autotune and "it will pass emissions" bs was why i got adaptronic... but now few years later we all know how well those worked. (Not bashing adaptronic, just would like to see them working (properly) in MS)
You can do this with any computer for the most part.
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Old 06-26-2012, 09:07 PM
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Biggest problem with Adaptronic is it "didn't take". There is next to zero support for it, despite Travis putting in a lot of effort at 1st. The adaptronic forums suck *****, and the few of us that 1st got them (myself included) kept thinking "this and this and this and this is going to get worked out with time"......Well it didn't. Most are on their own or they're really really smart and figured everything out themselves. Its a good ecu, and worked great, but MS is just so much more common, so much more miata support, so many super smart people like Joe, Dimitris, and Scott (among MANY others) on the forums helping out and answering questions, and sharing info. Also the DIY autotune folks post here every now and then vs the Adaptronic designer (or whatever he is) addressing our issues like once in a century. Its a no-brainer to go MS. Esp now that MS3+ is out and is superior to the e420. I don't regret going Adaptronic at the time (MS2 pnp was non-existant) but the times have changed.

But that's a whole 'nother topic altogether
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Old 06-27-2012, 02:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Nagase
Automatic shutoff/failsafe mode for:

Oil presure
Coolant temp
Knock
Whatever
I am excluding shutoff as you don't want the engine to shutoff if say, a sensor goes bad. Adjustable rev limiter is ok.
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Old 06-27-2012, 02:05 AM
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Originally Posted by 99mx5
Low oil pressure warning light.
That should be very easy, and obviously requires an oil pressure sensor and input.
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Old 06-27-2012, 02:05 AM
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Originally Posted by djp0623
A service for modding existing systems.
Tailored to say, your specific needs? That may turn out to be somewhat expensive.
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Old 06-27-2012, 02:16 AM
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Originally Posted by 18psi
As someone that will be doing business with you AGAIN in the near future, here is something that comes to mind (and as you said, I'm just spit-balling).

Some (or maybe even most) of these things are already implemented from what I gather skimming the ms section, but whatever:

-MS3x (or whatever the latest and greatest is)
-completely PNP
-VVTuner built in
-knock control rivaling the AEM2 (knock-windowing, the whole 9 yards)
-all the ait and coolant corrections and bugs (that we had in the ms2e 2 years go) ironed out and non-existant
-Map switching on the fly (with a button/****/etc)
-Solid CL/OL boost control that with multi-maps that also switch with above
-lean cut (very few systems have this, but it is uber-awesome)
-boost by gear (though not high on my priority list)
-DBW throttle body control (obviously would have to be from a newer or different car)
-effective flex fuel/fuel blend sensor (octane goes up, timing goes up and vice versa)

That's all that comes to mind after working an 8 hour shift and being tired. I'll think of more later.
1) Totally agree
2) Totally agree
3) For MS2 yes, MS3 already has VVT control
4) The current MS2 already has everything minus knock windowing, but I think that I have found a solution for that too, at least in the next gen.
5) They are already ironed out. I have a customer whose car I tuned to 20psi, on a cold January day last year (ambient temp was like 40*F), and he sent me a datalog to check on July, with some 95*F weather, and his AFR was spot on.
6) Already available with the Enhanced MS2
7) Already available with the Enhanced MS2
8) The MS3 already has lean cut. I'll see if the MS2 can support it as well.
9) The MS3 can do boost by gear or speed (even better!). The MS2 will require VSS (vehicle speed sensor) input, we will see if it is doable on the MS2 as well
10) Ι alreayd have DBW working on the bench, but on a street car it is quite a different thing to make sure it is working without glitches. I'll need a NC.
11) Both the MS2 and the MS3 have flex fuel inputs
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Old 06-27-2012, 02:20 AM
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Originally Posted by triple88a
It would also be nice to be able to set it to passive piggy back mode. For example allow the stock ecu to control everything however have the ecu change injector timing to the correct.

What i mean by that is us that have to pass emissions and are running big injectors... it would be nice for the ecu to be able to take the sent pulse from the stocker, shorten the injector pulse and then send it to the injectors.

This could be taken a step further and make the ecu take over at boost or whatever you choose it to do. Imagine not having to tune spark and fuel for stock/cruise area, imagine not having to tune cranking fuel or idle.


Something else i wish my adaptronic had was volt outputs for specific readings such as coolant temp sensors and intake sensors.

For example sending out .93 volts for "93 degrees" it measures at the coolant temp sensor, and .34 volts to another volt meter for ambient temp or something like that.

Reality is i'd rather be able to stagger few simple 5 bucks digital volt meters than have to buy an expensive display display that shows exactly the same thing.
- I think it would actually be simpler to just add OBD-II for the emissions stuff, however I would do it in such a way that it is actually compliant to the spirit of the law, ie set codes if things go wrong etc, so that I don't get myself in trouble.

- Analog outputs might not be a bad idea. I'l take a look but I may only add one or two at best.

Last edited by Reverant; 06-27-2012 at 06:23 AM.
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