Union Baja SAE: Data Acquisition and Display System for Increased Vehicle Performance

The Baja SAE team faces challenges in monitoring vehicle performance during competitions and analyzing what went wrong after the competition. This often leads to unexpected downtimes and performance setbacks. To address these challenges, the team requires a comprehensive data acquisition system capable of real-time monitoring of key performance metrics: displaying the vehicle speed and warning lights indicating an irregular temperature. Other measurements will be taken and displayed on Union College's Baja SAE team website for analysis after the competition. These measurements are CVT Belt and Gearbox temperatures, vehicle speed, and vehicle orientation. This system will enable early detection of potential failures or performance anomalies, empowering the team to take proactive measures and minimize downtime during competitions. The two major modules for this data display will be a real-time analog dashboard for the driver and a web server for postoperative data analysis. A web server for post-competition review is essential for ensuring the success of future competitions. This project is an integral component of the team's broader efforts to improve vehicle performance, aligning with the larger electrical and embedded systems framework within which it operates. Overall, this system will be crucial in preventing unexpected incidents during competition.