IFC MCU automatically logs all the components parameters needed for monitoring and for after flight research and evaluation of the propulsion performance.
Logging is done during the flight and during the load test on the ground for the research and evaluation.
The format of the data file is comma-separated CVS which can be imported to any spreadsheet processing editor for analysis. We also developed a utility to perform custom manipulation of the data to create custom graphics.
The following parameters are logged:
1st line shows current date in format: Date Month Year
2nd line represents the table header columns definitions and all the following raws are data raws.
Timestamp : format hr:min:sec
Cell Voltages : 20 columns from Cell0 to Cell19 showing volts with 0.01v precision
Bat Status : status of the Main Battery as per this time entry, reflects the lowest cell reading and/or total voltage of the battery. Definitions as provided in this table here.
Bat Volts : Voltage of the Main Battery with 0.01v precision.
IFC Volts : Voltage of IFC LiIon Battery with 0.01v precision
Bat 1 temp and Bat 2 temp : temperature of the respective Battery boxes 1 and 2 in Celsius.
Contr temp : temperature of the controller in Celsius
Motor temp : temperature of the Motor in Celsius
IFC temp: temperature of the IFC module in Celsius
Amps : main power bus current from Main Battery in Amps
Coulomb : cumulative charge spent since last Power-on or Reset in Amp-Hrs
RPM : momentary RPM
Thrust : Thrust reading from the thrust sensor during the load test on the ground. In Lbs.
Propulsion Log File
| Timestamp | cell0 | cell1 | cell2 | cell3 | cell4 | cell5 | cell6 | cell7 | cell8 | cell9 | cell10 | cell11 | cell12 | cell13 | cell14 | cell15 | cell16 | cell17 | cell18 | cell19 | Bat status | Bat volts | IFC volts | Bat1 temp | Bat2 temp | Contr temp | motor temp | IFC temp | amps | coulomb | RPM | thrust |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22:02:59 | 3.986 | 3.989 | 3.987 | 3.993 | 3.988 | 3.992 | 3.988 | 3.988 | 3.987 | 3.989 | 3.984 | 3.990 | 3.988 | 3.992 | 3.987 | 3.994 | 3.987 | 3.983 | 3.994 | 3.982 | NO_ALARMS | 79.77 | 11.10 | 23.50 | 24.00 | 24.00 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 0.28 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 22:03:00 | 3.971 | 3.978 | 3.975 | 3.981 | 3.975 | 3.980 | 3.976 | 3.975 | 3.974 | 3.978 | 3.971 | 3.978 | 3.977 | 3.979 | 3.974 | 3.982 | 3.975 | 3.970 | 3.981 | 3.970 | NO_ALARMS | 79.52 | 11.11 | 23.50 | 24.00 | 24.00 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 2.69 | 0.00 | 60 | 5 |
| 22:03:01 | 3.967 | 3.973 | 3.970 | 3.979 | 3.975 | 3.979 | 3.972 | 3.970 | 3.970 | 3.976 | 3.967 | 3.973 | 3.972 | 3.977 | 3.973 | 3.980 | 3.971 | 3.965 | 3.977 | 3.969 | NO_ALARMS | 79.46 | 11.11 | 23.50 | 24.00 | 24.00 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 3.13 | 0.00 | 762 | 56 |
| 22:03:03 | 3.964 | 3.971 | 3.967 | 3.974 | 3.970 | 3.976 | 3.969 | 3.968 | 3.967 | 3.970 | 3.964 | 3.971 | 3.970 | 3.971 | 3.968 | 3.978 | 3.969 | 3.963 | 3.974 | 3.963 | NO_ALARMS | 79.39 | 11.10 | 23.50 | 24.00 | 24.00 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 3.38 | 0.00 | 861 | 99 |
| 22:03:04 | 3.964 | 3.969 | 3.966 | 3.974 | 3.968 | 3.972 | 3.969 | 3.966 | 3.966 | 3.971 | 3.964 | 3.970 | 3.969 | 3.971 | 3.966 | 3.973 | 3.969 | 3.961 | 3.973 | 3.964 | NO_ALARMS | 79.37 | 11.11 | 23.50 | 24.00 | 24.00 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 3.31 | 0.00 | 876 | 133 |
| 22:03:05 | 3.960 | 3.970 | 3.968 | 3.975 | 3.969 | 3.971 | 3.966 | 3.968 | 3.968 | 3.972 | 3.961 | 3.970 | 3.970 | 3.973 | 3.967 | 3.973 | 3.966 | 3.963 | 3.975 | 3.965 | CELL_UNDER_VOLT | 79.37 | 11.10 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 24.00 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 3.13 | 0.00 | 777 | 153 |
| 22:03:06 | 3.959 | 3.966 | 3.963 | 3.970 | 3.964 | 3.970 | 3.965 | 3.963 | 3.963 | 3.967 | 3.960 | 3.967 | 3.966 | 3.967 | 3.961 | 3.971 | 3.965 | 3.959 | 3.970 | 3.960 | CELL_UNDER_VOLT | 79.30 | 11.12 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 24.00 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 3.02 | 0.01 | 858 | 152 |
| 22:03:08 | 3.964 | 3.969 | 3.966 | 3.972 | 3.966 | 3.970 | 3.968 | 3.967 | 3.965 | 3.969 | 3.963 | 3.970 | 3.968 | 3.969 | 3.964 | 3.971 | 3.968 | 3.962 | 3.972 | 3.961 | NO_ALARMS | 79.35 | 11.11 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 24.00 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 3.02 | 0.01 | 852 | 153 |
| 22:03:09 | 3.959 | 3.967 | 3.966 | 3.973 | 3.967 | 3.970 | 3.963 | 3.965 | 3.966 | 3.970 | 3.958 | 3.968 | 3.968 | 3.971 | 3.964 | 3.971 | 3.963 | 3.961 | 3.973 | 3.963 | CELL_UNDER_VOLT | 79.33 | 11.10 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 24.00 | 23.50 | 23.50 | 3.05 | 0.01 | 861 | 153 |
Log files are created and initialized automatically after Power-on or Reset.
Maximum number of the log files kept on the card is 10 , from log_0.txt to log_9.txt . If files are not deleted by user, then IFC deletes the oldest and reuses the oldest log file name to keep total number no more than 10 most recent logs.
During each initial setup IFC controller scans the available files by name, incrementing number X. The next file named log_X.txt will be used if it is available. If a file with this name is present then it is deleted and new log file will be created with this name.
To retrieve the log files there are two ways: either open the IFC box and remove MicroSD card from the IFC module for a further usage in PC, or connect PC to IFC using IFC USB port and run the utility which shows all the files on the card and allows to perform a limited number of maintenance, read and wipe commands.