Sensors fine tune motorbike performance

Alto uses Variohm's sensors under extremely arduous conditions to acquire fast and precise feedback for race-critical parameters

When the 2008 Thunderbike UK motorcycle championship takes place from 8th to 9th, March Brands Hatch's Vyrus 994cc bike will make its debut.

The bike has a front swing arm suspension system with hub-centre steering.

Variohm Eurosensor supplies position, pressure and temperature sensors to measure and continuously improve the machine's performance.

Unlike conventional motorbikes with front forks which suffer from inherent handling problems caused by deflection and stiction, plus a tendency to "dive" under braking, the aluminium swing arm separates the steering and damping systems to offer much improved handling as the trail and the steering angle remains constant in all conditions.

As with all levels of competitive autosports, monitoring dynamic data and interpreting results is fundamental to performance improvement.

At the test track and on race days, Alto uses Variohm's sensors under extremely arduous conditions to acquire fast and precise feedback for race-critical parameters that include front/ rear suspension position, front/rear brake pressure and throttle position along with tyre and ambient air temperatures, barometric pressure and engine rev/min.

These real-time readings combine to pin-point information delivered from the bikes' CANbus network by telemetry to data loggers that determine exactly how a machine and rider has responded to the demands of the track and provide the race team with statistics for continuous design and setup improvement.

The rugged Autosports version of the ELP slimline linear position transducers are used for the suspension ride-height feedback during braking, cornering, track bumps and undulations.

The compact sensors conductive plastic track is fully sealed to IP67 and fast replacement is allowed by optional pop mountings.

High linearity and excellent positional repeatability combine with a very wide temperature range and mechanical life in excess of 25 million operations to provide a highly reliable position feedback transducer.

The bike's throttle reading is measured with a Vertex 13E series, 14bit resolution angle sensor.

This 13mm diameter sensor is IP69 rated and the noncontact hall effect and magnet design yields an almost limitless life.

Within the Vyrus application the programmable 0 - 360 degree electrical angle is calibrated in-situ to provide highly accurate and repeatable power feedback.

The throttle reading can even provide the race team with precise details of when control is momentarily lost due to unexpected track bumps affecting the riders grip.

EPT series 1200 pressure sensors provide dynamic and high-speed brake pressure information from a very rugged yet compact high-strength stainless steel packaged design.

Measuring up to 400bar, the hermitically welded, thin film measuring cell and high level output circuit technology ensures this sensor is suitable for the demanding shock and vibration levels experienced within the application.

The sensors help confirm when and how the bike is losing traction and detect the minute compression changes in front and rear suspension.

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