CVDAS-a data acquisition/retrieval architecture for statistical characterization of vehicle usage

A clear understanding of how customers customers really use their cars and trucks is critical to any design/development group which seeks to deliver affordable, high-reliability, high-quality products that meet the needs of automotive customers. Information that accurately reflects customer vehicle usage is essential for obtaining such an understanding, and is indispensable for the crafting of appropriate specifications for development and testing. The Customer Vehicle Data Acquisition System (CVDAS) is the outcome of a Ford Motor Company effort that addresses the challenges of implementing a cost-effective solution for acquiring automotive usage information from vehicle owned and/or operated by everyday customers. Features of this system include the Customer Logger Module (CLM), which is the nucleus of the system; an on-board data communication network backbone, which utilizes Ford´s production Standard Corporate Protocol (SCP); auxiliary SCP-compatible modules, including a GPS-to-SCP data interface module (GPS2SCP); and a wireless off-board data communication facility. Key to the viability of this low-cost system is a data-handling strategy that emphasizes the predominant use of statistical usage characterization arrays whose compact nature helps reduce costs. This paper overviews the modular architecture of the CVDAS, describes characteristics of system elements, and reviews the impact of statistical usage characterization on both system implementation and system operational cost