Instrumentation of Navistar Truck for Data Collection

Project summary:

This project instrumented the new MnDOT Navistar truck used at MnRoad with a rugged data collection, data recording, and wireless communication system to establish a flexible platform for data collection from various sensor suites on the truck. The truck was instrumented with a suite of 20 accelerometers, which are located both on the five axles of the truck and on the tractor and trailer bodies. In addition, the truck was instrumented with a differential GPS system and an inertial measurement unit in the tractor cab. A cRIO-based data acquisition system, rugged laptop, and Labview software together serve as a flexible platform for data acquisition. A wireless communication system was established to communicate trigger signals to roadside cabinets when the truck is at desired GPS locations on the road. The system triggers data recording by in-pavement sensors. Software has also been set up for automatically downloading data from the truck to a server on the network at MnRoad. The experimental performance of the developed system has been verified by multiple tests conducted by the research team. The above instrumentation of the truck will enable data collection on truck vibrations, analysis of correlations between truck vibrations and variations in signals of weigh-in-motion sensors, and the recording of truck movements and pavement loads at MnROAD.