Dynolicious: Car performance meter for iPod/iPhone

Matt Simis

Ok, I saw this on BMW-Driver.net, but its worth posting here too.
An IPhone/IPod Touch App that uses the Accelerometer in the device to

* 0-60 Acceleration
* 1/4 Mile Elapsed Time
* Lateral G's
* Horsepower (estimate)
* Friction Circle
* Downloadable Timed Run Graphs
* Downloadable Skidpad Graphs

http://www.dynolicious.com/gallery.php


I had a similar device that I paid about EUR100 for a couple years back, but its based on the exact same principle as the Iphone App (Accelerometers). Before you scoff at it being a "toy", its getting very good feedback online, comparing well with more expensive equipment, as many of them work on the same type of HW.

I downloaded and will try tomorrow. Just remember to calibrate it, put in the car weight and position it securely and correctly:



Given the many other uses for iPod Touches, this makes purchasing one for this as your killer app a reasonable idea indeed.

Mr Benevolent

Interesting idea - lateral G is probably the best way of determining acceleration. I use it all the time when testing my X-Plane creations.

woop

Confab wrote: »

Interesting idea - lateral G is probably the best way of determining acceleration. I use it all the time when testing my X-Plane creations.

meant to be the pretty accurate
well for what you pay like looky at youtube theres a review

tossy

there is a similar app for nokia phones that uses the GPS,its also pretty accurate.

Owen

I've got Dynolicious, there's a review on Youtube alright where they run a car on a real dyno, and then test it using the iPhone app. They're nearly identical.

It also has a Skidpan feature to show you how much G you're pulling in any direction, and allows you to save your dynographs for viewing later too. Well worth the few Euro.

Victor_M

There is also a free app called Pocket Dyno, I have it installed on my iPhone but haven't had a dry enough day in a car park to try it out yet.

5500

I have it on my itouch and im going to have a run today and see what figure it throws out in comparision to the last "proper" dyno run i had on the car

mik_da_man

My bro has the free app on his touch and it's pretty accurate
It came to within 3 to 4 BPH of my car when I tested it!

Might give this one a shot though...

245

Has anyone succeeded in buying it from the European iTunes site recently? I've tried to buy it for my iPod Touch but when I try I keep on getting a message saying that the store isn't available - I can buy other stuff so the message is incorrect...

Matt Simis

Yeah I bought it from the Irish store 3 days ago.

colm_mcm

I used a G Tech which uses similar technology and the results were consistent with actual 1/4 mile and 0-60 readings. Not sure that the Iphone would be as accurate. As long as the margin of error is the same, it's handy for reducing 0-60 times and 1/4 mile times.

TheBazman

Victor_M wrote: »

There is also a free app called Pocket Dyno, I have it installed on my iPhone but haven't had a dry enough day in a car park to try it out yet.

They did a review in the latest Performance Car magazine and PocketDyno came out best (ant it's free now)

Results Dynolicious - 9.1 0-60time versus VBOX of 10.4
PocketDyno - 10.7 versus VOX of 10.3 (and would have been closer except it was 0-62 on PocketDyno)
G-TAC - 12.1 versus VBOX of 10.5

I downloaded PocketDyno so I'm going to give it a try

niceirishfella

tossy wrote: »

there is a similar app for nokia phones that uses the GPS,its also pretty accurate.

is there on for the N95?
and where would i get it?

Gumbo

TheBazman wrote: »

They did a review in the latest Performance Car magazine and PocketDyno came out best (ant it's free now)

Results Dynolicious - 9.1 0-60time versus VBOX of 10.4
PocketDyno - 10.7 versus VOX of 10.3 (and would have been closer except it was 0-62 on PocketDyno)
G-TAC - 12.1 versus VBOX of 10.5

I downloaded PocketDyno so I'm going to give it a try

where can you down load it for free?

copacetic

pocketdyno is free in the app store

245

You can get it from iTunes - you need to search for pocketdyno and select pocketdyno and not pocketdyno+ (which costs a bit extra). You also need to make sure that your Touch/iPhone is updated with V2 of its software or later prior to the install.

edit:

or as Copacetic said... (I must be a slow typeist)

Matt Simis

TheBazman wrote: »

They did a review in the latest Performance Car magazine and PocketDyno came out best (ant it's free now)

Results Dynolicious - 9.1 0-60time versus VBOX of 10.4
PocketDyno - 10.7 versus VOX of 10.3 (and would have been closer except it was 0-62 on PocketDyno)
G-TAC - 12.1 versus VBOX of 10.5

I downloaded PocketDyno so I'm going to give it a try

Ive got Dynolicious and PocketDyno (free version) now. Will test both, the results can vary depending on individual devices and end user calibration (so two areas they can go wrong per test/device). Id be surprised if the 0-60 was that far off on either of them, 1.3secs is huge. Mind you, the G-Tac seems even more hopeless in that test.

I could even go as far as to put the Free app on my GFs iPhone and have Dynolicious on my iPod for a side by side comparison. If I was really motivated I could also plug in the Vag-Com to the car itself and have it measure 0-60 independently.

Gumbo

copacetic wrote: »

pocketdyno is free in the app store

245 wrote: »

You can get it from iTunes - you need to search for pocketdyno and select pocketdyno and not pocketdyno+ (which costs a bit extra). You also need to make sure that your Touch/iPhone is updated with V2 of its software or later prior to the install.

edit:

or as Copacetic said... (I must be a slow typeist)

thanks guys, it was the pocketdyno+ app that kept appearing whenever i searched!

.Longshanks.

Thanks for the heads up on this. Installing it at the minute and hope to give it a try tomorrow evening.

poreilly101

Any similar application for windows 6.2 on the Plam Treo Pro ?

TheBazman

Did one run this morning with Pocket Dyno - was caught a bit offguard with how quick the countdown was so reaction time was quite slow. Showed a 6.76sec 0-62 versus manafacturer claim of 6.4 0-60. Seems pretty good as with a bit of practice I think it would be fairly bang on

(Carried out on private road of course )

stealthyspeeder

tossy wrote: »

there is a similar app for nokia phones that uses the GPS,its also pretty accurate.

I want it!!:D what is its name and where can you get it?

.Longshanks.

I had two runs at this today on a private road. After a few false (ipod) starts, the flashing traction control light then spoiled the first run. The second 0-62mph came in at 6.48 sec when the manufacture says 6.8secs.
My car is 192 bhp - how do i work out the comparison of the recorded 298 whp (wheel horse power??) and 222kw figures?

Pretty cool gadget - even if turns out not too be 100% accurate

stealthyspeeder

The Nokia Version is called GTx, works on new Nokias, not as cool as the dynolicious though :mad:

Im also a cheap skate and have only downloaded the trial version so can't measure 0-60 time and 1/4 mile time yet but when I fork out and test it, I'll let you all know!

Biro

Longshanks100 wrote: »

I had two runs at this today on a private road. After a few false (ipod) starts, the flashing traction control light then spoiled the first run. The second 0-62mph came in at 6.48 sec when the manufacture says 6.8secs.
My car is 192 bhp - how do i work out the comparison of the recorded 298 whp (wheel horse power??) and 222kw figures?

Pretty cool gadget - even if turns out not too be 100% accurate

That seems very inaccurate to me. Especially your whp. Your actual whp would be around 150 - 160bhp. So it's almost 100% off. The 0-62 being 6.48 seems optimistic too. The Manufacturer quote for that figure would be about as good as you'll do in most cases, so in reality you could even be .2 of a sec slower than the official figure. What car is it?

stealthyspeeder

Biro wrote: »

That seems very inaccurate to me. Especially your whp. Your actual whp would be around 150 - 160bhp. So it's almost 100% off. The 0-62 being 6.48 seems optimistic too. The Manufacturer quote for that figure would be about as good as you'll do in most cases, so in reality you could even be .2 of a sec slower than the official figure. What car is it?

Does anybody know how they test 0-60 times? One of my friends thinks they put a passenger in the car and run every car on on a full tank of 98 RON petrol (for petrol cars) I think this sounds a litle dubious but would like to know now as Im convinced I can get (with sat nav) a 0-60 time of 5.9 from my car which is quoted by Mazda as 6.1!?

Biro

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

Does anybody know how they test 0-60 times? One of my friends thinks they put a passenger in the car and run every car on on a full tank of 98 RON petrol (for petrol cars) I think this sounds a litle dubious but would like to know now as Im convinced I can get (with sat nav) a 0-60 time of 5.9 from my car which is quoted by Mazda as 6.1!?

Look at how Autocar do it! It's special equipment, no passenger. Not satellite based equip either so far as I know. Is the Mazda quoted figure 0-62 maybe? That'd explain your 5.9 0-60!

.Longshanks.

Biro wrote: »

That seems very inaccurate to me. Especially your whp. Your actual whp would be around 150 - 160bhp. So it's almost 100% off. The 0-62 being 6.48 seems optimistic too. The Manufacturer quote for that figure would be about as good as you'll do in most cases, so in reality you could even be .2 of a sec slower than the official figure. What car is it?

Its a corsa opc. Inputing the wrong weight to the ipod app might answer why the whp is so far out - but i had a quick google before using the figure i did + my weight.
Its only a bit of fun but its good craic!

TheBazman

I agree it's only a bit of fun

I changed the settings this morning and did a run - 6.4 0-60 bang on the manafacturers claim...somewhat comforting however the power readings I am getting are complete rubbish despite the weight being correct ish

DaMonk

Longshanks100 wrote: »

I had two runs at this today on a private road. After a few false (ipod) starts, the flashing traction control light then spoiled the first run. The second 0-62mph came in at 6.48 sec when the manufacture says 6.8secs.
My car is 192 bhp - how do i work out the comparison of the recorded 298 whp (wheel horse power??) and 222kw figures?

Pretty cool gadget - even if turns out not too be 100% accurate

sounds like a remapped 1.8T VAG to me??

.Longshanks.

DaMonk wrote: »

sounds like a remapped 1.8T VAG to me??

See above.....

Biro

Longshanks100 wrote: »

Its a corsa opc. Inputing the wrong weight to the ipod app might answer why the whp is so far out - but i had a quick google before using the figure i did + my weight.
Its only a bit of fun but its good craic!

Decent car those! Rare in these shores too!

tossy

Sorry for the late late reply to this one lads,the one i used for the N958gb was tempes gt,its good craic seeing your time over the first 60ft etc but the novelty wore off after a while,i managed 6.8 to 62 with half a tank of petrol.I can't remember the 1/4 mile times as my phone memory went awol and i lost all the data along with my pub bragging rights 155mph top speed in the sat nav from the autobahns

Where it really comes in handy is after you have added a significant performance mod to your car such as a remap or turbo etc and to compare the times.