Rolling road - Graphical user interface (GUI) software

Our ‘Rolling road - graphical user interface (GUI)’ software is a powerful tool for capturing and analysing data produced from a rolling road. The software allows for real-time data capture and subsequent analysis.

What is a Rolling Road?

A rolling road is a tool used in many garages for tuning of performance cars. It consists of a set of large concrete rollers for the car to run on, a braking system for the rollers (usually an electronic brake), and a display unit showing the power produced.

The traditional method of using a rolling road is to hold the speed steady at intervals of 500 rpm and record the reading displayed manually. The electronic brake resists the power of the engine; resulting in the power used by the brake is equal to the power produced by the car.

The mechanic then adjusts the engine characteristics and repeats the whole process to re-measure performance.

Disadvantages with this process:

• Costly in terms of time, the whole process of record details over the power range can take several minutes.
• The process is detrimental to the engine, as the car is not moving and even with large fans in front to assist in cooling, engines can become very hot.
• Performance readings are too coarse in measurement steps.

To reduce time and cost a mechanic will usually adjust multiple characteristics at once before retesting, therefore making it difficult to know which step improved the cars performance.

ESR ‘Rolling Road’ software solution

Designed to work with both ‘Hofmann’ and ‘Sun’ Rolling roads, our ‘Rolling road GUI’ software simplifies the whole approach:

• Taking electrical signals from the Rolling road and capturing the data on a PC using our proprietary electronic data capture device.
• Power readings are taken every 20 rpm and displaying on a monitor in real-time. Therefore, the run only takes 10 to 20 seconds depending on the power of the car.
• Improved repeatability; reduction in power loss, by reducing excessive heat generated by the engine.

Data captured from individual runs can be analysis:

• Graphical display of all statistical information, enabling analysis for fault diagnosis.
• Save files for future reference, along with details of car for comparison on subsequent visits.
• Overlay the run; comparison of previous runs to immediately show tuning improvements.
• Printed in a Before/After fashion to show results of the tuning operation to the customer.

Further information

See for yourself, click here, to see a sample run produced using our software.
Alternatively, download a demonstration copy of our ‘Rolling road GUI’ software from our Downloads page.