Co-Pilot handbook

Operating the Co-Pilot

Record fuel use and maintenance events to provide vehicle operating costs.
Provide records of business and personal trip information for tax reporting.
Measure and record the car's speed vs. time and prepare graphs that compare routes traveled, for selection of lowest cost route with least time required.

The system consists of a hand-held Co-Pilot keypad, a speed sensor, mounting brackets and magnet, Auto Log computer software, and a computer cable and adapter.

The Co-Pilot has no power switch. It automatically turns on when any key is pressed, and turns off after four minutes of inactivity.

NOTE: If you don't want to install the speed sensor, odometer readings can be entered manually.

OPERATING VALUES

Set the operating values to adapt the Co-Pilot to your car before using the system. Using the Auto Log software on your computer, enter your fuel tank capacity and tire radius. The system is programmed with starting values of 15 gallon fuel tank capacity, 12-1/2 inch tire radius, and 20 mile per gallon fuel mileage, so it functions without setting them, but your entries make it exact. The Cal number is the measured radius of the car tire that the Auto Log calculates for you. Enter it with the Cal key. The speedometer to 1-1/2%, the odometer is accurate to 0.5%

OPERATING MODES

The Co-Pilot displays information about the trip in progress as either speed or time. To toggle between modes, press F then Mode. The following displays alternately appear.
Speed - the current speed and elapsed mileage for the trip in progress. Example display:
Speed: 65 Mileage:180 Time - type of trip (business or personal), date, time and fuel remaining.
Example business display:
Bus 2/27 12:37p Fuel - 87 Example personal use display:
Per 2/27 12:37p Fuel - 180 miles

BUSINESS OR PERSONAL TRIPS
To change the type of trip at any time, press F then Business. The Co-Pilot responds

Business record Yes or No? Yes selects a business trip.

The Co-Pilot records the mileage for business and personal trips and produces a record suitable for income tax purposes. To start a business trip, press F then Start. The Co-Pilot responds

Start trip #14 45768.7_ Enter

If a sensor is installed, mileage is automatically entered. If the mileage is correct, press Enter. If incorrect, correct it with the Del key and the numerical keypad. The Co-Pilot returns to the previously selected display after you press Enter.

If no sensor is installed the Co-Pilot responds: Enter mileage
Key in the mileage and press Enter. The Co-Pilot returns to the previous display.

To stop a business trip, press F then Stop. The Co-Pilot responds:

Stop trip #14 45822.4_

If a sensor is installed, mileage automatically enters If the mileage is correct press Enter. If incorrect, correct it. The Co-Pilot returns to the previously selected display. If no sensor is installed, the Co-Pilot responds Enter mileage on the top line. Key in the mileage and press Enter. The Co-Pilot then returns to the previous display.

A personal use display is as follows:

Per 2/27 12:37p Fuel - 180
To change the type of trip at any time, press F then Business. The Co-Pilot responds
Business record Yes or No? Respond accordingly with the Yes or No key.

STOPPING FOR FUEL

To enter fuel information after adding fuel, press F then Fuel.

1. The Co-Pilot responds Enter fuel cost on the top line of the display.
Key in the fuel cost and press Enter.

2. The Co-Pilot responds Enter gallons on the top line.
Key in the number of gallons and press Enter.

3. The Co- Pilot responds Fuel tank fillup

Yes or No? Press the Yes key if the tank was completely filled.

4. If a sensor is installed, mileage is automatically entered and you are finished with fuel entry. The Co-Pilot returns to the previously selected display. Otherwise the Co-Pilot responds Enter mileage on the top line.
Key in the mileage and press Enter. The Co-Pilot now returns to the previously selected display. An example dialog is as follows:

Enter fuel cost (you type) 17.86_
Enter gallons (you type) 12.763_
Fuel tank fillup Yes or No?
Enter mileage (you type) 62177.4_

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE

To enter maintenance information, press F then Maint

The Co-Pilot responds Enter maint cost on the top line of the display.
Key in the cost and press Enter

If a sensor is installed, mileage is automatically entered and you are finished with the maintenance entry. The Co-Pilot returns to the previously selected display. Otherwise the Co-Pilot responds Enter mileage on the top line.
Key in the mileage and press Enter. The Co-Pilot now returns to the previously selected display. An example maintenance entry is as follows:

Enter maint cost (you type) 122.37_
Enter mileage (you type) 62177.4_

GRAPH MODE - TRIP ANALYZER

Turn on the graph mode when you want to gather information on a route to work. Press F Graph. The Co-Pilot responds:

Take graph data Yes or No?
Press Yes. The Co-Pilot then memorizes the average speed vs. time for every minute of the trip. Memorizing continues until graph mode is turned off. Cancel graph mode when you finish your trip. Press F then Graph then No. The Co-Pilot has enough memory for four hours of graphing. When downloaded to the Trip Analyzer in the Auto Log, this recording shows your average speed for every trip minute.

DOWNLOADING TO A COMPUTER

Co-Pilot stores 150 entries of fuel, maintenance, business/personal and start/stop data. To download to an IBM PC or compatible computer, connect the serial cable to the 6-pin RJ-11 connector on the side of the Co-Pilot and plug the 9-pin D into the computer serial port. The system stores data in ASCII format for compatility with databases. Press F then PC. The Co-Pilot responds

Download to PC In the Auto Log, click on the Download From Co-Pilot icon. Data transfers and the Co-Pilot responds Del to clear
Press Del and the Co-Pilot returns to the previously selected display mode.

TO CLEAR MEMORY

The Co-Pilot has 32K of memory. Use this command carefully as it removes all trip, fuel and maintenance data. It does not clear the odometer or operating values. Memory is automatically cleared by the computer after downloading data.

To clear memory press F then Clear. The Co-Pilot responds

Clear memory Yes or No? Respond accordingly with the Yes or No key.

CALIBRATION SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER

There are two ways to calibrate the Co-Pilot to the host vehicle. One method is to drive the car a steady 55 MPH, press F then Cal then Yes. The following display appears Cal = 55 mph Yes when steady The second method enters the calibration number calculated by the Auto Log software. To enter these Cal numbers press F then Cal. The following display appears:
Cal Mileage = Enter odometer cal number with the keypad and press Enter. The following display appears
Cal Speed = Enter speedometer cal number with the keypad and press Enter.

The mileage (odometer) cal number formula is as follows (differential ratio X 1008) / tire radius. The speedometer cal number formula is as follows (tire radius X 1424) / differential ratio. On front wheel drive cars the differential ratio is 1. The ratio for rear wheel drive cars can be calculated by driving 55 MPH and noting the speed of the car speedometer and that of the Co-Pilot speedometer. Using the Auto Log software, click on the Co-Pilot Setup icon, enter these two numbers, and the computer calculates the differential ratio.

TO SET SPEED ALARM

To select, press F then Speed. For no alarm, enter 0

TO SET TIME OF DAY

Time and date are automatically reset when you download to the computer. To manually reset, press F then Time. Enter four digits and . for AM Enter, then date 4 digits Enter. Time example is 0607. for 6:07 AM. Date example is 0209 for February 9.

BATTERY LOW

The Co-Pilot measures its internal AA battery voltage each time it powers up. A low battery it indicates as follows. Recharge or replace the battery within 24 hours.

Battery low! Del to clear

KEYPAD DESCRIPTION

The Co-Pilot front panel is a 16-key keypad colored yellow and white. Key functions are:

panel

0 through 9, decimal point and Enter Used to enter numerical data.

Yes and No Used to respond to system questions.

Del Has two purposes. 1. It edits numeric data by deleting the character before the curser. 2. It cancels any command initiated by the function buttons.

F Changes the function of the lower 12 keys from the value in white to the value in yellow.

Time and Speed Selects the display option

Start and Stop Starts and finishes a trip.

Mode Selects or de-selects the AUTO mode of operation

Graph Displays a reference of wheel revolution data vs. time. Used to analyze the MPH recorder data.

Fuel and Maint Enters fuel amd maintenance expenses.

Business Selects business or personal mode of operation.

Clear Initializes the memory.

Cal Measures wheel speed at 55 MPH to calibrate the Co-Pilot to the car.

PC Transfers data stored in the Co-Pilot memory to a PC or compatible computer.

BATTERIES

Two AA cells power the Co-Pilot. Rechargeables are recommended, but use any type of cell you want - rechargeable or non-rechargeable.. For non-rechargeables, alkalines have longer life.

I/O CONNECTOR

The 9-pin serial connector located on the side of the Co-Pilot serves two purposes. It is the connect point for the speed sensor, and it is the RS-232 serial port to the computer. This connector is scheduled for change to a telephone-type RJ-11 connector located in the same place. The pinout is as follows:
Pin 1 - Txd (RS-232)
Pin 2 - Positive supply (6-9 VDC)
Pin 3 - Signal ground
Pin 4 - Wheel RPM sensor
Pin 5 - Future use
Pin 6 - Rxd (RS-232)
Pin 7 -
Pin 8 -
Pin 9 -

OPERATING TIPS

€ Download your data to the computer every two or three days. This way your trip and expense information is still fresh in mind and you can make maximum use of the Co-Pilot's capability.
€ Recharge your batteries while you are downloading to assure uninterrupted operation.
€ Keep two sets of rechargeables - one to power the Co-Pilot while the other is recharging.
€ The Co-Pilot stores enough power to remember the time and date while you are changing batteries - a minute or so.