PAVAS – Demonstration Regularity Run

This menu is entered from the Demonstration Regularity menu. The Regularity menu uses a Null Guidance Technique ((c) JCI 2018). This method uses low and high frequency tones to guide the driver to the desired average speed. To familiarize the driver with the frequencies used for the under speed low over speed high speed tones, they are played for two seconds at the start of the menu. This can be bypassed by pressing any key.

Regularity events are where the vehicle is timed for each lap of a racetrack. The object is to complete as many laps as possible at exactly or less then a specified time. If the time is exceeded, the lap is not counted. Additional rules may apply to a specific event as well. The data entered in the Regularity parameters is the lap distance and the prescribed average speed. PAVAS calculates the instantaneous average speed and used the Null Guidance tones to advise the driver.

One problem with this technique, to recognizing when a lap finishes. Ideally, this might be performed automatically but this would require extra static instrumentation which would probably not be permitted at the event Measuring the lap distance is not an option because, the path a vehicle may take because of traffic and other reasons, is not fixed and could vary significantly.

The PAVAS solution is an additional button that can be remotely mounted. Typically, this must be in easy reach of the driver and can be mounted on the gear stick with a saddle mount. This Regularity button is pressed when a lap finishes. The actual location on the track is not important and usually chosen to suit the driver at a convenient time in the driving pattern. PAVAS then adjusts the lap distance based on the previous lap. This method allows for variations between laps and where the button is pressed. Since PAVAS calculates the average target speed, great accuracy and precision are not required when selecting the end of the lap location. Note the functions of the Regularity button are duplicated by the Select button.

Pressing the Regularity button has a number of safeguards built in. The first safeguard is when the button is pressed, a tone sequence is sounded. This consists of a low frequency tone of 1000 Hz and a high frequency tone of 1300 Hz. The tone duration is 100 milliseconds. This is to advise the driver that the button press has been registered. Subsequent button presses are locked out for one second. If the button is pressed within ten seconds of the previous press, this is used a signal that the Regularity event is complete.

As each lap is completed, PAVAS logs the average speed and target speed so the drivers performance can be accessed later. In addition the total distance travelled and average speed is displayed when the event ends. This gives the driver feedback on his overall performance. In addition, PAVAS counts the number of laps completed as well as the “good” laps. A “good“ lap is defined as one where the average speed did not exceed the designated speed and was not less than 90% of the designated speed.

The demonstration is started by pressing the Select or Regularity button.Once the lap has started, the Null Guidance tones commence and the top line of the displays shows the actual speed and prompt arrows. A Regularity Low speed alarm is a used to indicate that vehicle is less than the minimum allowed speed. This tone is constant with a frequency of 300 Hz. The Alert (warble) and Alert speed alarms are also active and can be used to limit the speed. The simulated speed can be edited using the cursor editing procedure. Due to the button functions being dedicated to setting the speed, they are not available for the other function of changing the parameter display on the second row.

Up arrows indicates the speed should be increased. Down arrows indicate the speed should be decreased. At large diversions from the designated average speed, up to three arrows are displayed. As the diversion decreases, less arrows are displayed. In the case, of overspeed the minimum number of arrows is one. In the case of under-speed the display will move from one arrow to three small rectangles. This indicates that the average speed in the dead zone.

The second line is a rotating display that shows desired speed, the average speed, the lap distance, the distance remaining and the total lap count with the number of “good” laps. The parameters displayed rotate every two seconds. Note this display is not for the driver but is to provide information.

Pressing the Regularity or Select button signifies the end of a lap. If the button is pressed as second time within ten seconds, that signifies the end of the Regularity session.