What is a Data Logger in Automotive and How is it Used?

In today’s world, data is essential across almost every industry. Knowing how to collect and use it effectively has become critical for staying ahead of the competition, streamlining processes, and driving innovation in product development and testing — especially in the automotive sector.

Quick facts about automotive data loggers

• What are they? Automotive data loggers are tools for collecting data from vehicles and machines.

• What are they used for? Common applications include vehicle research, market analysis, predictive maintenance, insurance underwriting, and fleet management.

• Market growth. By 2025, the automotive data logger market is projected to reach USD 4.4 billion.

In this post, we’ll break down the automotive data loggers and explore how they’re used in the automotive industry with real-world examples. If you’re considering implementing this technology for your business, we’ll also show you how to get started.

What is Data Logger in Automotive?

Data loggers are seeing increased use in the automotive industry. One example is the logging of OBD-II and CAN bus data for internal vehicle testing. For many companies, this can become very expensive and time-consuming, especially since many testing applications require that the data not fall into the hands of third parties.

During engine and vehicle testing, automotive data loggers are used to monitor operating conditions such as temperature, RPM, and fuel consumption to precisely measure and control test environments. Automotive data loggers are also used to extract raw CAN bus data, for instance, to identify faults or anomalies in vehicle systems by analyzing real-time or logged data from the CAN bus.

The CAN bus is one of five protocols used in the OBD-II system. Since 1996 in the U.S. and 2003 in the EU, it has been mandatory for all cars and light trucks to have this system. Automotive data loggers can be connected to an OBD-II port to collect this data.

Modern cars with onboard data logging and internet access (through vehicle telematics) provide a new and potentially interesting data stream. These cars can be configured to upload information on driving habits and vehicle performance to a central database, where it can be combined into a large dataset. Analyzing this data can provide new insights that are useful for:

Automotive Data Logger Examples

There are many automotive data loggers on the market, ranging from a few thousand dollars per unit to 96 dollars per unit. It can be difficult to see what it is that this device can do, you would have to have some kind of technical knowledge to be able to distinguish between the devices on the market and what it can do for your fleet.

The devices we currently have at our store are a great example of different automotive data loggers for different use cases, as no devices are 100% similar on the market. Without sales jargons, here’s a quick introduction:

AutoPi CAN-FD Pro

Price Range: $599

Full CAN Dump of dual CAN/CAN-FD buses

Advanced

Industrial Installation

Learn more

AutoPi TMU CM4

Price Range: $405

Raspberry Pi-based & customizable

Intermediate

Heavy-duty & Passenger Vehicles

Learn More

AutoPi Mini

Price Range: $96

Plug & play, easy to set up fleet tracking

Beginner-friendly

Passenger Vehicles

Learn More

To use these devices effectively, you’ll need some level of technical knowledge to take full advantage of an automotive data logger—or at least have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what data you need.

I’ve categorized the three AutoPi Devices by technical complexity, from advanced to beginner-friendly. For example, the AutoPi Mini requires no technical expertise at all. Simply plug the device into your vehicle’s OBD port, create an account on AutoPi Cloud, connect the device, and you’re ready to go.

How To Use an Automotive Data Logger

Learning how to use an automotive data logger is often more important than simply knowing what it is. As mentioned earlier, there are data loggers that you can start using right away, even without technical knowledge. On the other hand, some devices require more configuration and setup to extract the specific data you need.

Plug-and-play devices typically provide predefined vehicle data, such as battery charge level, fault codes, DTC, fuel pressure, and over 30 others. In contrast, devices that require more technical knowledge allow you to customize the exact data points you want, including their order, format, range, and other parameters.

What all automotive data loggers have in common is that they need to connect to the vehicle’s OBD-II port in one way or another. That’s where the data is pulled from. Check out our getting started guides.

Application Examples Using Automotive Data Loggers

The automotive industry is vast, and there are multiple application examples of these. With that said, let’s try to look at the most 3 common solutions based on the clients we have served.

Real-Time Road Anomaly Mapping

The client, working with the municipality, needed to detect road anomalies and gather precise real-time data about their causes, including identifying patterns of wear and environmental impacts. Using the CAN-FD Pro, equipped with an onboard accelerometer and gyroscope, they were able to capture even the smallest details of the vehicles’ journeys, such as vibrations, sharp turns, and uneven surfaces.

With this solution, the client successfully mapped road anomalies detected by the device. This data provided valuable insights into road conditions, which were incorporated into their plans to improve infrastructure for the citizens.

Heavy-Duty Fleet Monitoring for Isolated Locations

This client needed to monitor their machines in underground environments where signal strength was a challenge. To address this, we customized the device to work with lower-frequency signals, enabling reliable communication underground through a combination of antennas, repeaters, and mesh network configurations.

This solution provided the client with stable signal coverage, allowing them to track the location of their machines and monitor key data parameters to ensure optimal performance and maintenance.

Battery Usage and Range Tracking for Fleets

The client weren't technical strong but needed a solution to monitor their leased electric vehicles fleet. To meet their needs, we provided them with AutoPi Mini devices. They wanted to track key parameters like mileage, location, and battery health.

The Mini device supports these data points right out of the box. Paired with the AutoPi Cloud, they were able to relay this information to their dashboard using our automated report, ensuring their vehicles remained in excellent condition.

If you’d like to learn more about our devices or discuss how we can support your specific project, feel free to reach out. We’re always ready to hear about your challenges and explore how we can work together.