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Core Concepts

ATLAS (Advance Telemetry Linked Acquisition System) is a powerful software platform used to collect, process, and visualise data—especially in high-performance environments like motorsport. But don’t worry: you don’t need to be an engineer to get started. This guide walks you through the essentials.

Tips for New Users

  • Start with a simple session file and explore the display tools.
  • Don’t worry about acronyms, focus on what you want to see or understand.
  • Use the built-in help or reach out to your team for examples and templates.
  • ATLAS is modular, learn one part at a time.

Core Concepts#

1. The Journey of Data#

ATLAS is built around the idea that data flows through a journey—from being captured, to being stored, to being visualised. ATLAS provides tools for each step:

  • Capture: Collect data from sensors, simulations, or control units.

  • Store: Save that data in structured formats for later use.

  • Visualise: Display and analyse the data to make decisions.

2. Getting Started#

When you first open ATLAS, you’ll typically:

  • Load a historical session file (often called an .ssn file).

  • Build a display to view the data—think of this like setting up your dashboard.

  • ATLAS includes a “System Monitor” to help you manage projects and devices, and a tool called ADS (ATLAS Data Server) to connect to real-time data sources 1.

3. Distribute and Capture#

This part of ATLAS helps you:

  • Connect to hardware like ECUs (Electronic Control Units).

  • Export and import configuration files.

  • Use vTAG, a tool that lets you run virtual models (e.g. from Simulink) and view the results in ATLAS.

4. Process and Analyse#

ATLAS supports:

  • Real-time data streaming.

  • Replay of past sessions.

  • Integration with tools like MATLAB or Python for deeper analysis.

You can also compare multiple sessions side-by-side to spot trends or issues.

5. Store and Share#

Data can be stored in:

  • SQLRace: A database system for large-scale data storage.

  • SSN2 files: Local files for quick access.

You can use SQLRace Monitor Studio to manage and share data across teams.

6. Visualise#

ATLAS gives you full control over how data is displayed:

  • Drag-and-drop interface to build custom dashboards.

  • Zoom, pan, and overlay data from different sources.

  • Use colour coding and annotations to highlight key events.

Tools You’ll Encounter#

ATLAS includes a set of tools that work together to help you collect, analyse, and visualise data—each one designed for a specific part of your workflow. Here's a quick guide to what they do and when to use them.

Tool What It Does When to use it
System Monitor Manages projects and hardware connections When programming ECUs
ADS Connects ATLAS to live data sources When streaming live data from a vehicle or simulator
vTAG Runs virtual models and integrates results When running Simulink models with real-world data
SQLRace Stores and manages large datasets For persistent storage
ATLAS Lets you create custom workbooks to visualise data For visualising data in different displays