Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer

[marvinp]

Originally Posted by dvq

Thanks for sharing! This makes me even more excited about trying it out.

[nicknaz]

Hey guys, sorry for the dumb question but what’s the advantage of this over the traditional systems like an AIM dash with sensors and smartycam, with the aim analysis software?

Is it because it’s cheaper? Or is there some type of new analysis it opens up?

[Suds]

[QUOTE=nicknaz;26691927]Hey guys, sorry for the dumb question but what’s the advantage of this over the traditional systems like an AIM dash with sensors and smartycam, with the aim analysis software?

Nothing other than it’s requires no effort and the video and data is available at the end of the session.

If you own all that stuff it probably wouldn’t make sense.

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Hey guys, sorry for the dumb question but what’s the advantage of this over the traditional systems like an AIM dash with sensors and smartycam, with the aim analysis software?

Is it because it’s cheaper? Or is there some type of new analysis it opens up?

Reading a lot about this, this is from the rennlist forums:

I think the "issue" is that this is a new approach to coaching, and people are comparing (in advance) the capabilities with existing systems that collect telemetry from the car itself and present that in a format
that then requires human interpretation in order to determine actions that the Catalyst is already determining itself ... i.e later braking, turn in points, acceleration out of corners etc...

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Hey guys, sorry for the dumb question but what’s the advantage of this over the traditional systems like an AIM dash with sensors and smartycam, with the aim analysis software?

Is it because it’s cheaper? Or is there some type of new analysis it opens up?

Two different systems with two different approaches.

AIM/VBox and similar systems are really data-first approaches. Even for a very technically savvy person, it takes a lot of brainpower to download the data, and go through the data to figure out what you need to do next. I've had my AIM system for over 8 years and still consider myself a newbie.

Garmin is really more of a coaching system first. It's purpose is to provide quick analysis to help you find more time/speed around the track. It might not offer the granular data/video analysis from the AIM/VBoxes of the world, but it makes up for it in providing quick bitesized suggestions for improvement.

I'm really eager to get my seat time with the system. I'm planning to take a Fri/Mon off just to bring it out to my home track and tinker with it more. The fact that so many people are excited about it, gives me a lot of hope.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by fanatic1

Reading a lot about this, this is from the rennlist forums:

I think the "issue" is that this is a new approach to coaching, and people are comparing (in advance) the capabilities with existing systems that collect telemetry from the car itself and present that in a format
that then requires human interpretation in order to determine actions that the Catalyst is already determining itself ... i.e later braking, turn in points, acceleration out of corners etc...

So I saw the promo video and it showed feedback like “next left carry more speed”, and a predictive timer and splits.

Is that it or are there key features that’s more nuanced (I didn’t view the 30 minute vids in the thread, so thank you for the tl dr)

Edit: Sc Trojan, I don’t disagree on the aim. I got coaching on how to use it from several people and still find it a bit annoying to use . The granularity of the data is amazing through

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

So I saw the promo video and it showed feedback like “next left carry more speed”, and a predictive timer and splits.

Is that it or are there key features that’s more nuanced (I didn’t view the 30 minute vids in the thread, so thank you for the tl dr)

Edit: Sc Trojan, I don’t disagree on the aim. I got coaching on how to use it from several people and still find it a bit annoying to use . The granularity of the data is amazing through

As Peter Krause puts it, this is not a replacement for AIM/VBOX etc.

What Catalyst offers is real time, easy to use information vs lots of data that requires some level of expertise to interpret correctly and the those are after the fact (except for limited +/- etc)

Just received Catalyst and will try this weekend.

[dvq]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

So I saw the promo video and it showed feedback like “next left carry more speed”, and a predictive timer and splits.

Is that it or are there key features that’s more nuanced (I didn’t view the 30 minute vids in the thread, so thank you for the tl dr)

Edit: Sc Trojan, I don’t disagree on the aim. I got coaching on how to use it from several people and still find it a bit annoying to use . The granularity of the data is amazing through

There's two levels of audio coaching from what I've been told -- basic and much more advanced coaching. The other thing is there is immediate feedback after the corner about if you did what the coach instructed. I'll record sessions tomorrow at Laguna Seca.

[paffinity]

Anyone know how to export the videos, or is it not possible?

[MagnusT]

Originally Posted by paffinity

Anyone know how to export the videos, or is it not possible?

Plug in USB to computer, it shows up as a hard drive. Copy movie files. There is NO data overlaid, just the camera video.

[MagnusT]

I posted som videos filming the Catalyst screen and driving https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...1754996&page=3

[calubi]

Originally Posted by MagnusT

Plug in USB to computer, it shows up as a hard drive. Copy movie files. There is NO data overlaid, just the camera video.

Is the data available in another file?

[MagnusT]

Originally Posted by calubi

Is the data available in another file?

Someone did dig up some separate GPS files but they where 1Hz only

[dvq]

I used mine for the first time on Saturday @ Laguna Seca.

- First Session: No coaching just baseline, matched my last day at Laguna Seca within 1/10th of a second on laps without or minimal traffic.

- Second Session: Basic coaching enabled, "added" the 3 opportunities the review recommended after Session 1. Basic coaching only had coaching for the opportunities I had selected during review and not other turns. After 3 laps of warming up tires and low traffic I dropped almost 2 seconds and had 3 subsequent laps with lap times within 2/10ths of each other. Feedback as to wether or not I had followed the advice was immediate after the corner, I found this extremely helpful.

- Third Session: Turned on advanced coaching, it made a lot more coaching guidance on turns beyond the ones I had added to coaching during review. It also made recommendations about braking intensity and not just braking distances. Unfortunately this session had plenty of traffic and hit fuel reserve midway through the session.

- Fourth Session: Advanced coaching still, dropped another half second after warming up tires.


I'm impressed by the coaching and immediate feedback. Post session review was super simple, the interface takes a few minutes to figure out how it's broken down into line, braking, and speed. Very easy to digest once you figure this out. Next up is Sonoma raceway on Sunday.

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by paffinity

I also got the suction cup mount was worried the view gets blocked by the mount. Have you tested the camera in that position?

Saw on other forums that the part of the video image that gets blocked by suction mount is near the top and doesn't affect the performance in anyway

[dvq]

Originally Posted by fanatic1

Saw on other forums that the part of the video image that gets blocked by suction mount is near the top and doesn't affect the performance in anyway

I don't have that issue at all, here's a capture from the catalyst camera mounted on the suction cup.

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by dvq

I don't have that issue at all, here's a capture from the catalyst camera mounted on the suction cup.

Great shot!

[paffinity]

Originally Posted by MagnusT

Plug in USB to computer, it shows up as a hard drive. Copy movie files. There is NO data overlaid, just the camera video.

That's a bummer. I see that it stitches together your best segments to make an optimal lap for your session.

[calubi]

Sounds like a great coaching and learning device! Less so for detailed data analysis and lap comparisons with friends. This plus an AIM Solo 2 DL may make a great combination: instant coaching and between session feedback on the Catalyst; data logging, detailed offline lap analysis, and lap comparisons with Track Attack or similar using AIM data. With the raw video available on the Catalyst, you should be able to overlay the AIM data with Race Render. That would be an expensive combination though!

[drroc]

Originally Posted by dvq

I used mine for the first time on Saturday @ Laguna Seca.

- First Session: No coaching just baseline, matched my last day at Laguna Seca within 1/10th of a second on laps without or minimal traffic.

- Second Session: Basic coaching enabled, "added" the 3 opportunities the review recommended after Session 1. Basic coaching only had coaching for the opportunities I had selected during review and not other turns. After 3 laps of warming up tires and low traffic I dropped almost 2 seconds and had 3 subsequent laps with lap times within 2/10ths of each other. Feedback as to wether or not I had followed the advice was immediate after the corner, I found this extremely helpful.

- Third Session: Turned on advanced coaching, it made a lot more coaching guidance on turns beyond the ones I had added to coaching during review. It also made recommendations about braking intensity and not just braking distances. Unfortunately this session had plenty of traffic and hit fuel reserve midway through the session.

- Fourth Session: Advanced coaching still, dropped another half second after warming up tires.


I'm impressed by the coaching and immediate feedback. Post session review was super simple, the interface takes a few minutes to figure out how it's broken down into line, braking, and speed. Very easy to digest once you figure this out. Next up is Sonoma raceway on Sunday.

What time did you get at Laguna on your fourth session after all of the AI based coaching?

[dvq]

Originally Posted by drroc

What time did you get at Laguna on your fourth session after all of the AI based coaching?

3 laps in the mid/low 1:44s — there's tons of time left there too — I'm not even comfortable with this platform yet as it's relatively new to me coming from the s2000.

[drroc]

Originally Posted by dvq

3 laps in the mid/low 1:44s — there's tons of time left there too — I'm not even comfortable with this platform yet as it's relatively new to me coming from the s2000.

Going to low 1:40s is going to be trickier. I managed a 1:43.7, and I am trying to figure out how to shave off extra time. I wonder if the Catalyst would provide useful feedback to shave off the extra 3 seconds.

Congrats on the time though. Once you cross the 1:45 barrier, you really start moving at Laguna