AutoPID logger to csv

[sbaliko]

WiCAN Data Logger v3 — Auto-Discovery Edition

⚠️ SAFETY DISCLAIMER

DO NOT operate this software alone as a driver in your car. This tool requires active monitoring of a laptop or mobile device screen, which is incompatible with safe vehicle operation. Always have a dedicated passenger handle the data logging while the driver focuses entirely on the road.

Running diagnostic software while driving demands continuous attention to the logging interface. Distracted driving is dangerous and illegal in many jurisdictions. If you must log data during a drive, ensure a second person is present to manage the equipment.

The authors of this software accept no liability for accidents, injuries, or damages resulting from improper use of this tool while operating a vehicle.

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Overview

WiCAN Data Logger v3 is a standalone Python 3 script that automatically discovers a WiCAN Pro device on the local network, polls its AutoPID data endpoint at configurable intervals, and writes all received parameters to a timestamped CSV file.

The script uses zero external dependencies — only the Python standard library (urllib, ssl, csv, json, socket, concurrent.futures).

Primary use case: real-time logging of OBD-II diagnostic data from electric vehicles (tested with the Hyundai Ioniq Electric 2021 38 kWh) via the WiCAN Pro's HTTP API.

Features

• Three-phase auto-discovery — mDNS hostnames → common IPs → full subnet scan
• Dynamic field handling — new parameters appearing mid-session are seamlessly added to the CSV
• Three display modes — full grouped view, compact single-line, or minimal key output
• Error recovery — automatic reconnection on network interruptions
• No dependencies — runs on any Python 3.6+ installation out of the box

Requirements

• Python 3.6+
• Network access to the WiCAN Pro device (same Wi-Fi or WiCAN AP mode)
• WiCAN Pro with an AutoPID configuration loaded and active

Installation

No installation required. Clone or download the script:

git clone https://github.com/sbaliko/wican-data-logger.git
cd wican-data-logger

Usage

python3 wican_logger_v3.py

The script will auto-discover the WiCAN device and begin logging. Press Ctrl+C to stop — a summary of all captured fields and the output file path will be printed on exit.

Configuration

All configuration is done via constants at the top of the script. No command-line arguments needed.

Parameter	Default	Description
WICAN_IP	""	Manual IP of WiCAN device. Leave empty for auto-discovery.
WICAN_HOSTNAMES	["wican.local", "wican"]	mDNS/hostname list for discovery phase 1.
SCAN_SUBNETS	[]	Subnets to scan. Auto-detected from local IP if empty.
WICAN_PORT	80	HTTP port used by the WiCAN device.
OUTPUT_FILE	wican_log_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv	Output CSV filename with auto-generated timestamp.
INTERVAL	1	Polling interval in seconds.
DISPLAY_MODE	"all"	Console output: "all", "compact", or "key".

Network Auto-Discovery

When WICAN_IP is left empty, the script runs a three-phase discovery:

1. mDNS Hostname Resolution — Resolves wican.local and wican via DNS, then verifies the /autopid_data endpoint.
2. Common IP Probing — Probes known WiCAN/ESP32 default IPs (e.g., 192.168.8.102) in parallel with 10 threads.
3. Full Subnet Scan — Scans all 254 addresses on the local subnet using 50 threads with 0.5s timeout per host. Typically completes in 1–3 seconds.
4. Interactive Fallback — If all phases fail, prompts the user to enter the IP address manually. Validates format and probes the address before proceeding. Type q to quit.

Display Modes

Mode	Behavior
all	Full grouped display with parameters organized by category (Cells, BMS, VMCU, Temps, Drive, TPMS, Other). Cell voltages shown in rows of 16.
compact	Single-line: SOC, HV voltage, current, power, and parameter count.
key	Minimal: timestamp, row number, SOC %, and parameter count.

Output Format

The output is a standard CSV file (wican_log_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv):

• First column: timestamp in ISO 8601 format
• Subsequent columns: parameter names from the WiCAN AutoPID configuration
• Columns are added dynamically as new parameters appear

Example columns for a Hyundai Ioniq Electric: SOC_pct, HV_Voltage_V, HV_Current_A, HV_Power_kW, Cell_V_01–Cell_V_96, BMS_Batt_Temp_C, etc.

Function Reference

Function	Description
get_local_ip()	Determines local IP via UDP socket to infer the subnet for scanning.
get_subnets_to_scan()	Returns configured or auto-detected subnets. Falls back to common home network ranges.
check_wican(ip, timeout)	Probes a single IP via /autopid_data and verifies valid JSON response.
scan_subnet(subnet, start, end)	Parallel scan with 50-thread pool and 0.5s timeout per host.
discover_wican()	Orchestrates the three-phase discovery process.
fetch_data()	HTTP GET to /autopid_data with 5s timeout. Returns parsed JSON or None.
rewrite_csv(filepath, fieldnames, all_rows)	Rewrites CSV when new fields appear to maintain consistent column structure.
format_value(key, value)	Context-aware formatting (°, %, V, A, kW) based on parameter name.
print_all_data(...)	Grouped categorized console output with cell voltage grid.
print_compact_data(...)	Single-line summary with key HV battery parameters.
main()	Entry point: discovery → manual IP prompt if needed → CSV init → polling loop → Ctrl+C shutdown.

Troubleshooting

Device not found:

• Verify the WiCAN Pro is powered on with LED indicating network connectivity
• Ensure your computer is on the same Wi-Fi network or connected to the WiCAN's AP (default SSID: WiCAN_XXXXXX)
• If auto-discovery fails, the script will prompt you to enter the IP manually. You can also pre-set WICAN_IP in the script
• Check for firewall rules blocking HTTP on port 80

Empty or missing data:

• Confirm an AutoPID profile is loaded and active on the device
• Verify the vehicle's ignition is on (some ECUs only respond when awake)
• Check the WiCAN web interface at http://<device-ip> to confirm data flow

CSV has inconsistent columns:

• This is expected — the script rewrites headers when new fields appear
• For a fixed column set, post-process the CSV or keep the vehicle in a consistent state

License

Provided as-is for personal and educational use in automotive diagnostics research.

Credits

Script and documentation created with the assistance of Claude by Anthropic.

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Reminder: Never operate this logger alone while driving. Always have a dedicated passenger manage the diagnostic equipment. Your safety and the safety of others on the road must always come first.