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OttoLink Model PM5367

OttoLink PM5367

This product is available as a special order item only and can be ordered in one of two modes: (Mode 1) Regular gasoline engine mode for SAEJ1979 standard interface or (Mode 2) Hybrid Electric-Gasoline Mode for Toyota Prius (TM) Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Data Logging. The system deliverable includes a modified PM2626 Otto-driving companion device whose GPS data is integrated with the OBDII data for a complete location-based performance monitoring diagnostic tool. Please call 1-888-647-4564 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional information.


Product Description

The number of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) is growing, but little is known about their real-world performance due to a lack of suitable data-logging tools. OttoLink™ is a cost effective and easy-to-deploy data-logger that not only records the vehicle’s performance, but also the driver’s reaction to the new technology. OttoLink™ combines vehicle power train data with Global Positioning (GPS) data to record the performance of the battery, electrical system, and gasoline engine, along with location-based information and driving behaviour. This data can be used to model PHEV system performance, as well as for planning purposes to identify convenient charging station locations for future Vehicle to Grid (V2G) connections.

There is also a challenge in recording vehicle-specific diagnostic data because the vehicle manufacturers are not obligated to present all the data defined by the SAE J1979 standard, plus, the car manufacturers are allowed to include proprietary Parameter IDentification numbers or PIDs that are only listed in internal company documents. In addition to the standardized PIDs, the PHEVs also include numerous channels of electric vehicle-specific data that are also not entirely disclosed to the general public nor to research institutions. OttoLink is a tool that was can interface to all legacy signaling implementations for vehicles manufactured since 1996 according to the SAE J1979 standard. OttoLink will also interface to a 2005 Toyota Prius PHEV to record the SAEJ1979 diagnostic data and the additional channels of Prius-specific data. Global Positioning System (GPS) location-based data was also included in the data capture so as to satisfy the key research requirement for a comprehensive and consolidated data set, including a master clock reference, for use in system performance modeling and for future infrastructure planning.

Background Information

Since 1996, all vehicles incorporate a standard diagnostic connector (SAEJ1962) and set of diagnostic test signals defined by the On Board Diagnostic (OBDII) specification (SAEJ1979). Car manufacturers have implemented J1979 compliant protocols to implement the specification in the past, but beginning with the 2008 model year, all cars sold in North America will implement one single signaling protocol: the International Standards Organization (ISO) 15765-4 standard, which uses the Controller Area Network (CAN) specification.


The SAE J1979 standard defines a method for requesting various diagnostic data and a list of standard parameters that might be available from the ECU of gasoline or hybrid vehicles. The various parameters that are available are addressed by Parameter IDentification numbers or PIDs. A large number of PIDs are defined by the standard, but car manufacturers are not obligated to support all of them. In addition, the car manufacturers are allowed to include proprietary PIDs that are only listed in internal company documents. In addition to the standardized PIDs, the Prius Hybrid also has numerous channels of Prius-specific data available on the bus that are not publicly documented.

General Specifications

  • OttoLink™ utilizes the vehicle-supplied 12 volt power through the OBDII connection and powers the Otto-Driving Companion® device directly.
  • OttoLink™ must be secured in a safe manner and there are two screw holes on the side of the unit that can attach to a bracket.
  • OttoLink™ has the following interfaces:
    • An SAE-J1962 interface that connects to an OBDII compliant vehicleA USB interface that connects to a PC’s USB Type A port
    • A proprietary interface that connects to an Otto-Driving Companion®
  • The physical dimensions of the metallic enclosure are 3.1 cm x 13.3 cm x 9.9 cm
  • OttoLink™ will sleep approximately 60 seconds after the vehicle is turned off
  • OttoLink™ will wake up approximately 5 seconds after the vehicle is turned on
  • An application program called, OttoLinkCompanion, is used to read the binary file stored on the memory card and to save the file in a Comma-Space-Value (CSV) format for further processing