Announcing the new RoadRunner LS1 Emulation Hardware!
Now supported by EFI Live and TunerCat Software!

Available directly from primary distributors:
Thunder Racing and Moates.Net
(will also be available through secondary resellers)

For a quick-start guide on getting the Roadrunner working with EFI Live, click here:
http://www.moates.net/roadrunner/livestart.htm

To go to the discussion forums regarding the Roadrunner, go here:
http://www.moates.net/phpforum/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=0d09aeaacdc92a575be5983c21f906b3

For help setting up BlueTooth connectivity, see here:
http://www.moates.net/roadrunner/bluetooth.htm

How did this product come into being? What is the history behind it?

In October of 2003, Craig Moates (owner of Moatesware LLC) was approached by Geoff Skinner (owner of Thunder Racing) to develop a real-time tuning solution for the LS1 vehicles. Craig, however, had been focusing on the 'forgotten' enthusiasts of the chipping world rather than the newer vehicles. At the time, Craig had been working pretty heavily toward the release of his new product, the AutoProm, which integrated real-time emulation, OBD1 datalogging, analog-to-digital data acquisition, and chip programming all into one device for pre-1996 General Motors vehicles. Geoff and Craig talked it over, and Geoff sent Craig home with a shiny LS1 PCM to (quote) "violate". And that he did. Over the next two years, hardly a day went by that Geoff and Craig didn't talk on the phone or in person (they're both located in Baton Rouge, so the relationship was obvious) about the possibility of real-time LS1. Geoff is very determined!

Learnings from the AutoProm project, along with subsequent lessons in the daughter-product Ostrich 8-bit realtime emulator, were extended to the Roadrunner development. In fact, an early incarnation of the Roadrunner was actually two Ostrich emulators strapped together! Additional knowledge gained from development of a Ford chip module (of all things!) were also incorporated. Another fellow from Florida, Nick Glantzis, was very helpful in helping Craig learn what was needed for the high-speed logic which is applied in the Roadrunner. Eventually, the Roadrunner was shrunken down into a unit which fits indistingishably inside the LS1 PCM case.

In July of 2005, Craig was contacted by Phil Rickard of Dynotech Engineering after Phil had seen a posting on Craig's website which indicated that the Roadrunner (codename Ostrich2 at the time) was under development. Phil was very helpful, providing a bench harness to facilitate PCM emulation testing, and opening his door for early beta testing. Once the device was developed to a point of comfort for the creator (Craig is after all a control freak), Phil was among the first people outside of the primary developers to try the unit out. Another contributor, Jesse Bubb of wait4me performance, has been extremely helpful by locating and supplying unmolested PCMs for Craig's modification pleasures.

The earliest software support provided for the Roadrunner was from Mark Mansur of TunerPro. Craig and Mark had been working together for some time, after Craig had sought Mark out at the beginning of the AutoProm project. The next collaboration in software for the Roadrunner support came from the well-known author of the TunerCat program. Initial beta testing of the Roadrunner was carried out at Thunder Racing's shop. In fact, the first real proof testing was done on Geoff's very own Chevy truck with a combination of TunerCat and Mark Mansur's utilities. He still runs his truck with a Roadrunner full-time!

Being a professional tuner, Geoff had every opportunity and need to develop his tuning skills with a variety of software and hardware tools. His favorite one in late 2005 was Paul Blackmore's EFI Live software. Craig and Paul had worked on parallel paths over the years, each developing software for datalogging on the OBD1 GM vehicles. Geoff was able to put them in contact with one another, expanding the scope of software support and putting the project on a path of widened collaboration to provide tuning options and systems that are truly powerful, innovative, and cutting-edge.

What is it? What does it do?
The RoadRunner is an LS1-style PCM that has been retrofitted with a Realtime Emulator which allows you to make tuning adjustments on the fly while the vehicle is running! No longer will you need to turn the vehicle off and take minutes of downtime to modify calibrations. No more crossing your fingers every time you reflash the PCM. Changes are instantaneous, and take place through a weather-proof USB cable which can be routed into the cab of the vehicle (for driveability and idle tuning) or to a shop cart (for dyno tuning). The vehicle will respond to the changes immediately. When you're done tuning, you can save the file and flash it to the original PCM. Or, you can operate the vehicle continuously from the RoadRunner without any problem.

How easy is it to use?
It installs in place of your existing PCM, the procedure takes a maximum of 5 minutes (for F-body/truck, Corvettes a little more difficult).
Take a look HERE for physical installation walk-through.

How does it work with the software? What is a tuning session like?
Take a look below for some good screenshots. It's very simple: Plug the USB cable in, open the program, load the calibration file into the program, connect to the RoadRunner link, upload the file to the RoadRunner (about 12 seconds), enable the synchronization, and from that point on, any changes you make will take effect immediately! Whenever you reach a stopping point, just save your file, close the program, and disconnect the cable. You can drive the vehicle throughout the tuning session and any time thereafter. Seamless!

How do I perform datalogging? How can I see the vehicle parameters?
You can use any scantool, including EFI Live FlashScan. The scanning can be performed via the OBD2 port in parallel simultaneously while the tuning adjustments are made on the RoadRunner. Integrated wideband data is also very useful, and should be considered for the serious tuner.

How much does it cost to run with EFI Live?
Hardware is $895, that includes a realtime replacement PCM as well as the USB cable for PC connection. The EFI Live software license is $199 which allows EFI Live to work with your specific emulator. Total cost for the pair is $1094 plus shipping. This will allow you to use the hardware and software for tuning any vehicle which is supported by that particular PCM hardware (in this case, it is 99-02 F-Body, 99+ LS1 Corvettes, 2000-2004 V8 Trucks, etc). If you already have an EFI Live license for other products, the realtime license is the same. This allows the software to be used with one specific emulator unit. If you'd like additional RoadRunners to work with, software licenses for those additional emulator units are additive. There is no limit to the number (VIN) or types (year/model) of vehicles you can work with, so long as it is supported by the hardware and the software calibration strategies available.

What if I want to use TunerCat?
The same piece of hardware (still $895) can work with TunerCat's RoadRunner-enabled software. However, binaries and tuning files cannot be imported/exported to/from EFI Live and vice versa. The software license for RoadRunner-enabled TunerCat is $225, which includes one year/model definition. There is no VIN/vehicle quantity limit. Definitions used with the TunerCat OBD2 Tuner program are interchangeable with the RoadRunner-enabled version of the software, so if you have the TunerCat OBD2 program and associated definitions, you will be able to use them with the RoadRunner-enabled license without having to purchase them separately. Otherwise, additional year/model definition files are $50 each year/model. By corrolary, if you already have the year/model definition you need, the RoadRunner-enabled TunerCat is $175. So for TunerCat and the RoadRunner together, total cost ranges from $1070 and up.

Where can I purchase the hardware and software?
The hardware is available from ThunderRacing.com and Moates.Net, and the EFI Live software licenses are available from both ThunderRacing.com and Moates.Net. The TunerCat software licenses are available from Moates.Net as well.

Are there other software packages available for the RoadRunner?
Not currently. These are the only software packages which support the RoadRunner at this time. Additionally, they are the only 'major' software packages with which we plan to integrate the RoadRunner capabilities.

Does it work with vehicle X? How about the new LS2 style PCMs?
No, it doesn't work with the LS2 style PCMs. However, it will work with the majority of the PCMs which 'look' like the 99-02 F-Body LS1 PCMs. We're working diligently to come up with a comprehensive list of everything it does and does not work with. This will be updated and shared in ongoing fashion.

When can I get one?
Some folks will get theirs right away. Others will need to order and wait a few days. Still others will need to wait a few weeks. It all depends on how quickly they get snapped up! We will do our very best to keep them coming.

I have more questions! Where can I find answers?
I've opened up a forum on the website for this sort of discussion right HERE. You can gather information from the us, the software authors, beta-level users, and others. It will include a growing list of frequently-asked questions which should cover the majority of your curiosities.

Here's some screenshots of the EFI Live software working with the RoadRunner interface:

Step 1:
Start up the newly licensed version of EFI Live Tune, and load up your favorite calibration. Plug the RoadRunner in, and click the 'flame' icon. The RoadRunner control panel will open up. Click on the green 'connect' button and the RoadRunner info will be displayed. Click on the heavy red down-arrow icon to upload the whole binary and operating system to the RoadRunner. You'll see the screen below!

Step 2:
Now click on the icon to make all calibration changes take place at the emulator immediately. From here on, whatever you change will take effect as soon as you hit enter or release the mouse button.

Step 3:
Take note that a Flash chip is onboard the RoadRunner! So you can switch between the onboard flash (works the same as standard PCM) and the emulation anytime you like (probably not while the vehicle is running though!). Just click the button, and it will be that way. Even when you power it down and back up.

Step 4:
You can minimize the RoadRunner control panel down to the task bar. Then you can see your tuning efforts. Now when you make a change to a table or any other calibration variable, it will take effect immediately at the vehicle! You can make 50 different changes in just a few minutes. Minor adjustments for fine tweaking? No problem! Want to test out those variables and see what they do? Go ahead!

Step 5:
Drive your car, knowing that the tune is as close as possible. You were able to respond immediately to what your car was telling you it needed!

Most importantly, have fun!