Working with sensors

Adding a sensor

In PILOT, you add and configure sensors through a dedicated window.

Before adding a sensor, make sure that the device actually sends the specified parameter.

If you add a sensor with a parameter that the device does not transmit, the sensor will not work.

How to add a sensor

Open the object menu. To do this, right-click the object in the list

2. In the object menu, select the Sensors tab

3. In the opened window, go to the Sensors tab and click the button to add a new sensor

Add sensor

4. In the pop-up window, select the sensor type by its purpose. For example, a battery charge sensor

5. Fill in the required fields — enter the sensor name, description, and select the field where the device sends the data values. Configure other necessary parameters

6. Click Save. Check that the sensor appears in the list of active sensors

How to check if the sensor is working properly

1. Open the object menu

2. Go to the Sensors tracing tab

3. Here you will see the values transmitted by all sensors

Sensor parameters window

When adding or editing a sensor, the sensor parameters window opens.

To open this window for editing, double-click the sensor in the list.

In the sensor parameters window, you fill in the following fields:

Field	Description
Function	Select the sensor’s purpose from the dropdown list
Type	The sensor type (e.g., binary, pulse, discrete). The system automatically sets the type when you choose the funcrion
Name	Required field. Enter the name to distinguish the sensor in the system. Use the copy-icon to fill in quickly. If you have multiple similar sensors, give them unique names
Description	Required field. Enter a description. Use the copy-icon for quick filling
Field	Required field. Select the field from the dropdown that contains the values for this sensor.
Unit of measurement	Define the units for displaying sensor values (liters, kilometers, etc.).
Group	Select a sensor group. See how to create sensor groups here.
Conversion formula	Apply a formula to recalculate raw data into adjusted sensor readings.
Tags	Assign a tag to the sensor. See how to create tags here
Min/Max value	Set acceptable ranges of values. Helps filter out incorrect readings
Min/Max threshold	Define the working range for the sensor. If values go outside, the system logs a deviation
On/Off names	Define labels for the ON and OFF states

You can also enable extra options:

Option	Description
Sensor event filter	Prevents false triggers caused by short-term noise. You can set how many data packets or seconds are required before the system confirms a state change. Example: set 3 → the system confirms ON/OFF only after 3 consecutive packets with the signal.
Cenerate events	Each sensor state change creates a record in the event log
Filter null values	Filters out invalid values. Filters out invalid values. Incoming data is transformed by formula and compared to the calibration table. Out-of-range values are ignored
Show in tooltips	Displays sensor values in object tooltips
Fixed values	Define specific numeric values for ON/OFF instead of ranges. Example: ON = 38, OFF = 37. Other values are ignored
Save history	If enabled, sensor values are saved to reports. Otherwise, only current values are available
Count engine hours	Tracks engine or equipment runtime based on sensor data
Show tooltip in mobile app	If enabled, the sensor values are visible on smartphones. If disabled — hidden in the mobile version

Additional settings for some sensors:

Frame for analysis of differences	For temperature sensors, defines how many consecutive measurements must exceed the threshold before the system confirms it. Helps avoid false alerts.
Smooth factor	Improves accuracy by removing spikes. The system takes values before/after a measurement, discards extremes, averages the rest, and replaces the original reading. Example: n = 3 → takes 3 points on each side for averaging. The higher the n, the stronger the smoothing
Temperature range	Defines acceptable temperature limits
Remove symmetric fillings/drain	Filters out small fuel level changes (e.g., from slope or errors)
Active	Enables monitoring of refueling and draining events

Calibration table

PILOT supports two types of calibration tables:

1. Graph calibration table — converts raw values to real ones using a graph. Commonly used for fuel level, weight, temperature, humidity sensors.

2. Text states calibration table — converts raw values into predefined statuses (e.g., “No Signal,” “Weak,” “Good”).

Example: Fuel tank calibration

Suppose the tank has an irregular shape, so volume is not directly proportional to fuel level. The sensor measures resistance (Ohm) instead of liters.

You must perform calibration by emptying and filling the tank step by step, recording resistance at each fuel level.

Example calibration table for a 100-liter tank:

Fuel level (L)	Resistance (Ohm)
0	180
10	160
20	140
30	120
40	100
50	80
60	60
70	50
80	40
90	20
100	10

When the sensor sends 100 Ohm, the system knows there are ~40 liters in the tank.

Graph calibration table

This type of calibration table converts sensor readings into real values using a dependency graph. On the X-axis, you see the sensor readings, and on the Y-axis, the actual measured values. A graph is built between the recorded points, which determines the real value for each sensor reading.

This type of calibration table is often used for fuel level sensors, weight, temperature, and humidity sensors.

How to create a table

You can configure the table in the sensor parameters window or upload a ready-made table from a file.

The configured table can be saved to a file and reused for other similar sensors.

To open the calibration table, click Edit.

Edit calibration table

How to add values to the table:

Click Add

2. Enter the actual amount of fuel and the value displayed by the sensor

3. Click Save

4. Repeat these steps for all required reading

Text states calibration table

This type of calibration table is used for multi-position sensors and converts sensor readings into predefined statuses.

Example of using this type of table

Suppose you have a multi-position GPS antenna sensor that shows signal strength. The GPS receiver measures signal power in dBm, usually ranging from -160 dBm to -120 dBm.

In the table, you translate the technical values from the sensor into understandable statuses:

No signal
Weak signal
Medium signal
Strong signal

For example, when the sensor sends a value of -135 dBm, the system finds the corresponding value in the table and translates it into a text status — Weak signal.

The text status will appear in the object tooltip and in reports.

This type of calibration table can be used for various parameters.

For example:

Set value ranges for temperature: Cold — 0–10°C, Warm — 10–25°C, Hot — 25°C and above

Show battery charge not in percentages but in statuses like Low, Medium, Full.

How to add a calibration table for multi-position sensors:
Open the sensor parameters window

2. In the Calibration table section, click Edit

3. In the calibration table window, click Add

4. Fill in the columns with the sensor’s minimum and maximum values

5. Set text statuses in the Semantics column

6. Choose an icon and color for the status

7. Click Save

Sensor list

Added sensors appear in the Sensors tab.

The list contains columns with the same names as the sensor parameters.

You can customize the sensor list table to suit your needs: choose which parameter columns to display and adjust their sorting.

How to customize the sensor list table:

In the header of any column, click the small arrow . A menu with column settings will appear:
Sort data in ascending or descending order
Select which columns to display

2. To adjust which columns are shown:

Click Columns — a list of available parameters for display will open
Check the boxes next to the parameters you want to see

How to delete a sensor

To delete a sensor, click

in the sensor list.