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A data channel derived from mathematical operations on one or more logged channels, rather than measured directly by a sensor. Examples include coasting detection, tire slip ratio, and ride height from damper position.
Segers explains in Analysis Techniques for Racecar Data Acquisition: "A software feature that is mentioned throughout this book is the creation of mathematical channels. Calculations are performed on the logged data so that the results can be plotted and analyzed as separate channels." He lists the required operations: "Add/subtract, Multiply/divide, Sine/cosine/tangent, Differentiate/integrate, Average." The Data Power guide (Buddy Fey) confirms: "Math operations performed on data from the recorded channels can be used to create calculated channels. Some software has internally defined calculated channels for selected functions, while others allow user definition." Segers provides a concrete example — the coasting detection channel: "Coasting = (throttle position < 5%) AND (brake pressure < 5 bar)" — which creates a binary channel that equals one whenever the driver is neither braking nor accelerating, immediately highlighting wasted time.