Today we’ve released a new version of VBOX Test Suite, 1.7.55.2453.

This release adds R117 Pass-By Noise for tyres (beta), removes the beta tag for R138 PbN & R78 Braking, adds Chinese & Japanese as a language option and contains multiple changes/fixes.

For a further list, please see the history notes.

VBOX Test Suite should notify you that an update is available.

The VBOX Hospitality Trailer is back on the road and you are invited to the join us for the VBOX Roadshow 2018. We will be stopping at the following locations:

14 Sep 2018
Goodyear Luxembourg (Employees only)

18/19 Sep 2018
ADAC Fahrsicherheitsplatz Ingolstadt
Marie-Curie-Str. 15
85055 Ingolstadt
Deutschland

27 Sep 2018
ASC Guidasicura Quattroruote
Cascina di Vairano, 41
27018 Vidigulfo (PV)
Italia

What to expect?

We will be there to support you, and to demonstrate our new products and software.

You’ll be able to take an exclusive look at our exciting new data logger, the VBOX Touch, with its bright capacitive touch screen and varied programming options.

We’ll be demonstrating VBOX Connect – a real-time vehicle position monitoring and file-download system.

We have several new software plugins for VBOX Test Suite, such as Pass By Noise and AEB. See how we can save you time and cost in your test and development programs with software designed specifically for your requirements.

We will also be able to show you our prototype indoor positioning system.

Come along the VBOX Roadshow to discuss your testing needs both now and in the future! We will be delighted to welcome you into the VBOX hospitality trailer for refreshments during the day, as well spending time on the test track for demonstrations.

What's next?

Please email with the date and location you'd like to attend, so you can receive more detailed information on the event.

We have released a new version of VBOX Test Suite. Version 1.7.13.2107 adds two test plugins, additional features such as Interim results and several bug fixes.

Update Highlights

• New plugins (R78 Motorcycle Braking & R138 Electric Vehicle Pass-by Noise)
• Removes the beta tag on Coastdown and Lane Change plugins
• Adds French and German language options
• Adds online-mode support for VBOX Sport
• Interim Results

For a full list, please see the history notes which summarises the many changes/fixes since the previous release.

As with our other recently updated applications, VBOX Test Suite now uses .NET Framework 4.7.1, meaning that Windows 7 SP1 or later is now required to run it.

VBOX Test Suite should notify you that an update is available.

Interim Results in Detail

The latest version includes Interim Results (formerly known as "Line Conditions") which allows any channel to be used as a condition, as well as adding a 'between' condition to the 'at' and 'every' conditions.

This addditional functionality allows for Interim Results to now be included in the main results table or, as previously, as a separate table.

When Interim Results are included in the main table of results, average/min/max/standard deviation parameters are accessible on multi-run sessions; which makes for easier export to custom-presented results in third-party software or further processing.

The following detail has been added to the relevant sections of the VBOX Test Suite user guide on the RACELOGIC Support Centre: 

The software allows the user to display intermediary results called ‘Interim results’. The Interim results are determined by adding in ‘Interim Conditions’.

Interim Results are determined from within a plugin configuration window.

Pressing the '+' button will add a new interim result. It is possible to have this line appear at ‘Every’ instance of the value (i.e. Every 10 km/h), ‘At’ an instance of a value (i.e. Only at 10 km/h) or 'Between' values (i.e. Between 30 km/h and 50 km/h).

When 'Columns' is selected, each interim result is shown as a column within the right hand side of the results table, if 'Separate Table' is selected, each interim result is shown as a row, in a separate table, next to the results table.

If you need to record when an ADAS system has become active without using the vehicles' own CAN system, an AVAD3 audio & visual detector from DTC Solutions can now be used alongside VBOX.

AVAD3 is capturing acoustic and optical alerts and signals generated by the vehicle's advanced driver assistance system. It produces a CAN or digital signal when recognising changes of the shapes and colors of defined icons or when audible signals are identified. The output of the AVAD3 can then be used by the VBOX to log the exact moment the vehicle safety message is displayed to the driver. Ideal when testing the accuracy of advance driver assistance systems.

VBOX 3i Firmware  - What's new in 2.5 b20447

New Freatures & Functionality

• Pass by Noise mode added
• Standard VB3i
  DIFF LED behaviour change (see latest online documentation)
• Kalman Filter
  Added Longitudinal and Lateral jerk channels
  IMU angle offsets no-longer cleared on software connection
• Dual antenna
  Slip angle calculation stability improvements

Bug Fixes

• Standard VB3i
  20Hz RS232 brake test data calculation fixed
• Kalman Filter
  Fix for held speed observed around poor GPS conditions
  Fix for implausible speed values observed around poor GPS conditions
  Fix for erroneous behaviour possible with large IMU to antenna offsets
  Improved initialisation stability.
  Improvements for IMU03 Kalman filter stability performance
• ADAS
  Fix to header file for Static point reference lane.
• CAN output updates (see latest online documentation) DGPS solution type added Kalman Filter status moved

Download here.

To fully configure a VBOX 3i running this firmware, VBOX Setup 2.1.21.546 is needed.

VBOX Setup Software - What's new in 2.1.21.546

New Features and Functionality in VBOX 3i Configuration

• Vehicle CAN database added
• Added ADAS mode setting to IMU Kalman Filter configuration
• Update to Racelogic CAN output table
• Added information for connected CANHUB
• Improved channel presentation for large CAN files

Bug Fixes

• Module configuration fixes
• CAN02 baud rate setting fix
• FIM03 properties UI fix
• VB3i configuration
  No longer prevents the user from adding VCI CAN channels when separate Racelogic CAN bus is maximised
  Connected Multi-Function Display (DSP03) CAN channel parameter selection fix

Download here.

An update to VBOX Test Suite software that allows test drivers to accurately follow a prescribed path during testing is now available.

The Path-Follow feature within VBOX Test Suite has been developed as a result of VBOX customer requirements to achieve greater levels of testing consistency. When conducting wet braking tests, for instance, inconsistencies in track surfaces (perhaps as a result of certain areas becoming ‘polished’) can lead to less consistent braking distance measurements. It therefore becomes vital that tests are conducted in exactly the same area, but this is difficult to achieve without guidance for the driver. Indeed, it can be very difficult to drive on the same piece of tarmac in manoeuvres such as clock wise and counter clockwise roll gradient tests without using a steering robot – incurring significant time and financial overheads.

The Test Suite software predicts the path that the driver should take by using an algorithm which includes speed and heading prediction. It is challenging for drivers to follow a live and immediate guidance accurately, so the prediction aspect of the algorithm ‘soaks up’ the latency of human actions at the wheel and the mechanical response of the vehicle. This cancels out any oscillations in driven line that occur when attempting to drive in such a precise manner: the VBTS software offers this predictive guidance in a number of display options to accommodate driver preference.

Today we have released new software (1.5.98.1706) for VBOX Test Suite.

This update is being released in association with VBOX Setup v2.1.21 as you can now launch Setup through Test Suite.

Along with bug fixes, Math Channels and Path Prediction have also been improved.

History notes and download file can be found here.

Today we’ve released a new version of VBOX Setup (2.1.21). This adds support for CAN Hub, improves VB3i connection reliability, and has a few other bug fixes

More information can be found in the history notes, and the software can be downloaded here.

VBOX Test Suite (v1.5.90.1622) comes with two new plugins and the addition of hotkeys that allow for even faster use.

AEB/FCW (New)

The new plugin is programmed with all the boundary conditions for the NCAP AEB/FCW protocol, allowing you to validate your vehicle systems precisely. Each test condition for vehicle yaw rate, speed, lateral deviation, time to collision, and deceleration is displayed in real time, helping you to minimise the amount of time spent on the test track.

The three tests that make up the NCAP protocol (CCRm, CCRb, and CCRs) can all be conducted using the software plugin, for both AEB City and AEB Inter-Urban. Integration with steering and throttle/brake robots is a standard feature of the software, the hardware requirement being a 100 Hz VBOX 3i RTK dual antenna data logger and VBOX IMU04.

Lane Change (New)

In addition, the software has now incorporated testing for Lane Change manoeuvres, which makes the previous, standalone Lane Change software obsolete.

Included in previous versions:

Pass-By Noise

The Pass By Noise plugin allows for development programs to be completed to the ECE R41 and R51 standards, prior to homologation testing.

The software allows for noise emissions to be measured within R41/R51 parameters: steady-speed, acceleration with wide-open-throttle, and additional sound emission provisions (ASEP).

Brake Test

Designed so that engineers can conduct brake stop testing that conforms to regulations specified in all regions such as SAE J2909, the brake test plugin is configured to produce results based on speed to speed parameters; or by a variety of inputs - such as trigger, brake pressure, or position values.

Coastdown

Available for the European WLTP GTR15, American SAE J2263, and Brazilian ABNT NBR 10312 test standards, the Coastdown plugin removes the need for complex and time consuming post-processing calculations traditionally associated with Coastdown testing, which becomes significantly more straightforward using VBOX Test Suite.

Aquaplane

The Test Suite Aquaplane plugins allow the user to easily obtain results for both longitudinal and lateral aquaplane applications, and gain a greater understanding of the characteristics and behaviour of the tyres.

Performance

The Performance Test plugin, recently enhanced with the ability to test Lane Change manoeuvres, enables you to set your own start and finish conditions or choose from a range of pre-set regulation speed and distance parameters, making it easy to begin testing.

A new version of VBOX Setup is now available.

The main update to the software relates to the latest VBOX 3i Dual Antenna (VB3iSL), which has now selling in its fifth iteration. This version of VB3iSL is not compatible with VBOX Tools for setup. It can only be configured using this latest version of VBOX Setup, which has been designed to make the process easier and more intuitive; or by using a VBOX Manager.

Further updates to VBOX Setup in this release are:

• Configuration files improved to support dual antenna mode/separation/offsets
• Configuration files improved to load Internal CAN Input channels, Leap seconds, CAN baud rate, CAN delay, Roof mount setting, DGPS/RTK mode
• DGPS/RTK status in the UI is now refreshed after coldstart
• Topnet and Moving Base modes now set correctly

If you have any queries relating to the configuration of your VBOX system please check the Racelogic Support Site. Instructions on how to upgrade VBOX 3i Dual Antenna can also be found there.