VBOX 3i | 100Hz Data Logger
Posted in Data Loggers
Overview
VBOX 3i uses a powerful GPS/GLONASS receiver logging data 100 times a second to achieve high level accuracy. With IMU integration, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, compact flash card logging and audio functionality for voice tagging, the VBOX 3i represents a flexible solution to a range of testing requirements.
IMU Integration
VBOX 3i has the ability to utilise data from a RACELOGIC IMU and uses a Kalman Filter to improve all parameters measured in real-time. IMU integration ensures accurate test results in areas of unreliable satellite reception, typically caused by trees, buildings and bridges.
The vehicle's body angles are also measured to a high accuracy without the need to use a dual antenna system. Dynamic overshoot is eliminated through lever arm correction.
Accuracy
Velocity and heading data are calculated from Doppler Shift in the GPS carrier signal, providing users with unparalleled accuracy. For example, over 10 tests between two light barriers placed exactly 1000m apart, the VBOX will report a distance within ±2-3 cm, on every test, and the average comes out to within less than 1cm. Impressive for a device using satellites 18,000 km away!
Brake distance accuracy is equally impressive, using a brake pedal mounted trigger input, VBOX 3i will measure the braking distance to within ±1.8 cm for a typical 100-0 kph brake stop. More about GPS accuracy.
VBOX 3i comes in three versions, single antenna, dual antenna and (dual antenna) RTK. In conjunction with a DGPS Base Station (Option 1) VBOX 3i Single Antenna can achieve a positional accuracy of 80 cm.
Features
Features
The VBOX 3i has a host of features which makes it a very powerful and flexible vehicle testing data logger.
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VBOX 3i is compatible with all existing peripherals. See Modules, Telemetry Systems and Display Overview for more information.
IMU Integration
VBOX 3i has the ability to utilise data from a RACELOGIC IMU and uses a Kalman Filter to improve all parameters measured in real-time. All captured data is processed at 100 Hz, improving accuracy / noise levels and enhancing the dynamic response to velocity.
IMU integration ensures accurate test results in areas of unreliable satellite reception, typically caused by trees, buildings and bridges.
The vehicle's attitude (pitch, roll and yaw angles) is also measured to a high accuracy without the need to use a dual antenna system (roll/pitch at 0.06° rms, Yaw at 0.5° rms). Dynamic overshoot is eliminated through lever arm correction.
Applications
Applications
VBOX 3i can be used for a multitude of test applications such as
The VBOX Test Suite software analysis package allows for a detailed examination of VBOX data, along with an intuitive interface that is accessible for all users from engineer to test driver.
VBOX Test Suite comes equipped with a set of test configurations, such as Brake testing, Aquaplane, Coast-down, Lane Change, Pass-By Noise, and so on.
The VBOX Test Suite Brake Testing plugin, for example, is designed so that engineers can conduct brake stop testing that conforms to regulations specified in all regions. The brake test plugin is configured to produce results based on speed to speed parameters or by a variety of alternative inputs such as trigger, brake pressure or position values.
Tests can be run within a tightly defined set of criteria, such as between temperature ranges. Centreline deviation is automatically calculated during each run, and thresholds can be applied to ensure that the operative gets immediate feedback on the validity of results.
- Auto calibration of wheel speeds
- Wheel slip calculations
The plugin also produces a comprehensive report that includes all the relevant test results along with the engineer's notes.
Inputs / Outputs
Inputs
- 2x CAN Bus
Two CAN Bus interfaces are available. The first CAN Bus connections allows data to be logged from RACELOGIC modules such as TC8 and FIM03. The second CAN Bus interface allows you to log up to 16 CAN signals from a different CAN source (e.g. Vehicle CAN Bus, laser height sensors, or steering wheel sensor). VBOX Tools analyisis software is able to load signal data from an industry standard CAN database file (.DBC). - Digital Input
Brake / Event Trigger
By using a physical pressure switch on the brake pedal, a precise 'start of braking event' can be captured. The brake/event trigger input is oversampled to 25 nS for high distance accuracy.
Log Switch
A start/stop logging switch allows users to manually choose when they wish to record data. - 4x Analogue Inputs
Each of the four analogue input channels have a dedicated 24 bit analogue converter. Data is recorded from each channel simultaneously to avoid latency between analogue channel data. The name, scale and offset of each analogue input channel can be adjusted using VBOX Tools software to allow sensor calibration and therefore logging of data in standard SI units. The analogue input connector also provides two power outputs that may be used for driving sensors. These are in the form of a 5 V DC isolated supply and an output equal to the VBOX power supply voltage. Log rates can be set to either 100 Hz or 500 Hz. - Voice Tagging
VBOX 3i can record a GPS synchronised WAV audio tag up to 30 seconds long to a time accuracy of 0.5 sec. The recorded WAV file is then logged to the CF card. - Power Supply
VBOX 3i can accept a supply voltage between 7-30 V DC. Low current consumption results in extended battery life.
Outputs
- CAN Bus
One of the two VBOX CAN ports can be used to output VBOX GPS parameters plus any 12 channels from connected input modules or internal AD channels. The baud rate and CAN id's for these outputs are user configurable. - RS232
The RS232 connector is used for VBOX configuration and output of real-time GPS data. Provides the facility to connect to a radio telemetry system to offer PC monitoring of test data. - USB
VBOX 3i USB connector can be used for VBOX configuration and to output real-time data at 100 Hz to a PC. - Bluetooth
VBOX 3i comes equipped with an internal Bluetooth Radio allowing remote configuration and remote output of real-time GPS data to any Bluetooth capable PC or Data logger. The Bluetooth connection is capable of sending data at the full 100 Hz rate. - 2x Digital Outputs
The first digital output is assigned to 'Speed/Distance' with adjustable 'Pulses per Meter' setting, while the second output is a level switch output enabling users to select any one of the logged channels and assign it a threshold value, e.g. output high (5 V) when speed greater than 20 km/h. - 2x Analogue Outputs
Both 16 bit analogue outputs can be configured to output velocity (or other GPS parameters) for use by additional data logging equipment. The voltage output range is from 0 to 5 V DC with a resolution of 76 μV per bit. - CF Card
Data is logged in a space-delimited text format. Recording time dependent on flash card capacity, log frequency, number of channels and logging conditions. Approximately 29Mb per hour used when logging GPS data at 100 Hz; approx. 182 MB per hour total logging capacity. Please note only compact flash cards up to 32 GB capacity are supported.
Parameters
ParametersVBOX 3i measures the following parameters as standard, at 100 samples per second, and purely from GPS/GLONASS: |
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| By adding a RACELOGIC Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), you can also measure... | ||
...at 100 Hz. |
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Many other external parameters can be logged, either:
- by using the four high resolution analogue inputs built into the unit
- from a number of versatile VBOX Input Modules
- directly from the CAN bus of the vehicle using the RACELOGIC Vehicle CAN Database.
Specs
Specifications
VBOX 3i (V5)
Velocity
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Absolute Positioning
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Distance
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Acceleration
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| Accel/Brake Test Time (Multifunction Display / VBOX Tools)
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Lap Timing (OLED Display / VBOX Tools)
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Brake Stop Accuracy
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Heading
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Memory
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Power
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Environmental and Physical
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Outputs
CAN Bus
- Bit rate: 125 kbit/s, 250 kbit/s, 500 kbit/s and 1 Mbit/s selectable baud rate
- Identifier type: Standard 11 bit 2.0 A
- Data available : Satellites in View, Latitude, Longitude, Velocity, Heading, Altitude, Vertical Velocity, Distance, Longitudinal Acceleration & Lateral Acceleration, Distance from Trigger, Trigger Time, Trigger Velocity
Analogue
- Voltage range: 0 – 5 V DC
- Default setting*: Velocity 0.0125; Volts per km/h (0 – 400 km/h)
- Accuracy: 0.1 km/h
- Update rate: 100 Hz
Digital
- Frequency range: DC to 44.4 kHz
- Default setting: Velocity 25 Hz per km/h (0 – 400 km/h); 90 pulses per metre
- Accuracy: 0.1 km/h
- Update rate: 100 Hz
*The range settings can be adjusted by the user in VBOX Tools Software
Inputs
CAN Bus
- RACELOGIC modules: Up to 32 channels from any combination of ADC02, ADC03, FIM02, TC8, YAW03 or CAN01
- External CAN Bus: 16 Channels of user definable CAN signal from external bus, e.g. Vehicle CAN bus Can load signal data from industry standard DBC database file
Analogue
- Number of channels: 4
- Input range: ±50 V
- Input voltage: 0 - 5 V
- Channel sample order: Synchronous
- Resolution: 24 bit
- DC accuracy: ±2 mV (Calibrated at 23 °C)
Digital
- Brake event trigger: DC to 44.4 kHz
- On/Off logging control: Remote log control from hand-held switch
IMU04 Integration
Accuracy
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Definitions
* 95 % Circle of Error Probable (CEP) = 95 % of the position readings fall within a circle of the stated radius. 2 cm accuracy requires an RTK option and RTK enabled Base Station.
** Not using DGPS and crossing the start/finish line at 100 km/h.
*** Approximately 29 MB per hour used when logging GPS data at 100 Hz; Approx. 182 MB per hour total logging capacity.
**** 15.5 ms with fixed CAN latency.
Download or print datasheet here.