Speed Profiler App

When you power up the unit, it will search for speed profile files (.spp) on the inserted SD card. If there is only one file present, this file will be loaded automatically. If there are multiple files available, you will be presented with a speed profile selection menu where you can choose which profile you want to use.

VBOX Touch will detect the speed units used in the .spp file and change to match.

Speed profile selection on startup

This shows the different areas on the screen and unit that are important to know about when you are using the app on VBOX Touch. You can read more about each area below, such as the LEDs, the Speed Profile Display, the Settings button and the status icons.   

The application includes a live graph that allows the driver to see forthcoming speed changes and help them keep the speed within the tolerance. The graph scrolls from left to right_ plotting GPS speed against time. The current speed is indicated by a white square that remains static. A white trace behind the square will display the speed history.

The X-axis (speed=0) is identified by the blue line. The target speed is identified by the red line. The speed tolerance margin is identified by white lines on either side of the target speed.

The display shows the previous 2.5 seconds and the next 6.5 seconds of the configured profile.

Press the START button to start the speed profile file (.spp). If you have selected Wait Until Moving in the Test Settings _ the test will not start until it detects movement. Once it has started_ you can terminate the test and stop the logging by pressing the RESET  button (if applicable). If you reset the test before it ends_ the VBOX unit will not save the score to the _results.txt file but will display RESET  next to the test in the SCORE field.

The current speed is indicated by a white square. The white trace behind the square displays the speed history for the previous 2.5 seconds. The current speed will always be centred vertically on the screen.

The target speed is identified by the   red line. The chart shows the target speed of the previous 2.5 seconds and the next 6.5 seconds of the configured profile.

As it is difficult to drive at precisely the expected target speed, the speed tolerance provides a margin on either side of the target speed line that the driver can stay within without affecting the test results. The speed tolerance margin is identified by white lines on either side of the target speed and you can configure it in the Test Settings.

The chart shows the margin of the previous 2.5 seconds and the next 6.5 seconds of the configured profile. The difference between the actual speed and the target speed tolerance margin will be indicated by an arrow.

Displays the current speed of the vehicle in the units defined in the .spp file.

Displays the target speed of the vehicle in units defined in the .spp file. It will change to the next value 3 seconds before the end of an accel/decel transition. If the change is a deceleration, the value will have a red border, If the change is an acceleration, the border will be green.

It will also sound lead-in beeps 3 seconds before the end of a transition to draw the driver's attention to an approaching change in speed. You can configure the beep volume in the Test Settings.

This displays the progress of the test as a percentage.

The 4 LEDs at the top of the unit provide visual feedback in relation to the target speed:

The current speed is <2 (km/h or mph) faster/slower than the target speed LEDs.

LEDs will be off

 

The current speed is 2 – 2.5 (km/h or mph) faster/slower than the target speed.

1 LED will be green if slower

1 LED will be red if faster

The current speed is 2.5 – 3 (km/h or mph) faster/slower than the target speed.

2 LEDs will be green if slower

2 LEDs will be red if faster

The current speed is 3 – 3.5 (km/h or mph) faster/slower than the target speed.

3 LEDs will be green if slower

3 LEDs will be red if faster

The current speed is >3.5 (km/h or mph) faster/slower than the target speed.

4 LEDs will be green if slower

4 LEDs will be red if faster

At the end of a test_ you will see a results screen. If the driver has already been selected_ it will show a score associated to that driver_ representing the % of test time spent within the tolerance margin. If you have not selected a driver yet_ or if you want to change the selected driver_ press the New Driver button.

Results screen

Press the Save button to save the score to the '_results.txt' file on the SD card. If you want to exit without saving, press the Cancel button.

 

The '_results.txt' file has the following format:

[DRIVER NAME] [SPP NAME] [DATE] [TIME] [SCORE] [FILE NAME]

If you have not selected a driver, the results screen will not let you save the score until you select one by pressing the New Driver button.

This menu contains Wait until moving mode_ beeps_ speed tolerance_ nightmode_ speed profile file (.spp) and driver options.

This setting will start the test once the vehicle has started moving (faster than 0.8 km/h). The setting is only valid if the loaded speed profile file (.spp) begins with an acceleration. If you have selected Automatic Logging in the General Settings _ it will start logging once it detects movement.

This setting controls the volume of the audible lead-in beeps that are sounded during accel/decel transitions. You can manually adjust the beep volume in 5 levels. 1 is the quietest and 5 is the loudest. You can also choose to turn the beeps off.

This setting controls the tolerance of the test in relation to the actual speed and the speed profile detailed in the loaded speed profile file (.spp). You can choose between 1 and 10 (km/h or mph depending on the Speed Units set in the General Settings ).

When you select this mode_ you can press on the Main Screen to   toggle between the default display profile and a profile that suits night-time operation. You can set the nightmode screen and LED brightness profile in the General Settings .

This area displays the currently selected speed profile file (.spp) that was chosen during the start-up. You can change the profile by pressing on the New SPP button_ which will open the Select Speed Profile menu.

This menu will list all .spp files saved on the inserted SD card. Tap on a profile to select it.

If there is a large number of .spp files available, the list of files could be presented on more than one page. You can navigated between these pages with the Forward  and Back  arrows in the bottom right corner of the screen, or by swiping left or right.

If you want to add a new profile to the list, you must remove the SD card, insert it into a computer and place the required file(s) on the root directory of the SD card.

The list of available speed profiles will be refreshed when you insert the SD card back in the unit. If you are already in the Select Speed Profile menu, you must tap on the Refresh button at the bottom of the screen. This will manually update the available profiles.

This area displays the currently selected driver. You can change or add a new driver. Press the New Driver button to open the Select Driver menu.

Tap on a driver profile to choose a previously configured driver.

If there is a large number of driver profiles available, the list of names could be presented on more than one page. You can navigate through the pages with the Forward and Back arrows in the bottom right corner of the screen, or by swiping left or right.

You can add a new driver by tapping on the New Driver button. This will open the Name menu where you can use the Up and Down arrows to create a three character alpha-numeric name. Tap on the Confirm button in the bottom right  corner to save the selected name.

Driver names are stored in the saved '_driverlist.txt' file on the root directory of the SD card. You can open this file and edit it on a computer if necessary. This gives you the ability to use names that have more than 3 characters.

The list of available driver names will be refreshed once the SD card is inserted back in to the unit. If you are already in the Select Driver menu, you must tap on the Refresh button in the bottom left corner of the screen to manually update the driver names.

The currently selected driver will also be included in the saved '_results.txt' file when a test is completed.

This menu contains units_ logging mode_ brightness options_ sync to GPS and Nightmode options.

This menu contains date and time settings.

The UTC offset value is set as '+00:00' by default and can be changed, if required, on the screen that is displayed when you press the current value button. Use the Plus (+) and Minus (-) buttons to select the desired time zone offset values (including available 30 and 45 minutes). Pressing and holding a button will fast-scroll through available valid time settings. Minimum: -12:00; maximum: +14:00.

Notes:

• The setting cannot be changed if the unit is moving or logging. If you try to change the setting a warning message will appear.
• The setting cannot be changed if the unit does not have a set system time. 

Tap on the Confirm button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen to save your selected time or tap on the Cancel button in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen to return to the Time Settings screen without saving the selected time.

UTC Offset Selector Example

When 'Enabled', this setting will add +1:00 hr to the local time setting. 'Disabled' by default.
 

Notes:

• The setting cannot be changed if the unit is moving or logging, if you try and change the setting, a warning message will appear.
• The setting cannot be changed if the unit does not have a set system time. 

The leap second value is set as '18 s' by default and can be changed if required using the keypad presented when the current value button is pressed. This was increased to 18 seconds as of December 2016 - more information on this is available here. 

Notes:

• The setting cannot be changed if the unit is moving or logging, if you try and change the setting a warning message will appear. 
• The setting cannot be changed if the unit does not have a set system time. 

To save your selected value, press the Confirm button at the bottom right of the screen, or press the Cancel button at the bottom left of the screen to return to the Time Settings screen without saving.

Note: The maximum input value is 99.

Leap Second Keypad Example

You can change the date format between DD-MM-YY ( default ) and MM-DD-YY.

This displays the current time and date being used by the system. They are displayed within the .vbo header file, file date created time stamp, the acceleration history results session header, deceleration history results session header, laps history filename and the gates file (.spl) header. 

Note: The time/ date displayed by the unit may be inaccurate until a valid satellite lock is achieved. The unit will then update to the correct time/ date as long as the unit is not logging.

This feature will synchronise the internal real-time clock (RTC) to GPS time as long as the unit has obtained GPS time (no GPS time is indicated by a red satellite icon)_ isn't moving and isn't logging. When pressed_ a synchronisation progress screen is presented.

The Diagnostics menu is the final screen within the Settings menu_ it displays basic GNSS receiver and VBOX information.

The satellite icon at the top of the screen is the quickest way to determine if the unit has a valid satellite lock. When lock is acquired_ it will display as solid green. When there is no satellite lock_ the icon will flash red.

Press the COLDSTART button to perform a cold start on the VBOX Touch. This means the receiver will clear any data currently stored within its internal memory. It may be required to do this when the GPS engine has locked up or the VBOX Touch is struggling to acquire a satellite lock (more than 4 satellites).

When the button has been pressed_ the unit will make an audible sound and a ‘ PLEASE WAIT ’ message will be displayed on the screen which will count down from 3. The number of satellites will then be displayed as ' 00 ' and GPS status will show ‘ SEARCHING FOR SATELLITES ’ until the satellite lock has been acquired. It will take approximately 25 to 30 seconds for the unit to reacquire the satellite lock.

Displays how many satellites the receiver is currently using.

This indicates the current GPS lock status of the unit:  When the unit is searching for a valid satellite lock_ ‘ SEARCHING FOR SATELLITES ’ is displayed. When the GPS receiver has acquired a satellite lock_ one of the following will be displayed:

• STANDALONE: Position computed from GNSS only.
• CODE DIFF: Position computed from assisted SBAS corrections.

This displays the CAN database version that is currently installed on the unit.

This section displays the device serial number_ firmware version number and hardware version number. This information is useful in the event of troubleshooting a potential issue with the VBOX Touch device.

Depending on the Configured Logging Strategy, the Speed Profiler App will log a standard .vbo data file that contains all the standard GPS parameters. It will also save a results file that will be appended after every test and a driver list.