Mining Test - Time and Motion

Updated on Mar 4, 2026

The Time and Motion plugin for VBOX Test Suite gives you the ability to generate reports to view how queuing time would change as a result of simulated speed limits and if there would be any occurrences of the excavator waiting. 

The plugin includes features such as algorithms for queuing time and inputs for simulated maximum speed limits and load/dump locations. 

The Time and Motion plugin as a unique Test Setup ribbon, from which you can configure the test.

VBTS_TKPH_TestSetup

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Click on the Configure button to open the Settings window where you can define the parameters of the test.

Click on the Report button to create a report from the current test results.

Click on the Maths Channels button to open the Maths Channels window to configure unique maths channels. You can find more information about maths channels in the Test Setup section.

Click on the Save Settings button to save the current test setup and add it to the Saved Settings area in the Add Test window.

The test will also be added to the list under the Mining button on the Home tab for easy access.

Click on the Export button to display a dropdown menu with the export options. You can export the selected results or line results to a .csv or a .txt file. 

VBTS_TKPH_TestSetup_Gate

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Click on the Add Gate button to add a virtual gate to the chart and map at the point of the cursor. Gates are indicated by green lines. The currently selected gate will be indicated by a blue line.

You can now use the gates to define start and/or end conditions.


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Click on the Add Gate button to add a virtual gate to the chart and map at the point of the cursor. Gates are indicated by green lines. The currently selected gate will be indicated by a blue line.

You can now use the gates to define start and/or end conditions.

When you have added a gate, the name of the currently selected gate will be displayed in the name box. Click on the arrow in the box to see a dropdown list of all the added gates. The gates will be named according to the type of gate (if applicable) and the order it was added.  

Note: You cannot have multiple gates with the same name.

When you have added a gate, you can specify the gate width. The default gate width is 20 m.

Type the required width in the Width (m) value box. 

Click on the Rename button to edit the currently selected gate line.

Click on the Delete button to delete the currently selected gate line. 

Click on the Delete All button to delete all set gates for the session. 

Click on the Export button to export the created gate(s) as an .spl file. This file can be reused at a later date and with another VBOX product.

Click on the Import button to import a previously saved or provided .spl file. When the file is imported, the gates will be added in the order that they were saved in the .spl file.


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The Add button adds a column to the Test Results area. Click this button to open a dropdown menu where you can select a channel to display in the test results window.

When you select a column header in the Test Results area, the channel name will be displayed in the Channel box (the top box in the Data Column section). Some columns will have required channels and cannot be changed, but if you can change the channel, the Channel box will become a drop-down list with the available channels.    

Data column_SelectedColumn_DefaultChannel
Data column_SelectedColumn_EditChannel
Data column_SelectedColumn_DefaultChannel
Data column_SelectedColumn_EditChannel

When you select a column header in the Test Results area, and it is a changeable channel, the Condition dropdown menu becomes available. The conditions will depend on the test and selected channel.

Examples are:

  • Avg
  • Max
  • Min
  • Delta 
  • At Start
  • At End

The Sort Ascending button will sort the values in the currently selected column in the Test Results area in alphabetical order from A to Z.

The Sort Descending button will sort the values in the currently selected column in the Test Results area in alphabetical order from Z to A.


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Click on the Select All button to select every run in the Test Results area with one click.

Run -  Deselect All 

Click on the Deselect All button to deselect every run in the Test Results area with one click.

Click on the Deselect All button to deselect every run in the Test Results area with one click.

VBTS_TimeandMotion_SessionData

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Click on the Edit Data button to open the Session Data window and add various vehicle and test information, such as:

Select the relevant time zone.  

When in Offline mode, the Session Data will be saved into the VBOX file.  This information will be recalled every time the file is loaded into VBOX Test Suite.

When in Online mode, a newly created session will be populated with session data from the previous session.

To save time, you can import and export the session data for other sessions. When you have completed the Session Data, you can export the data to a .vbses file by clicking on the Export button in the Session Data window. The exported file will contain all the session data and can be imported into another session via the Import button in the Session Data window.


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Click on Help to automatically open an Internet browser and load the relevant section of the User Guide on the Racelogic Support Centre.

VBTS_TKPH_Ribbon_Map
VBTS_Time-and-Motion_Map

On the Map, you can define load/dump locations by selecting Add Region. This allows the software to detect whether a vehicle is loaded or unloaded based on regular movements.

Ensure that the region is placed correctly so as not to miss any areas in which load status may have changed. For instance, make sure all dump locations are captured as dump regions and all load points are captured as load regions. To reduce the chance of error, avoid load/dump regions at traffic hold points, such as intersections.

You can also rename load/dump locations as the relevant circuit will be represented in Results and the Report as “Load”-“Dump”-“Load”.

If you are creating a new test, the Settings window will open when you add the new test. This is where you can define the test parameters.

If you have already added an Accel test and you have it open, you can click on the Configure button to open the Settings window to define or amend the test parameters.

VBTS_TimeandMotion_Settings
Load Area Approach Speed (km/h)

Specify the approach speed to the load area in km/h. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the speed or type the required speed directly into the value box.  
 

Speed Limits (km/h)

Specify the required speed limits.

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the speed or type the required speed directly into the value box.

Click on the + button to add another speed limit.

Click on the X button next to set a speed limit to delete it. 

VBTS_TimeandMotion_Settings_SimulatedMaximumSpeedLimits
Load Area Approach Speed (km/h)

Specify the approach speed to the load area in km/h. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the speed or type the required speed directly into the value box.  
 

Speed Limits (km/h)

Specify the required speed limits.

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the speed or type the required speed directly into the value box.

Click on the + button to add another speed limit.

Click on the X button next to set a speed limit to delete it. 

VBTS_TimeandMotion_Settings_SimulatedMaximumSpeedLimits
Minimum number of runs for inclusion in report 

Specify the minimum number of runs for the test to be included in the report. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the number of runs directly into the value box.  
 

Standard Deviation

Specify the standard deviation for the report. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the deviation or type the required value directly into the value box.  

VBTS_TimeandMotion_Settings_ReportSettings
Minimum number of runs for inclusion in report 

Specify the minimum number of runs for the test to be included in the report. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the number of runs directly into the value box.  
 

Standard Deviation

Specify the standard deviation for the report. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the deviation or type the required value directly into the value box.  

VBTS_TimeandMotion_Settings_ReportSettings
Minimum Load Time (s)

Specify the minimum load time in seconds. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the load time or type the required load time directly into the value box.  
 

Minimum Dump Time (s)

Specify the minimum dump time in seconds. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the minimum dump time or type the required minimum dump time directly into the value box.  
 

Maximum Load Speed (km/h)

Specify the maximum load speed in km/h. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the speed or type the required speed directly into the value box.  
 

Maximum Dump Speed (km/h)

Specify the maximum dump speed in km/h. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the dump speed or type the required speed directly into the value box.  

VBTS_TimeandMotion_Settings_Advanced
Minimum Load Time (s)

Specify the minimum load time in seconds. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the load time or type the required load time directly into the value box.  
 

Minimum Dump Time (s)

Specify the minimum dump time in seconds. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the minimum dump time or type the required minimum dump time directly into the value box.  
 

Maximum Load Speed (km/h)

Specify the maximum load speed in km/h. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the speed or type the required speed directly into the value box.  
 

Maximum Dump Speed (km/h)

Specify the maximum dump speed in km/h. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the dump speed or type the required speed directly into the value box.  

VBTS_TimeandMotion_Settings_Advanced

You can rename a session tab by double-clicking the tab header. Changing the name on the session tab in the software will automatically change the name of the locally saved VBOX file (.vbo or .vbb).

By pressing the Edit Data button next to the name of the session in the Test Results area or on the Test Setup tab on the ribbon, you can add vehicle and test information to the session.

  • When in Offline mode, this information will be saved into the VBOX file, meaning that this information will be recalled every time the file is loaded into VBOX Test Suite.
  • When in Online mode, a newly created session will be populated with session data from the previous session.

This information will be included in the test report to make it easier to see under what conditions the test was conducted.

To save time, you can import and export the session information for use in other sessions (the entire range of data is exported, not just the visible screen).

Once the session information has been completed, you can export the data to a .vbses file. This file will contain all the session information that can then be imported into the open session information field.

VBTS_TimeandMotion_Results

The Test Results area has the following default columns:

Run
Indicates which run number the results relate to, with run one being the first run completed.

There is also a selection box that, when ticked, includes that run in the graph and into the Average/Max/Min/Standard Deviation calculations. Once selected, a coloured square will appear to indicate which colour this run is displayed as on the graph.
 
Note: If you are loading a file in Offline mode, all valid runs will automatically be ticked.
Cycle
The start and end location of the journey cycle.
Depart Dump
The time at which the vehicle left the Dump area.
Journey Time
The total time of the journey.
Queue Time
The total time spent queueing in this cycle.
Load Start
The start time of the load.
Queue Count
The total number of times the vehicle stopped while queueing.
Queue @ 50
The projected queue time if the vehicle travelled at 50 during the cycle.
Queue @ 40
The projected queue time if the vehicle travelled at 40 during the cycle.
Queue @ 30
The projected queue time if the vehicle travelled at 30 during the cycle.
Queue @ 20
The projected queue time if the vehicle travelled at 20 during the cycle.

The software will automatically add columns based on the configured settings.