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SPEEDBOX / GettingResultsFromTheSPEEDBOX

Getting results from the SPEEDBOX

There are a number of different ways that you can get results from the SPEEDBOX, this is intended as a general introduction and guide to where there is more information.

In general there are 2 ways to operate the SPEEDBOX. Firstly you can use the SPEEDBOXs built in triggered testing functions, or one of the outputs can be used and processed externally. If required these 2 modes can be used simultaneously.

The triggered test functions of the SPEEDBOX can be configured for a wide variety of common acceleration and braking tests. The SPEEDBOX configuration software is used to configure the SPEEDBOX triggered test mode, more information is available here

1. Live monitor

The output of the SPEEDBOX can be viewed in real time with the live monitor software. Information about the live monitor is included here.

The data from the SPEEDBOX is simply displayed in this application, it is very simple to use, but only has limited options available. There are a few common uses of this simple configuration:

  • It is a simple way to check the output of the SPEEDBOX to ensure that it is operating correctly.
  • The software includes a feature to stream data to disk, so it can be used as a PC based logging system. The files logged are in the RUN file format which can then be loaded into the run processor or the analysis software, just as if the data had been logged to SD card with a RT data logger. for more information click here.

2. Performance monitor

The Performance monitor is similar to the live monitor in that it runs on the PC and takes live data from the SPEEDBOX, however it also allows a high degree of real time processing using a simple scripting language. There is detailed information about this application here. This application is typically used to do tests that are not covered by the SPEEDBOXs own built in triggered test. The advantage of this approach is that it is completely flexible, and almost any test can be specified. The disadvantages of this approach is that it is more complex to set up, and a PC is required in the car during testing.

3. SPEEDBOX text results

If a data logger (DL1 or more likely the DL2) is attached to the SPEEDBOX, then any triggered test results output from the SPEEDBOX are stored to memory card as a human readable ASCii test file. If the logger is setup to log continuously, then multiple test results will be in a single file, alternatively if the logger is set up to automatically start/stop on tests, then there will only be 1 set of results per file.

The text results are suitable for importing into a spreadsheet or text document, they are not well suited to further processing or detailed analysis.

4. Run Processor

If the output of the SPEEDBOX is logged either on a data logger (DL1 or more likely the DL2), or a PC then is attached to the SPEEDBOX, then the data from the SPEEDBOX are stored as a binary RUN file. The run file is a format proprietary to Race Technology, however it is documented and publically available here.

The RUN format files can be post processed in the Run Processor application. The 2 main purposes of this application are to either:

  • Simply convert the binary RUN data into a format suitable for loading into Matlab or Excel
  • run “post processed” triggered tests on the data. The setup and configuration for these tests is almost identical to the triggered test setup done on the SPEEDBOX. The benefit of working in this way is that you can run a number of tests at the same time, for example a brake pedal triggered test, and a speed triggered test), whilst of on the SPEEDBOX its only possible to have a single test configured. The disadvantage of working in this way is that results are only available afterwards, not at the time the test was carried out. In practice it is best to do both, carry out a single test on the SPEEDBOX, and post process any additional results that are required.

More information about now to use the Run Processor application is included here.

5. Analysis

If the output of the SPEEDBOX is logged either on a data logger (DL1 or more likely the DL2), or a PC with Live Monitor, then the data from the SPEEDBOX are stored as a binary RUN file. The run file is a format proprietary to Race Technology, however it is documented and publically available here.

Analysis allows RUN files to be loaded, viewed and analyzed in detail in a complete flexible way. So typically analysis would be used to check graphs of speed, acceleration, brake temperature etc. The tool within Analysis which is particularly useful for SPEEDBOX applications is “performance calculations”, there is more information about this here. It is also possible to export data, or sections of data from analysis. More information is available here.

There is also some additional information about setting up analysis for use with the SPEEDBOX here.

6. Performance meter function on the DASH4PRO

If the SPEEDBOX is used with a DASH4PRO, then it is possible to do tests via the DASH4PRO “performance meter” function that are built into the DASH4PRO under menu 8.0, more information is available here. This performance meter functions are designed for relatively simple acceleration and braking tests, typically ideal for motorsport, and magazine test applications. For most professional testing, including brake testing, the SPEEDBOX triggered test modes are the preferred mode of operation.

7. Triggered test results function on the DASH4PRO

The DASH4PRO and SPEEDBOX are designed to operate as a tightly coupled system. The DASH4PRO can be used to control the SPEEDBOXs trigger test mode, and the DASH4PRO can be used to display the results from the triggered test modes. For most triggered testing, this is the preferred method of operation.

  • For more information about displaying brake test results on the DASH4PRO as normal variables (this is the most common way to work) click here.
  • Alternatively you can display all the text formatted results from the SPEEDBOX on the DASH4PRO.
  • The DASH4PRO can be configured to run a different triggered test for each screen, in most cases this allows the system to be preconfigured to do all the test types needed for a particular day of testing.
  • The triggered test configuration can be edited via the menus on the DASH4PRO, this can be a little slow, but is idea for when small changes to a setup is needed.

8. CAN output to 3rd party products

For use with 3rd party data loggers or displays, then its typically most efficient to use the CAN output of the SPEEDBOX. The CAN output can be configured for different addresses, and a DBC can be exported.

  • For more information about how to configure the CAN output, please check here
  • For information about the format of the CAN output, please check here.
  • For information about how to use the CAN output in testing applications, please check here

9. Pulse or analogue output to 3rd party products

For application where CAN logging is not available, or undesirable, then the SPEEDBOX has configurable Pulse and Analogue outputs. Note that analogue outputs are not available in the SPEEDBOX mini.

Page last modified on April 29, 2019, at 08:06 AM