Hardware Setup - VBOX 3i RTK

Connect and Install the Target Equipment

Set up the VBOX test system for the VRU:

GNSS Antenna:

Connect one end of an antenna cable to the connector on the primary GNSS antenna.

Connect the antenna cable from the GNSS antenna to the Antenna port (A) on the VBOX 3iS.
 

ADAS Radio Antenna:

Connect the ADAS Radio antenna to the ADAS radio. 
 

ADAS Radio:

The ADAS radios allow communication to the VBOX in the VUT target.

Connect one end of an RLCAB005 cable to the Lemo port on the ADAS radio unit.

Connect the other end of the cable to the SERIAL cable on the RLCAB163 cable loom.
 

DGPS Device:

Connect the NTRIP Modem to the DGPS cable on the RLCAB163 cable loom. 

If you need information about setting up and using an NTRIP Modem for RTK correction, click here.

If you are using a Base Station for RTK correction instead, you can find information about how to set up and use it here.
 

Power:

Connect the cable from the Battery Pack to the POWER IN cable on the RLCAB163 cable loom.
 

Complete Setup:

When you have made all the connections, the complete system will look like this*:

*If you are using a Base Station for RTK correction, the DGPS radio will replace the NTRIP Modem in the diagram. 

▼ VBOX 4

If you are using a VBOX 4 unit as the VBOX in the Test System for the Target, you can refer to the User Guide for your VBOX 4 product to find more information.

 

Complete Setup:

When you have made all the connections, the complete system will look like this*:

*If you are using a Base Station for RTK correction, the DGPS radio will replace the NTRIP Modem in the diagram.

▼ VBOX 3i

When you have made all the connections, the complete system will look like this*:

VBOX 3i ADAS

 

VBOX 3i RTK

*If you are using a Base Station for RTK correction, the DGPS radio will replace the NTRIP Modem in the diagram.

Configure the Target Equipment

VBOX 3iS units can be configured in 2 ways: via the menu on the front panel or via a serial connection to a PC using the VBOX Setup software.

1. Navigate to the DGNSS Mode setting in the GNSS menu.
2. Select NTRIP.
   
   If you are using an alternative RTK device, select the mode relevant to your device.
    
3. Navigate to the DGNSS Rate setting and select 115200.
4. Exit the GNSS menu and navigate to the ADAS menu.
5. Change the ADAS mode to 1 Target.

You can find more information about how to configure the VBOX 3iS in your product's User Guide.

If you are using a VBOX Data Logger instead of a VBOX 3iS in the test system for your target, you can find relevant configuration information in your product's User Guide.  

Wire ADAS and Dooring Sensors Into the D-sub Connector

▼ADAS Visual Sensor

Wire the green/black wire to the ground pin (15). Wire the red wire to the power pin (9). Wire the yellow wire to a negative pin in an available Isolated Channel pair. Wire the blue wire to a positive pin in an available Isolated Channel pair.  In this example we are using channel 4 for the signal wires. You can find the pin information for the analogue Input connector on VBOX 4 here.   Note: Take note of the channel you are connecting the signal wires to, as you will need to configure this channel in the Channel Setup menu in the VBOX Setup software when you connect the sensor to the VBOX.

▼ADAS Audio Sensor

After wiring the unterminated end of RLCAB007-2 to the 25-way D-sub connector as illustrated below, you can connect the 25-way D-sub connector to the A IN port on the VBOX 3i unit and the Lemo connector to the TRIG OUT port on the Audio Sensor.    Wire Colour Function   Red Power Green Ground Yellow Signal Ground Blue Signal Wire the green wire to the ground pin (15). Wire the red wire to the power pin (14). Wire the yellow wire to a negative pin in an available Isolated Channel pair. Wire the blue wire to a positive pin in an available Isolated Channel pair.  In this example, we are using channel 1 for the signal wires. You can find the pin information for the analogue Input connector on VBOX 3i here. Note: Take note of the channel you are connecting the signal wires to, as you will need to configure this channel in the Channel Setup menu in the VBOX Setup software when you connect the sensor to the VBOX.

▼Door Open Trigger Switch

Wire Colour Function Red Power Black Ground Yellow Signal Blue Signal Ground Wire the black wire to the ground pin (15). Wire the red wire to the power pin (9). Wire the yellow wire to a positive pin in an available Isolated Channel pair. Wire the blue wire to a negative pin in an available Isolated Channel pair.  In this example, we are using channel 4 for the signal wires. You can find the pin information for the Analogue Input connector on VBOX 4 here.   Note: Take note of the channel you are connecting the signal wires to, as you will need to configure this channel in the Channel Setup menu in the VBOX Setup software when you connect the sensor to the VBOX.

▼Door Handle Force Sensor

Wire Colour Function Red Power Green/Black Ground Yellow Signal Blue Signal Ground Wire the green/black wire to the ground pin (15). Wire the red wire to the power pin (9). Wire the yellow wire to a positive pin in an available Isolated Channel pair. Wire the blue wire to a negative pin in an available Isolated Channel pair.  In this example, we are using channel 4 for the signal wires. You can find the pin information for the Analogue Input connector on VBOX 4 here.   Note: Take note of the channel you are connecting the signal wires to, as you will need to configure this channel in the Channel Setup menu in the VBOX Setup software when you connect the sensor to the VBOX.

Configure the Audio Sensor

Use the VBOX Audio Sensor Setup software to configure the Audio Sensor to trigger on the frequency of the VUT’s audible warning.

Connect and Install the VUT Equipment

D-sub to Analog Input:

Connect the 25-way D-sub connector with the ADAS and Dooring sensors and trigger to the Analogue Inputs port on the VBOX 3i RTK unit.  

Computer to VBOX 3i RTK:

Connect the computer/laptop to the VBOX 3i ADAS unit. Use the RLCAB066-2 cable to connect between the USB port (USB-A) on the laptop/tablet and the USB port (USB Mini B) on the VBOX 3i RTK unit.

GNSS Antenna:

Connect the GNSS Antenna to the primary antenna port (A) on the VBOX 3i RTK unit.

Place the antenna on the vehicle roof at the location of the B pillar.
 

DGPS Device:

Connect the NTRIP Modem to the CAN port on the VBOX 3i RTK unit.

For information on setting up and using an NTRIP Modem for RTK correction, click here.

If you are using a Base Station for RTK correction instead, you can find information on how to set up and use it here.
 

ADAS Radio Antenna:

Connect the ADAS Radio antenna to the ADAS radio. 
 

ADAS Radio:

Connect the ADAS radio to SER  port on the VBOX 3i RTK unit. 

Power:

Connect the RLCAB010LE cable between the power outlet in the vehicle to the PWR port on the VBOX 3i RTK unit. 
 

Complete Setup*:

Configure the VUT Equipment

1. Open VBOX Setup on the connected computer.
2. Select the relevant COM port and click Connect.
3. Open the Channel Config menu
4. Set up the Internal A/D channels for the ADAS and Dooring sensors and trigger:
   
   4.1 Identify the channel for the Visual Sensor and name it Visual. Set the scale and offset to make the channel display 0 when inactive and 5 when triggered.
   
   4.2 Identify the channel for the Audio Sensor and name it Audio. Set the scale and offset to make the channel display 0 when inactive and 5 when triggered.
   
   4.3 Identify the channel for the Door Handle Pressure Sensor and name it Handle. Set the scale and offset to make the channel display 0 when inactive and 5 when triggered.
   
   4.4 Identify the channel for the Door Open Switch Trigger and name it Door. Set the scale and offset to make the channel display 0 when the sensor is triggered (door is closed) and ≈ 12 V when the sensor is inactive (door is open).
    
5. Open the GNSS menu.
6. Enable DGPS/RTK by selecting the relevant DGPS/RTK Mode 
   
   (NTRIP if using an NTRIP Modem, etc.)
    
7. Make sure that the Baud Rate is set to 115200.
8. Open the ADAS menu and configure the ADAS objects:
   
   8.1 Set the mode to Subject.
   
   8.2 Click Edit to configure the subject vehicle.
   
   8.3 Add one point and offset it so that it is located 1 m off the side of the vehicle in line with the B-pillar. This is the location the VRU would collide with the door if it were opened.
   
   8.4 Click OK.
   
   8.5 Click Add Remote VBOX Target.
   
   8.6 Click Edit points.
   
   8.7 Set 1 vehicle point for the target.
   
   8.8 Offset the output reference point to the front of the target.
   
   (This is the distance and direction from the Target's antenna position to the furthest point at the front of the target.)

   Example diagram from Euro NCAP VRU test protocol published February 2024 showing the different objects in the test, along with the impact point and reference point.

   
   
   8.9 Check the live data to confirm that link time and positions are as expected.
   
   8.10 Click Write to unit.

You can read more about how to configure ADAS objects with VBOX 3i RTK here.

Position the VUT With its Path Parallel to the VRU Target Heading

To ensure absolute accuracy of data, it is suggested that the VUT and VRU paths are offset from and parallel to a reference line. Failure to ensure a parallel path will induce lateral range errors, as illustrated below:  

Place the Sensors in the Vehicle

VBOX Visual Sensor This sensor is used to assess the visual information and warning functions given by the VUT. Locate the visual warning in the vehicle and place the sensor over an area that will be illuminated when the warning is activated. (You can see more about best practice when installing the ADAS Visual sensor in its user guide.) The data is sampled at 100 Hz to give an accurate position, speed and time of the VRU at the onset of the information/warning.
Door Pressure Sensor This sensor is used to establish the open/shut status for the door in the retention part of the test. Place the sensor in the door frame and close the door. Use VBOX Setup to confirm that the sensor is triggered when the door is closed. Fix the sensor in place. The data is sampled at 100 Hz to give an accurate position, speed and time of the VRU at the moment of the door opening.
Force Sensing Resistor This sensor is used to record the activation of the door opening mechanism. Stick the sensor to the back of the latch. Make sure that you have enough cable slack to be able to open the door properly. The sensor output is linear rather than a binary switch, as used in some Dooring setups. The benefits of using a linear strain gauge over an on/off trigger are that you are not restricted to T’open’/T’closed’, but you can also define several points of interest as they occur, such as t’operation’, t’latch’ and t’open’.
VBOX Audio Sensor This sensor is used to record and assess the audible warnings in the VUT. Connect the Audio sensor to the cable via the TRIG OUT port and place it in a safe location in the vehicle. The data is sampled at 100 Hz to give an accurate position, speed and time of the VRU at the onset of a warning. Note: The latency of the Audio sensor is approximately 2 ms.

Survey the Reference Heading

​A reference line is used to provide a very stable heading reference for the calculation of noise free LatRref-tg1 (or tg2, tg3) and LngRref-tg1 (or tg2, tg3) channels. These channels are the lateral and longitudinal ranges between the subject and target vehicles based on the set reference heading.

1. Make sure you have RTK fix. noise-free
2. Click on the Survey button.
   
   The Surveying window will open. 
    
3. Drive the vehicle to the first nominated point on the test path. Ensure that your path follows a straight line that is perfectly parallel to the  direction of travel in the test.
   
   A good method for this is to get the front and rear tyres on one side of the vehicle perfectly aligned on a marked straight line. The vehicle should point in the direction you wish to set for the heading.
    
4. Set the first point by clicking on the  Set Point A button.
5. Move the vehicle to a distance of at least 100 m along the straight line.
6. Make sure that the vehicle is re-aligned to the line.
7. Click on the Set Point B button.
    

   Note: The reference heading will be generated from the bearing of Point A to Point B.

8. Click OK.

You can read more about surveying the Reference Heading with VBOX 3i RTK here.

Save the Configuration

Click Write to unit and close VBOX Setup.