Speed Profiler App

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The Speed Profiler Application is ideal for measuring durability and fuel economy and for tyre testing. You can set a target speed for a duration of time or distance in the Speed Profile Software on your computer. This will generate an .spp file.

Once you have installed the Speed Profiler App, you can load this file onto the Performance Box Touch with an SD card. The driver will then receive both audible and visual alerts if they deviate from the target speed (or tolerance).

You can download the app here, and find the instructions for how to install it here.

Getting Started

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

The speed units used in the .spp file will be detected, and Performance Box Touch will update to match.

PB Touch Speed Profiler Select Profile2.png

Speed profile selection on startup

Main Screen

Speed Profile Display

The application includes a live graph which allows the driver to see forthcoming speed changes and helps to keep their speed within tolerance. The graph scrolls from left to right, plotting GPS speed against time. The current speed is indicated by a white square which remains static, with a white trace behind displaying 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 last 2.5 seconds and the next 6.5 seconds of the configured profile.

Start/Reset

Clicking on the START button will start the speed profile file (.spp). If you selected Wait Until Moving in the Test Settings, the test will not start until the unit detects movement. Once started, you can press the RESET button to terminate the test and stop the logging (if applicable). If you reset the test before the end of it, the unit will not save a score to the _results.txt file and 'RESET' will be displayed next to the test in the SCORE field.

Pause/Resume

When the vehicle is stationary, you can pause the test using the Pause button.
You can resume the test by pressing the Resume button.

Current Speed Chart

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

Target Speed Chart

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

Speed Tolerance Margin

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 with which the driver can keep within without affecting the test results. The speed tolerance margin is identified by white lines on either side of the target speed and can be defined in the Test Settings.

The chart shows the margin of the last 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 is indicated by an arrow.

Current Speed

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

Target Speed

Displays the target speed of the vehicle using 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.

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

Progress

This displays the progress of the test as a percentage.

Nightmode

If you enable Nightmode in the Test Settings, tapping a free space on the screen will toggle between the default display profile and a Defined Profile for night-time operation.
The Nightmode display is indicated by a Moon Icon in the upper right-hand corner.

LEDs

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

Current speed is <2 (km/h or mph) faster/slower than the target speed

LEDs will be off

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

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

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

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

4 LEDs will be green if slower

VBOX Touch Red LED.png

4 LEDs will be red if faster

Satellite Status

SD Status

The SD Card Icon displays the status of the recording media. When the unit detects an SD card with free space, the icon will be green.

Pressing the icon when it is green will manually start or stop the data logging.

When it cannot detect an SD card or the media is full, the icon will be red.

Logging Status

The red Record Icon will show when the unit is logging data to the SD card.
If the icon appears white after you have initiated logging, it means that the unit is primed for logging and is in the process of synchronising the internal real-time clock (RTC) to GPS time. The logging will not start until this synchronisation process is complete.
IMPORTANT Do not remove the SD card when the Record Icon is red. You may lose data or damage the SD card if you remove it while the unit is logging.

SD Status

The SD Card Icon displays the status of the recording media. When an SD card has been inserted and has free space, the icon will be green. By tapping on the icon when it is green, you can manually start or stop the data logging and override the Configured Logging Strategy.
If the unit cannot detect an SD card or the media is full or corrupted, the icon will be red.

Satellite Status

The Satellite Icon illustrates whether the unit has a valid satellite lock.
When a lock is acquired, this icon will be solid green.
If there is no satellite lock, the icon will flash red.

Display Mode

This header shows which Display Mode is currently selected.

Battery Status

If you are using the separate battery to power Performance Box Touch, the Battery status icon is there to keep you informed of the charge currently available in the battery. You can read more about the battery status here.

Mode Data

This area will contain information that relates to the currently selected Display Mode.

Settings Button

The Settings Button will open a Settings area, which contains menus for Display Mode settings, General settings, Diagnostic Settings and Time settings.

The Display Mode settings shown on the Settings screen depend on which mode has been selected. You can find information about the settings for each mode in the specific mode areas.

Screenshot Button

By pressing the Screenshot Button you can save a full image of what is currently shown on the screen. This screenshot will be saved to the inserted SD card as a 1.5 MB bitmap image, orientated at 90° to the original screen image and with the prefix 'screenshot'. The LEDs will illuminate yellow in sequence from left to right to display the progress of writing to the SD card. When the screen capture is complete, Performance Box Touch will emit an audible confirmation notification. If the screenshot could not be saved, for example, no SD card is inserted or the card is full, the SD Card Icon at the top of the screen will flash 3 times and Performance Box Touch will emit an audible error notification.

IMPORTANT
NEVER remove the SD card while a screenshot is captured and saved as it could cause the unit to crash!

Results Button

You can view the test results history by selecting the Results button at the bottom of the current test screen.

These test results will be displayed until you choose a new test type or you press the Reset Button.

Mode Button

The Mode Button lets you choose between the 4 Display Modes available.

Reset Button

Depending on which screen you are on, the Reset Button will reset mode results and/or history. When pressed, the LEDs will briefly flash green twice and the unit will emit an audible confirmation notification. If you press the Reset button while in Lap Timing Mode, you will see a cancel timeout screen giving you the opportunity to cancel the reset within 5 seconds by pressing anywhere on the screen.

Forward/Back Arrow Buttons

You can use the Forward and Back arrow buttons to navigate through the Display Mode and Settings screens. Alternatively, you can also swipe left or right on the screen when these buttons are visible.

Exit Button

You can use the Exit button to return to the previous menu or page.

End of Test

At the end of a test, you will see a results screen. If a driver had been previously selected, you will see a score associated to that driver which represents the % of test time inside the tolerance margin. You can also assign the result to another driver by selecting the New Driver button.

VBOX Touch Speed Profiler Results.png

Results screen

Save the score to the '_results.txt' file on the SD card by pressing the Save button. 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 no driver has been previously selected, you cannot save the score until a driver has been selected by pressing the New Driver button.

Settings

You can access the Test Settings menu in the Speed Profiler App by selecting the Settings button at the bottom left of the screen.
You can access the General Settings and Diagnostics Settings menus by pressing the Forward and Back arrows at the bottom right of the screen, or by swiping left or right.
To save the settings and return to the main screen, press the Exit button at the bottom left. All the settings will remian saved after power cycles.

Test Settings

This menu contains settings for Beep, Speed tolerance, Nightmode, Speed profile file (.spp) and Driver options.

Wait Until Moving

This setting will start the test once the unit detects that the vehicle has started moving (faster than 0.8 km/h). This is only valid if the loaded speed profile file (.spp) begins with an acceleration. If you select Automatic Logging on the General Settings screen, the logging will start once movement is detected.

Beeps

This setting controls the volume of the audible 'lead-in' beeps during accel/decel transitions. You can manually adjust the beeps between 5 volume levels, 1 is the quietest and 5 is the loudest. You can also turn the beeps off.

Speed Tolerance

This setting controls the tolerance of the test in relation to the actual speed, compared to the speed profile detailed in the loaded speed profile file (.spp). Available range is between 1 to 10 (km/h or mph dependent on the Speed Units set in the General Settings).

Nightmode

In this mode you can press on the Main Screen to quickly toggle between the default display profile and a profile that suits nighttime operation. You can set the nightmode screen and LED brightness profile on the General Settings screen.

SPP Selected

This area displays the currently selected speed profile file (.spp) that was chosen during startup. To change the profile, press the New SPP button, which will open the Select Speed Profile menu.

This area will list all .spp files saved on the inserted SD card. To choose a different profile, select the file name name you want to change to.

If several .spp files are available, the files could be presented on more than one page. You can navigate by using the Forward and Back arrows at the bottom right of the screen or by swiping left or right.

To add a new speed profile to the list, you need to remove the SD card, insert it into a computer and place the required file(s) on the root directory of the SD card. The available speed profiles will be refreshed once you insert the SD card back in the unit. If you are already in the Select Speed Profile menu, press the Refresh button at the bottom of the screen to manually update the available profiles.

Driver Selected

This area displays the currently selected driver. You can change or add a new driver by pressing the New Driver button, which will open the Select Driver menu.

PB Touch Speed Profiler Select Driver.png

To choose a previously configured driver, select the desired driver name.

If several drivers are available, the names could be presented on more than one page. You can navigated through these pages by using the Forward and Back arrows at the bottom right of the screen, or by swiping left or right.

To enter a new driver name, press the New Driver button at the top left of the screen. This will open the Name menu where you can use the Up and Down arrows to create a three-character alpha-numeric name.

Press the Confirm button at the bottom right of the screen to save the new name.

VBOX Touch Speed Profiler Driver Name.png

Driver names are stored in the saved '_driverlist.txt' file on the root directory of the SD card. You can open this file on a computer to edit it to enter names longer than 3 characters if necessary. The available driver names will be refreshed once you insert the SD card back in to the unit. If you are already in the Select Driver menu, press the Refresh button at the bottom of the screen to manually update the driver names.

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

General Settings

This menu contains units, logging mode and brightness options.

Speed: This setting allows you to change the speed units, between km/h and mph. Changing the speed units will affect all visual speed parameters on all screens, unit labels will change and all speed values will be recalculated accordingly. Tap the corresponding blue button to change the units.
Distance: This setting allows you to change the distance units, between metres and feet. Changing the distance units will affect all visual distance parameters on all screens, unit labels will change and all distance values and results will be be recalculated accordingly. Tap the button to change the units.
Logging: This setting allows you to toggle between 2 logging modes. Tap the button to change the mode:
- Automatic (default): Performance Box Touch will start logging when an SD card is inserted and initialised and the test is started by selecting the START button (unless Wait Until Moving is selected from the Test Settings). When the test has finished, the logging will stop automatically.
- Manual: The Performance Box Touch will start logging when an SD card is inserted and initialised and you press the SD Card Icon at the top of the screen. The recording will only stop once you press the SD Card Icon again.
  
  Note: A new data file is created every time Performance Box Touch starts/stops logging. The data is not appended to an existing data file.

Screen Brightness: You can manually adjust the screen brightness between 5 levels. 1 is the dimmest and 5 is the brightest. An 'Auto' setting is also available which uses the internal ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the screen brightness. In dark conditions, the screen brightness will dim, and in light conditions, the screen will brighten. Tap the button to cycle through the available options.
LED Brightness: You can manually adjust the LED brightness between 5 levels. 1 is the dimmest and 5 is the brightest (this is extremely bright!). You can also turn off the LEDs. Tap the button to cycle through the available options, the LEDs will preview the brightness level.
System Time/Date: Displays the current time and date used by the system.
Sync to GPS: 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), and the unit is not moving or logging. When you press this, you will see a synchronisation progress screen.
Nightmode Screen Brightness: You can manually adjust the screen brightness when Nightmode is enabled between 5 levels. 1 is the dimmest and 5 is the brightest setting. An 'Auto' setting is also available, which uses the internal ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the screen brightness. In dark conditions, the screen brightness will dim, and in light conditions, the screen will brighten. Tap the button to cycle through the available options.
Nightmode LED Brightness: You can manually adjust the LED brightness when Nightmode is enabled between 5 levels. 1 is the dimmest and 5 is the brightest (this is extremely bright!). You can also turn off the LEDs. Tap the button to cycle through the available options. The LEDs will preview the brightness level.

The Diagnostics menu displays basic information about the GNSS receiver and the VBOX unit.

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

VBOX Touch No Sats.png

GPS Information

Coldstart: Press this button to perform a coldstart on Performance Box Touch. The receiver will clear any data currently stored in its internal memory. It may be necessary to do this when the GNSS engine has locked up or the Performance Box Touch is struggling to acquire a satellite lock.

When you press the button, the unit will make an audible alert and you will see a ‘PLEASE WAIT’ message displayed on the screen, counting down from 3. The number of satellites will then be displayed as '00' and the GPS status will show ‘SEARCHING FOR SATELLITES’ until the unit has acquired a satellite lock. It will take approximately 25 to 30 seconds for the unit to re-acquire the satellite lock.
Satellites: Displays how many satellites the receiver is currently using. The unit can use up to 12 satellites.
GPS Status: This indicates the current GPS lock/RTK status of the unit. When the unit is searching for a valid satellite lock, it will display ‘SEARCHING FOR SATELLITES’. When the GNSS receiver has acquired a satellite lock, it will display one of the following:
- STANDALONE - The position has been computed from GNSS only.
- CODE DIFF - The position has been computed from assisted SBAS corrections.

VBOX Information

This section displays the device serial number, hardware version number of the unit as well as the version and system version currently used on the unit. This information is useful in the event of troubleshooting a potential issue with the Performance Box Touch device.

Battery Information

This section displays the serial number, firmware version number and hardware version number of a connected battery. This information is useful in the event of troubleshooting a potential issue with the Performance Box Touch battery.

Logging

Depending on the Configured Logging Strategy, the Speed Profiler App will log a standard .vbo data file containing all standard GPS parameters. It will also save a results file which appends after every test, along with a driver list.