FAQ - VBOX 3i V3 Firmware

What are the key features of version 3.0?

• IMU05 and IMU05-S support 
• Redesigned ADAS modes 
• Improved user configuration
• Logging to VBB files
• Support for new CAN Hub features 

What VBOX 3i products are compatible with v3.0?

VBOX 3i units of hardware version 5 and all VBOX 3i ADAS units.

Can I use a VBOX 3iS as a target unit in my v3.0 ADAS testing system?

Yes. You can use VBOX 3iS units in your target vehicles when performing ADAS testing with a VBOX 3i v3.0 as the subject unit.

How many ADAS targets can you use in VBOX 3i with firmware version 3.0?

You can configure your ADAS targets in the ADAS menu in VBOX Setup. When you are using firmware version 3.0 on your VBOX unit, you will be able to configure a total of 5 remote and static targets combined, with a maximum limit of 3 targets of each type. 

You can read more about how to configure ADAS targets here.

Is the 3-target mode the same in version 3.0 as in version 2.8?

No, the 3-target mode in firmware version 3.0 has been greatly improved compared to the functionality in version 2.8.

In version 2.8 we had a limited set of calculated channels (reduced from 1 and 2-target due to logging restrictions in the firmware).

Version 3 does not have these logging restrictions, so you can now calculate and log the same channels for 3-target mode as well.

Is a VBOX 3i with firmware version 3.0 compatible with VBOX 3i ADAS subject and target configuration?

Yes.

Is a VBOX 3i with firmware version 3.0 compatible with products that are using version 2.8?

Yes, you can use a version 3.0 unit in a system with a version 2.8 unit. However, a unit running version 2.8 will not have the new and updated features from version 3.0. Version 2.8 units will work as sensors, but the data and calculations on the version 3.0 unit will be limited to what is available in version 2.8.

To take advantage of the added features and functionality we recommend that you upgrade all your compatible units to version 3.0. 

What has changed with the Logging feature in Version 3.0 compared to Version 2.8?

• Logged Channels

In 2.8, you had to go to the Channel menu in VBOX Setup to see the list of available channels to log and to check that you were logging the data you needed. Greyed-out channels would automatically be logged and could not be unselected. You could select Tick to log to add separate channels from the list if you wanted more than the standard channels to be logged. When selecting Tick to log, you would also automatically set these channels to be sent to your MFD.

In version 3.0, all enabled and configured channels will be logged regardless. You can see the full list of enabled and configured channels in the Channel Configuration menu. If you want a non-standard channel to be displayed on your MFD, you can select Send to MFD for this channel.

If you are using your system with Test Suite, all channels you select to display or use as test conditions or pass conditions will automatically be sent over serial to the Test Suite Application.

If you are using a third-party application instead of Test Suite, you must select the channels you wish to send over serial manually. You can do this by selecting the Advanced tick box in the top right corner of the Channel Config menu and selecting Send over Serial for the applicable channels.

Note: You can enable up to 32 serial channels at the same time.

• Filename

The default filename for a VBB file has a VBOX prefix. In version 3.0 you can change this prefix in the Logging menu in VBOX Setup and have the data captured in a separate folder. If you are completing and capturing multiple tests on the same CF card, you can use this feature to help differentiate between the different tests. 

You can read more about this feature and how to use it here.

What is a .VBB File?

VBOX 3i Firmware version 3.0 records data in .VBB files that are saved on the CF card in the unit. This is a new binary file format that allows the VBOX to log more channels without producing large file sizes.  The maximum size of a .VBB file is 2 GB. If a test requires more than this, the software will close the current file and continue the logging in a new file. 

What is the difference between .VBO files and .VBB files and why have we stopped using .VBO files in version 3.0?

Instead of the conventional .VBO file (VBOX file), units with the V3 firmware will produce a .VBB file (VBOX Binary). A .VBO file is a text space file that supports a single sample frequency. This is limited in its nature and format and is process-intensive to produce. The binary format supports multiple sample frequencies, is less process-intensive to produce and has a smaller file size compared to .VBO files.

If you are using third-party tools with your .VBO files, you can still do this when using firmware version 3.0. You can convert the .VBB file to a .VBO file in VBOX Test Suite by loading the .VBB file into Test Suite and export it out again as a .VBO file.

You can also record a .VBO file in real-time by having a serial port connected to Test Suite, record that session in test Suite and save the file in .VBO format.

Note: This file will not contain the same amount of information as the .VBB file that is recorded on the CF card, but it will contain the data from the selected serial channels. The file will also reflect any changes that you make to the displayed channels in Test Suite while you are recording.

Do I need to update my v2.8 unit to v3.0?

While you can still use version 2.8 if you want, we recommend that you upgrade your VBOX unit to the latest firmware version to benefit from the added features and the improved functionality.

Is CAN Hub compatible with v3.0?

Yes.  VBOX 3i v3.0 supports the new CAN Hub firmware. This gives you the ability to configure what the connection ports are used for, allowing an additional isolated CAN input.  See the CAN Hub documentation for more info.

Why are the settings on my File Manager / VBOX Manager different after upgrading my VBOX 3i unit to v3.0? 

With VBOX 3i firmware version 3.0, VBOX Manager will have reduced support. Due to the improvements in v3.0, you can now perform all configurations easier and quicker in VBOX Setup alone.

Where Have the ADAS Configuration Settings Gone in VBOX Manager?

Since the ADAS capabilities have been expanded in the VBOX 3i v3.0 firmware, all configuration can now be completed in VBOX Setup and so the support for VBOX Manager is being reduced to simplify the setup process. 

What are the Main Differences Between v2.8 and v3