04 Installing and Connecting VBOX 3i RTK

VBOX 3i RTK

Connect one end of an antenna cable to the connector on the antenna(s). Place the antenna(s) on the roof of the vehicle. You can read more about how and where to place the GNSS antennas here. Connect the primary and secondary antennas to the primary and secondary antenna ports on the VBOX 3i unit.  Note: The primary antenna (RLACS283) must be connected to antenna port A and the secondary antenna  (RLACS156RTK) must be connected to antenna port B.  Connect the power cable to the PWR port on the VBOX 3i unit. Connect the Tablet/Laptop to the USB port on the VBOX 3i unit with the USB cable (RLCAB066-2). Secure the VBOX unit in the vehicle. You can, for example, place it in the foam insert in the carry case and secure the carry case in the back seat of the vehicle with the seat belt.

DGPS/RTK

Differential GPS (DGPS), or Differential GNSS (DGNSS) as it is also known, is a system that provides positional corrections to GNSS signals. DGNSS uses a fixed, known position to adjust real-time GNSS signals to eliminate pseudorange errors. You can set up your own base station, use an already set up base station or use an NTRIP modem to provide these correctional messages to your VBOX unit.

►Connect to Base Station via radio link

Note: If you need information about how to set up your Base Station, you can find it here.

Connect the Radio Antenna to the DGPS Client Radio. Place the Radio Antenna on the vehicle roof. Note: The Radio antenna must be at least 50 cm away from any other radio antenna. Connect one end of an RLCAB005 cable to the port on the Radio unit. Connect the other end of the cable to the CAN port on VBOX 3i RTK.

 

►Connecting to Configured NTRIP Modem

Note: If you need to Configure your NTRIP Modem, you can find the instructions here.

Using SIM Card

Using Wi-Fi Connection

Attach the supplied antenna (ANTMSTUBSMAM) to the SMA connector on the top of the unit. Connect the Hirose end of the RLCAB170 to the Hirose connector at the bottom of the NTRIP modem. Connect the other end of the RLCAB170 cable to the CAN port on the VBOX 3i RTK. This cable provides power to the modem from the VBOX unit. When it has connected to the network provider, the unit will briefly display a Connected (mobile data supplier) message. The NTRIP modem will reboot and attempt to connect to the internal modem you have configured. When it has connected to the NTRIP server, the unit will briefly display the RTCM Streaming message.  Check that the DIFF LED on the VBOX unit is solid green, indicating that it is receiving DGPS corrections.

Attach the supplied antenna (ANTMSTUBSMAM) to the SMA connector on the top of the unit. Connect the Hirose end of the RLCAB170 to the Hirose connector at the bottom of the NTRIP modem. Connect the other end of the RLCAB170 cable to the CAN port on the VBOX 3i RTK. This cable provides power to the modem from the VBOX unit. The modem will power up and connect. When it is connected, the unit will briefly display “Wi-Fi Connected”. If it cannot connect to the configured Wi-Fi hotspot on power up, it will automatically restart and become a configuration access point. See the instructions for configuring the NTRIP modem for the first time for the steps to configure the Wi-Fi hotspot again.  When it has connected to the NTRIP server, the unit will briefly display the RTCM Streaming message. Check that the DIFF LED on the VBOX unit is solid green, indicating that it is receiving DGPS corrections.

Inertial Measurements 

►IMU

Racelogic's Inertial Measurement Unit (RLVBIMU04) provides highly accurate measurements of pitch, roll, and yaw rate using three rate gyros, as well as x, y, and z acceleration via three accelerometers.  Mount the IMU in the test vehicle (use the appropriate method based on your IMU variant, mounting accessories and test scenario). Connect the Lemo connector of the RLCAB119 cable to the CAN/KF port on the IMU unit. Connect the analogue connector on the other end of the cable to the A IN port on the front panel of the VBOX 3i RTK. Apply power to the VBOX unit.

IMPORTANT If you are using IMU Integration, you must disable it before you set any vehicle or line reference points. You can enable it again after you have finished setting the points.

Integration When you have connected the IMU to the VBOX unit, you must configure the IMU integration in VBOX Setup.

Initialisation When using IMU integration, an initialisation phase is required. This will happen when the IMU is connected to the VBOX unit after being set up. The initialisation process will automatically run after the VBOX unit has successfully gained satellite lock. When the initialisation process is complete, the IMU LED on the front panel of the VBOX unit will start flashing green.

Kalman Filter Calibration When using an IMU filter it is important to perform the full calibration procedure before meaningful testing commences. The calibration procedure is a series of specific manoeuvres that should be performed that help the Kalman filter characterise the outputs from the IMU.   Click here to see the Kalman filter calibration information.  If you have enabled IMU Integration, you must perform the full calibration procedure before you can start to produce meaningful test results. The calibration procedure is a series of specific manoeuvres that you should perform to help the Kalman Filter characterise the outputs from the IMU.  If you do not perform the calibration procedure, the Kalman Filter will still function. It may, however, not produce a high level of accuracy until after you have performed dynamic manoeuvres in the X and Y plane (i.e. left and right-hand turns, braking and accelerating) which could take several minutes of driving.  Recommended procedure  Park the vehicle in an open area where the GNSS antenna has a clear view of the sky. Make sure that you have RTK fix.  Remain static and wait for the IMU to complete the 30-second stationary initialization. Note: If the IMU detects movement before the initialisation finishes, the 30-second process will restart when the vehicle is stationary again.   When the LED on the front panel of the IMU changes from flashing orange to flashing green, drive forward to complete the initialisation of the IMU.  Continue to an open area to perform the calibration procedure.   Drive in a figure of eight at least twice. The vehicle should be at a speed of more than 5 km/h during this procedure to generate sufficient force for the calibration process. Note: If you cannot do figure of eights, you can perform left/right slalom-type manouvres to achieve a similar effect.      Accelerate hard from a standstill to 50 km/h or above. Perform a brake stop with a deceleration force of at least 0.5 g. You must perform this step twice.    Re-running the calibration  The Kalman Filter is constantly adapting its calibration depending on the information it receives from the GNSS receiver and the IMU. Therefore, if the vehicle is left stationary for a long time, or if an External IMU is moved from its mounting position, you should repeat the calibration procedure. The calibration should also be repeated if there has been a communication break between the VBOX unit and the External IMU, such as: You power cycle either the VBOX unit or the External IMU. You change the VBOX IMU settings. You use the VBOX Setup Software to read the VBOX unit's settings. You use the VBOX Setup Software to read the External IMU settings. You perform a GNSS Coldstart. What happens if you do not carry out this procedure?  If you cannot carry out this procedure as above, the speed accuracy will be reduced, especially for the first few minutes, until the Kalman Filter is able to calibrate itself.

Radios

►ADAS Radios

Connect the Radio antenna to the Radio unit. Place the antenna on the car roof. Note: The Radio antenna must be at least 50 cm away from any other radio antenna. Connect one end of an RLCAB005 cable to the port on the Radio unit. Connect the other end of the cable to the SER port on the VBOX 3i RTK.

CAN

►CAN Hub

Connect one end of an RLVBCAB005-018 to the VB CAN port on the CAN Hub. Connect the other end of the cable to the CAN port on the VBOX 3i RTK. Connect one end of a second RLVBCAB005-18 to the VB SER port. Connect the other end of the second cable to the SER port on the VBOX 3i RTK.

Displays

 

►MFD Touch

Connect the RLCAB005-C cable to the bottom port on the right-hand side of the MFD Touch. Connect the other end of the cable to the CAN port on the VBOX 3i RTK.

 

►VBOX Manager

Connect the RLCAB005-C cable to one of the two ports on the left-hand side of the VBOX Manager. You can use either connector for this functionality. Connect the other end of the cable to the CAN port on the VBOX 3i RTK.

Survey Equipment

►Survey Pole

Assemble the pole by screwing the two pole halves together. Attach the survey antenna (RLACS320) to the threaded top of the pole. Connect the antenna cable ( RLCAB067) to the port on the survey antenna. Connect the other end of the antenna cable to the primary antenna port (A) on VBOX 3i RTK.

 

►Survey Trolley

Connect Connect one end of a 5-pin LEMO cable (RLCAB005) to the port on the VBOX Telemetry Radio. Connect the other end of the cable to the SER port on VBOX 3i RTK. Connect the Li-ion battery pack to the PWR port on the VBOX 3i RTK. Connect the TNC connector on the TNC-to-SMA cable to the connector on the GPS ground plane antenna. Connect the SMA connector to the primary antenna connector (A) on the VBOX 3i RTK. Make sure that you secure all connected units in the surveying rucksack and that you tie the antenna cables to the telescopic pole with the supplied velcro wraps.