report generator manual - racelogic · racelogic report generator 6.13 page 3 of 15 overview the...

Racelogic Report Generator 6.13 of 15


Overview..........................................................................................................3 Getting Started.................................................................................................4 Available Parameters.......................................................................................5 The Maths Channel..........................................................................................6 Defining Test Conditions..................................................................................7 Start Conditions ...............................................................................................7 End Conditions.................................................................................................8 Line Conditions ................................................................................................9 Options ..........................................................................................................10 Operating Modes ...........................................................................................11 Post Processing .............................................................................................11 Real Time Processing....................................................................................12 Copy and Paste .............................................................................................13 Coastdown Test Application ..........................................................................14 Exporting data for analysis with Autoroute/Streets and trips..........................15 Importing the export file into Autoroute or Streets and Trips..........................15


Overview The Racelogic Report Generator software is designed to provide a fast method for analysis and displaying of VBOX data files or VBOX live test data. The software allows standard test formats to be created and saved by the user. For example, if a brake test is performed on a regular basis requiring speed in Km/h, distance in meters and deceleration in m/s2, the user would set up a Report Generator test for the appropriate conditions and save it so that next time the test was performed, the settings could be re-loaded. Once a VBOX data file is loaded, the data can be processed instantly using the ‘Scan’ function with the result data appearing in the spreadsheet.

This data can be saved in any one of the five following formats:

� ASCii text format � CSV comma delimited � XLS Excel format � HTML file � DOC file

Or any section of the data can simply be cut and pasted into one of the packages.

Main display


Getting Started When you first run the Report Generator software, you will be presented with a large blank spreadsheet style window. To get started, load in a VBOX data file by clicking on “File”, then selecting “Load VBO file” from the menu bar at the top of the window. Locate the VBOX file that you wish to use and click the “OPEN” button to load it into the report generator.

The name of the file that was loaded should now be shown in the box on the top right of the window.

The next step is to configure the parameters that are to be displayed from the test. To do this, click on the grey box at the top of the first column. A “Configure column” box will appear with a drop-down menu indicating “Blank”. Click on the arrow on the right-hand side of the word “Blank” to drop down a list of the available parameters. The list contains all of the logged parameters stored in the VBOX data file and calculated values such as distance. If external channels such as those from an ADC03 analogue module or TC8 thermocouple module have been logged in the VBOX data file then these channels will also be listed, also listed are the two Maths channels set-up

using the Maths channel facility. After selecting the data channel from the drop down menu the configure column box shows a list of attributes that can be applied to the data channel. The column average selection will cause all the data in the selected column to be averaged. This is particularly useful if only the result from each run is being displayed as a total average is then shown at the bottom of the column. The column label can be edited and a multiplier and offset can also be applied.

Main display Filename display


Scan CAN If you are using the software in real time mode then you will need to connect the VBOX and hit the ‘Scan Can’ button. The software will then scan the enabled channels in the VBOX and update the available channels in the Report generator drop down list. Click on the parameter from the list that is to be displayed in the first column and click the OK button. The column should now contain the selected label. Repeat the process for each parameter that is needed in the report, by clicking at the top of each new column. Available Parameters The list of available parameters to select as column titles not only contains the standard VBOX channels plus any available CAN channels, but also contains some other useful channels. These channels are:

� Run number – This number increments for each new test start/end condition

� MFDD – This is the Mean Fully Developed Deceleration and is usually taken as the average deceleration of a brake stop taken between 80% and 10% of the test start speed.

� Corrected Distance - is the distance from the point at which the brake trigger is activated to the test end speed and is corrected by multiplying the total distance by the ratio of the square of the trigger speed to the nominated ‘corrected distance start speed’. The ‘corrected distance start speed’ can be set to a chosen value or the nearest 10Kph or Mph. This is set on the options page of ‘Test Setup’

� File time – Is the time and date that the scanned file was recorded � Trigger speed – This will show the speed at which the Trigger occurred. � Save Run – With this selected the logo of a disk will appear at the end

of each run. An individual run on the RepGen display can then be saved as a .vbo file.

� Include Run – This will include a tick box onto the display screen for each run. This enables selected runs to be included or excluded from column average totals, and when saving the results.

� Graph Box – A logo of a graph appears at the end of each run. On clicking this icon, a graph window will appear displaying the velocity and acceleration data from that run. Example graph shown.


The Maths Channel This facility allows for two more channels to be created using existing channels and mathematical expressions. For example road gradient in % could be created from vertical velocity divided by velocity multiplied by 100. The two maths channels appear in the list of available channels and can be assigned to a column title in the same way as any other available channel. Configuring a maths channel Click on the menu option ‘Maths Channel’, and the box shown on the right will appear. In the main window a list of the available channels from the loaded file will appear. Then at the bottom there are Formula boxes for Maths channel 1 & 2. To enter one of the channels from the list into the Formula window then double click on the channel in the list. Then use the usual maths expressions and number entries to create the desired maths expression. If you wish to make the mathematical expression accumulative then tick the box labelled ‘Make results accumulative’. This feature can also be used in Real Time, but if you are using additional inputs, then make sure you have clicked “Scan CAN” to populate the list with the avaialable channel names.


Defining Test Conditions The next step is to define the test conditions. These define the conditions under which a test sequence will start and stop. They also allow the user to select how the report data is compiled, for instance, whether an extra interim report line is added for a given change in speed, distance or time. The following explains each section of the test set up in more detail. Start Conditions These define the conditions under which the test will start. The four trigger options are speed, (when the speed crosses a user defined threshold), brake trigger, start/finish line and immediately (from the beginning of the file or directly after an end condition). These three conditions are OR’ed with each other meaning that if the user enters a speed value and enables brake trigger and the start/finish option, the test will start when ANY of the conditions are valid. The trigger options can be enabled or disabled using the tick box on the left of each trigger parameter. If a box is ticked, then the parameter will be used to trigger the test.

Three filter options are available for the start condition. These are for when the Velocity is: increasing, decreasing or either. These are AND’ed with the three trigger conditions so that if for instance the increasing option is enabled, the test will only start if at least one of the trigger conditions is met AND the velocity is increasing. There is also an overall speed filter for the start of a test. This is useful when a brake test using a brake trigger is being performed. This filter will enable the software to ignore any cases of a brake stop that does not start from above the user specified speed. Thus eliminating unwanted data from simple vehicle manoeuvring in between brake stops.

Start Conditions


End Conditions The end conditions are similar in operation to the start conditions. They define the conditions under which a test will end. There are eight parameters that can be configured to end the test. Once again, if ANY of the conditions are met during the test, the test will end. As with the start conditions, two filters are available for increasing and decreasing velocity so that if one of the filters is enabled, the test will only end when at least one of the end conditions is met AND the velocity is increasing, decreasing or either is selected.

End Conditions


Line Conditions The start and end conditions will each add a line to the test report with the appropriate description. To add useful data to the report between the start and end events, the line conditions are used. There are a number of conditions that can be configured to add lines to the test report. These are listed in the table below. Test lines can also be created using the Maths Channel threshold conditions. To add a maths channel test line enable the desired maths channel condition and enter a threshold in the relevant box.

Condition Operation if enabled

Speed Line A new line to be added at user defined speed intervals. E.g.; every 10 Km/h

Distance Line A new line to be added at user defined distance intervals. E.g.; every 10 metres

Time line A new line to be added at user defined time intervals. E.g.; every 0.2 seconds

Brake trigger event line A new line will be added upon activation of the brake trigger.

Start/finish event line A new line will be added as the start/finish line is crossed

Finish event line A new line will be added as the finish line is crossed

Split Line A new line will be added as split line is crossed.

Start and End report lines

Line Conditions


Options The options tab is used to select general options such as Mph or Km/h for speed and distance in feet or metres. It also allows adjustment of MFDD calculation and corrected distance start speed.

Autosave data With this option selected the displayed report data is automatically saved to a new file.

New file for each test This option dictates whether a new file is created for each test or whether all tests are saved to the same file name.

Continuous testing This option will cause the software to continue scanning after the first run.

Hide start condition line This function will cause the start condition line to not be shown in the report. This is useful when creating a report, which only has the end result on each line, particularly when carrying out multiple brake stops, and using the column average function to workout the average stopping distance. This feature is usually combined with the “Don’t leave a line between tests” and an include box in one of the columns.

Don’t leave a line between tests This suppresses the blank line left after the end condition is met.

Hide test resets on over/under speed This switch causes the software not to display any occurrences of data fitting the start conditions but not the end conditions, e.g. going underneath the start speed after the start of an acceleration run.

Generate lines only during brake trigger This switch causes the software to only display lines of data if the Brake trigger switch is activated. This can be used for compiling data for tests such as a coastdown tests, see section ‘Coastdown Tests’.

Accel smoothing level This allows the amount of smoothing on the longitudinal and lateral acceleration calculations to be adjusted. As a rule of thumb, we tend to use level 2 for 20Hz data, and level 12 for 100Hz data. Loading and Saving Test Setup The Load Setup and Save Setup buttons at the bottom of the test setup window allow the test configurations, to be saved and then re-loaded at a later date.


Operating Modes The Report Generator can be used in Post Processing or in Real Time. To switch between these modes, use the Mode toggle in the top left hand corner of the main screen.

Post Processing With the operating mode set to post processing the test control buttons are set as shown below, highlighted buttons are buttons that can be used in this operating mode.

The highlighted buttons on the test control panel on the main screen are used to run a test sequence on the loaded VBOX file. Pressing the Scan button will cause the software to scan through the entire loaded file. As start, end and line conditions are met during the scan; test data is automatically output to the main display. The Reset button is used to reset the test. This clears the main screen ready for the next scan operation. Pressing the Save button will prompt the user for a file type. The save operation will save the contents of the current report display in the selected format. The Save function is also available from the File menu. Pressing Scan CAN will cause the Report Generator software to interrogate the connected VBOX to establish a list of available channels. This is particularly useful when using the Maths Channel facility which may require the correct name of a CAN channel.


Real Time Processing Real Time Processing is for generating results whilst the VBOX is connected directly to the laptop computer. This can be done at 20Hz on all VBOX’s and 20Hz or 100Hz on a VBOXIII. Make sure to select the correct Com Port from the pull down ‘Com port’ option on the top menu. In the Real Time mode, the Report Generator is designed so that it is easy to use without a mouse. There are a number of shortcut keys, and also a convenient method of swapping quickly between different tests without having to point and click on the screen. After selecting the real time option the test control button ‘Scan’ changes to ‘Start F2’, meaning that you can press the Function 2 button to start the test.

After pressing the ‘Start’ or ‘F2’ button the ‘Serial data Status’ box in the top right corner will show the message ‘Serial data ok’, providing the VBOX is connected and the power is on. The bottom row of the screen will also then appear as the follows, also confirming correct live connection

Check that the time is counting up correctly; this will then mean there is good communication between the VBOX and the RepGen software. Pressing Pick test or F5 brings up a browse window that enables you to point to a folder in which you keep all you previously saved Test setup files. From this window you can easily pick and load the next setup, using the up shift key and Ctrl key to scroll up and down the list of previously saved test setups. This facility has been added to enable the quick loading of a different test setup whilst in the middle of conducting tests without having to use a mouse. Pressing Scan CAN will cause the Report Generator software to interrogate the connected VBOX to establish a list of available channels. This is particularly useful when using the Maths Channel facility which may require the correct name of a CAN channel.


Copy and Paste

In addition to the save button, it is also possible to cut and paste data directly from the main report display to other applications such as Word or Excel. To Copy and paste data, move the mouse pointer to the top-left cell of the information that is needed. Then click and hold the left mouse button while dragging the mouse pointer to the bottom-right of the required data. When the left button is released, it is possible to either press CTRL+C on the keyboard or click the right mouse button and select COPY. To paste the data, open the new application, for example Excel, then either right-click and select PASTE or press CTRL+V on the keyboard.


Coastdown Test Application During a coastdown test, report lines can be generated only when the brake trigger is activated. If the test track is too short to conduct the test in one run then the brake trigger can be deactivated at the end of each run then reactivated at the beginning of each run. The results from each run are then recorded on the display. The relevant results from each run can then be cut and pasted to created one large test This test can be performed Real Time or the data scanned later in post processing mode. Setting up a coastdown test Set the column headers, so that the page will display the data required for example speed, distance, time and delta time delta distance. Set the start condition to be ‘Brake Trigger Activated’ Set the end condition to be ‘Brake Trigger Activated’ Set the line condition to your desired specification i.e every 5MPH. Enable the option ‘Generate lines only during brake trigger’ from the ‘Options page. Ensure the option ‘Continuous Testing’ is also enabled. Real time testing Select ‘Real Time’ option from the main tool bar and ensure the correct Com port is selected. Then press F2 or click the Start key before starting the test. Then conduct the test pressing and holding the brake trigger during the coast down parts of the test. When the brake trigger stops the screen will stop recording data, then when the trigger is activated the screen will continue recording data. At the end of the test the delta time and delta distance columns of the test can be cut and pasted into Excel so that the consecutive runs follow on from each other to make one complete coastdown report. Post -processing Conduct the test as described above then load the logged data into the report generator and click the ‘Scan’ button.


Exporting data for analysis with Autoroute/Streets and trips After a VBO file is loaded, it is possible to export the journey data for use with Autoroute or Streets and trips. The created file is imported into either package using their import Data wizard. See below for further details. To do this, load the VBO file, then select Export data as Autoroute file from the FILE menu. A window will appear allowing the user to select the output rate of the file. For example, selecting 1 minute will generate a file with positional data recorded every 1 minute. This allows reduction of the file size when viewing large journeys in Autoroute. There is also a selection option called ‘Every trigger event’. This will make a data output at each trigger point. This can be employed as an easy way to see on a map the marked points of interest made using a brake trigger during your tests. When the OK button is selected, the software will prompt the user for a file name to save the data onto disk. Enter a suitable name for the output file and click the SAVE button to create the new file. The data file created for import into Autoroute is in a space de-limited, ASCII text format. The parameters for each line are:-

UTC Time Latitude Longitude Velocity Heading

Importing the export file into Autoroute or Streets and Trips Open Autoroute or Street and Trips. Click on ‘Data’, the select ‘Import Data Wizard’. When prompted brows for the .txt Vbox file you have just created and open it. Then select ‘Comma’ as the delimiting and click ‘Next’. In column F2 select Latitude as the column name from the drop down menu. In column F3 select Longitude as the column name from the drop down menu. Click finish, the program then generates a map of your data location and places markers on the map at every data point specified when the output file was created in Report Generator, i.e. every second or at every brake trigger event.

report generator manual - racelogic · racelogic report generator 6.13 page 3 of 15 overview the...

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