VBox HD Lite: Big data power in a tiny, efficient ...

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You all might know–as a result of we by no means skip a possibility to let you know–that we’re just about the one media outlet doing observe checks of recent automobiles with complete knowledge evaluation. And in the event you’re an everyday reader, you additionally most likely know that we’re a small, family-owned firm.

After we present as much as the observe to do a take a look at, it’s not an enormous crew, however fairly usually one driver, one photographer who’s additionally the videographer and, if we’re fortunate, one different individual to behave as a grip/utility infielder. In different phrases, effectivity is a key side of our testing routine.

Likewise, once we go to the observe to compete, usually whoever is driving the automobile additionally drives the tow automobile–and also will function crew, catering, crew PR and logistics all rolled into one for that complete weekend.

So once we hear a few system that may assist us produce compelling editorial or helpful knowledge throughout a observe tour–and likewise do it in a particularly environment friendly means with out having to depend on a sophisticated setup–we’re definitely intrigued.

That appeared to be the promise of VBox’s latest providing, the HD Lite. It packs a lot of the energy and suppleness of VBox’s extra complicated choices right into a small, manageable kind issue with a minimal setup time and a manageable work movement.

What’s within the (V)Field?

Mounting choices embody glass and roll bars plus the whole lot potential through the unit’s 1/4-20 threaded port. The complete operation parameters may be simply outlined through the setup software program. {Photograph} Courtesy Vbox

The HD Lite is a virtually one-box answer for knowledge and video. The system consists of the top unit–in regards to the measurement and form of a pleasant wholesome lemon–plus a distant GPS antenna and a 12-volt lighter adapter energy provide.

The top unit incorporates the pc coronary heart of the system in addition to the accelerometer and 1080P video digital camera. The provided 10Hz GPS antenna has a magnetic base and a 3-meter cable, and the 12-volt enter can be out there through hardwire with an non-compulsory bare-ended cable you possibly can configure your self.

The $900 record worth HD Lite package additionally features a suction mount, a protecting clear lens cowl, a appropriate 32GB microSD card and a Wi-Fi dongle that connects to an iOS/Android app so you possibly can preview the video.

Roll cage mounts are additionally out there from VBox, however one in every of our favourite issues in regards to the HD Lite is that it options an industry-standard ¼-20 feminine threaded port. This opens a whole world of AV mounting options, offering close to infinite versatility.

Certainly, the VBox crew appears to have consulted closely with imaging professionals fairly than simply racers in growing all their merchandise. Even the budget-minded HD Lite has some easy picture management, like publicity and lighting compensation, out there by way of the preview app, which is a big plus once you’re capturing from inside a darkish automobile on a sunny day.

The general kind issue is likely one of the many big pluses for the system. The top unit is compact sufficient to suit into tight spots in addition to keep out of your sightline when it’s caught to the windshield through a suction cup mount. The environment friendly measurement additionally means minimal {hardware} wanted to mount and minimal bounce when mounted on an prolonged arm. General, the compactness is a big energy of the system, making it simple to combine into your observe workflow.

How’s It Work?

Accessing knowledge and video is so simple as pulling the microSD card and opening the file in Circuit Instruments. Video and knowledge are mechanically synced, even throughout a number of comparative recordsdata. {Photograph} Courtesy Vbox

Don’t let the diminutive kind issue idiot you. The HD Lite is a full-featured data-acquisition system because it sits, and it’s even additional expandable through the 2 six-pin Hirose connectors on the again. Together with being the first connection for energy and floor, these connectors may also be used for CAN connections to carry knowledge from the automobile’s onboard laptop or extra sensors utilizing CAN protocol.

However even with out extra inputs, the out-of-the-box performance of the HD Lite, when paired with VBox’s Circuit Instruments software program suite, makes a strong knowledge associate with a clear workflow. Circuit Instruments is accessible for each Mac and PC, however the HD Lite setup software program is PC-only in the meanwhile–though VBox tells us {that a} Mac model is within the works.

The setup software program streamlines using the HD Lite even additional by customizing the automation features and enabling a user-definable begin and cease technique. For instance, we have now our unit set to begin recording when automobile pace exceeds 30 mph and cease when the automobile has been immobile for 15 seconds, which lets us trundle across the pits and grid with out losing numerous card house on non-track actions. The setup software program additionally enables you to outline overrides for the guide document button, which supplies numerous versatility for what you’re recording.

Publish-session, bringing the information and video into Circuit Instruments is so simple as eradicating the cardboard from the HD Lite unit and popping it into your laptop. Circuit Instruments mechanically syncs the information and the video file from every session, and its closely customizable interface enables you to arrange the display screen to offer you precisely the information you wish to rapidly overview after every session.

For us, once we’re in a contest situation, this implies our display screen normally closely options the pace hint and VBox’s delta hint. The delta hint is a fast reference to match two or extra laps and see immediately the place you’re dropping or gaining time. With the ability to immediately cross-reference the delta hint with the pace hint is a good way to select that low-hanging fruit from the information stream, notably once you’re a one-person present within the pits on a good schedule.

So We Favored It?

Yeah, we did. It’s a full-featured data-acquisition and video system with a tiny, environment friendly footprint at an affordable worth that leverages one in every of our favourite knowledge evaluation suites. There’s quite a bit to rejoice right here.

Are there nits to select? Positive, however they’re minor. The precise-side-mounted standing gentle is out of view of the driving force if the unit is mounted to their proper. We by no means had any points with the unit not triggering begins and stops, however having that visible affirmation that it’s recording continues to be satisfying.

The guide set off for beginning and stopping recording doesn’t have numerous really feel or suggestions when you will have gloves on. It isn’t a characteristic you’ll use typically–or possibly in any respect, because the auto-triggering is so handy–however once you do, a little bit extra constructive suggestions is all the time good. And if we had been constructing a want record, possibly a 3.5mm audio jack could be a pleasant contact for a distant mic, though the built-in audio is fairly wonderful for an all-in-one.

However these are exceptionally minor quibbles within the face of a tool that’s extraordinarily highly effective and likewise simple to make use of. We’ve lengthy mentioned that one of the best knowledge acquisition is the one you truly use, and the HD Lite breaks down numerous usability and kind issue limitations that may hinder a easy workflow with extra complicated or bodily bigger techniques.

In actual fact, we just like the HD Lite a lot it’s going to develop into our major knowledge instrument for all our observe checks of recent automobiles. We had been bought on the effectivity of use and tidy dimensions, and the flexibility to output high-quality video along with a full-featured knowledge stream will allow us to carry extra information to our readers and YouTube viewers with out additional complicating our workflow.

And in the end, that effectivity is the important thing theme in what attracted us to the HD Lite. If one of the best knowledge system is the one you employ, the one that mixes ease of use with big payoff in knowledge and picture high quality goes to be the one we seize once we’re heading to the observe.