Import EDR Data

An Event Data Recorder (EDR), also known as a "black box" provides solid data points that can be extracted, generated and imported to FARO Zone 3D. Use the data points to help determine vehicle details near the time of the crash.

This feature is built around the Bosch CDR tool, which supports most vehicles 2016 and newer. This tool allows the retrieval of EDR data from a vehicle involved in a crash. The CDR tool's hardware and software provides the ability to image, download, or retrieve EDR data from vehicles.

Some EDR systems monitor the vehicle’s speed along its length, but not sideways momentum. To create a complete view of an accident, analysts examine momentum, energy, and crush damage, comparing their speed estimates to the number reported by the EDR.

EDR can be used in litigation for traffic-related incidents, but the primary purpose of an EDR is to improve driver safety; not for data used in crash reconstruction. Please consider the limitations of EDR data in determining the cause of traffic events.

To import EDR data:

  1. Select a vehicle, or place a vehicle in the drawing.

  2. From the Animation ribbon, select the Import Animation Data dropdown arrow, and choose EDR.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • If an EDR data file exists for the vehicle, click Open, navigate to the file, and then open it by double-clicking it. The fields in the EDR Import dialog box update to reflect data from the file. If you used an EDR data file, skip to Step 7.

    • If no EDR data file exists, find the crash report (PDF or CSV). Enter the EDR data manually, or export the report into a spreadsheet format from which you can paste the column data into FARO Zone 3D. Following are examples of CDR tool Pre-Crash PDF and CSV data tables.

  4. Do one of the following:

    • If an EDR data file exists for the vehicle, click Open, navigate to the file, and then open it by double-clicking it. The fields in the EDR Import dialog box update to reflect data from the file. If you used an EDR data file, skip to Step 7.

    • If no EDR data file exists, find the crash report (PDF or CSV). Enter the EDR data manually, or export the report into a spreadsheet format from which you can paste the column data into FARO Zone 3D. Following are examples of CDR tool Pre-Crash PDF and CSV data tables.

  5. Enter the Pre-Crash data (required). If you are only entering pre-crash data, open the EDR options and select Pre-Crash Animation Only.

    • Time (sec)

    • Vehicle Speed (MPH)

    • Steering Input (degree)

    • Yaw Rate (deg/sec)

    • Accelerator Pedal Position(%)

    • PCM Throttle Position (%)

    • Service Brake (On/Off)

    • ABS Activity (On/Off)

    • Longitudinal Accel (g)

    • Lateral Accel (g)

  6. Enter the Crash Pulse data, if it is available.

    • Time (ms)

    • Longitudinal Delta-V (MPH)

    • Lateral Delta-V (MPH)

    • Air Bag Deployment Data: Optional, but if you enter values, the EDR Dashboard shows when the air bags deployed.

  7. Click EDR Options to configure additional options.

Pre-crash Animation ONLY

Select this option if you only need pre-crash animation. When this option is selected, you do not need to include information in Crash Pulse Data.

Newer vehicles record pre-crash data at 0.1 sec intervals, while older vehicles record pre-crash data at 0.5 sec intervals. Smaller intervals more accurately recreate the animation path, but the extensive number of values clutters the view. All of the values makes it difficult to visualize the path, and perform time-distance analysis. Use Show KEP every x to change the value to a more manageable number of event points.

Clockwise Steering with Positive Input

Most vehicles have counter-clockwise steering with positive input. Select this option if you are configuring data for a vehicle that has clockwise steering.

Stability control options

Select one of the following options from the dropdown:

  • Use Stability Control Input - Newer vehicles have stability control inputs, including: Stability Control Lateral Acceleration, Stability Control Longitudinal Acceleration, and Stability Control Yaw Rate (in the Pre-Crash Data). The software uses this data to create more precise and accurate animations.

  • Use Yaw Rate Only - Older vehicles only include the yaw rate in the pre-crash data. Use this option if you only have yaw rate, and no other stability control inputs.

  • Use Steering Input - The software creates an animation KEP for each time stamp entered in the Pre-Crash data page. This allows for precise animation control of vehicle divergence and rotation. Enter a value for Steering Ratio. If this option is not selected, the software uses Yaw Rate data (if it is entered) to determine the divergence of the vehicle at each KEP. Enter data for the following fields:

  • Steering ratio - The ratio between the position (turn) of the steering wheel in contrast to the turn of the steering axle. Most vehicles with power steering have a steering ratio of around 14. Refer to the vehicle's specifications to obtain the steering ratio.

  • Wheelbase - Wheelbase is the distance of the center points between the front and rear wheels. You can typically find this information in the vehicle's published specifications.

  • Pivot offset - Pivot offset should typically be left at 0 (center of the car), but if you know that the car is heavier in the front or the rear, you adjust the value to account for the weight of the set allows you to adjust for the center of mass for the vehicle.

Incremental Steering Wheel Angle

Most vehicles have incremental steering. Deselect this option for vehicles that have absolute steering wheel angle.

  1. (Optional) Click Save to save the EDR data file for later use. The file is saved with the extension .fzedr.

  2. Click Place to create the EDR animation path. The EDR Import dialog box closes

  3. Place the anchor of the animation path at the crash point, rotate the animation path to match the evidence mark.

  4. Run the animation to review the action. View the data in the Dashboard HUD display.

You can display up to two EDR dashboards. Each EDR contains different data, so dashboards display the data provided.

 

Reposition an EDR dashboard to another corner of the screen by hovering over a corner, and clicking and dragging the dashboard to the corner.