Kistler’s KiBox facilitates complete combustion analysis though a flexible system for engine indication for vehicles and test benches.

Advances in engine technology are impossible nowadays without measuring and assessing the complex, highly dynamic processes in the combustion chamber. Developers have to react quickly – when tuning engines or troubleshooting, they need a straightforward way of validating test bench results in over-the-road testing. Likewise, application engineers need a tool for in-vehicle use that offers excellent functionality and computing power before, during and after the measuring run.

Combustion analysis

KiBox is a complete system for combustion analysis – from data acquisition through to evaluation. It delivers detailed information on combustion quality in each individual cylinder, and makes all the relevant key data for engine development available in real time – synchronised with other measurement data and ECU control variables. KiBox is designed for users who need information on injection valve actuation, ignition and combustion – but it can also be used as a standard standalone system for engine indication in vehicles or on the test bench.

KiBox: Key features at a glance

Compact indication system, specifically designed for mobile in-vehicle applications

Top Dead Center (TDC) is determined accurately by a capacitive TDC probe

Quickly ready to measure – simple to operate

Time-based indication system

No external crank angle encoder is needed

Remote API interface

Convenient integration into ETAS INCA®, VECTOR CANape and ATI VISION; alternatively, results are outputted via CAN port

Standalone operation possible without a PC (Stream, CAN output), and

Valuable expert functions.

Indication, knock control and monitoring: KiBox supplies users with information on injection valve actuation, ignition and combustion – for example, to optimize engine mapping with the ECU application system. Data can then be processed and visualized, e.g., in the usual INCA environment. On engine test benches, KiBox assists with basic parameterization of the engine control, and with knock control. When used as a monitoring system, it detects violations of limiting values, notifies them to the automation system and stores the relevant raw data with a history of events preceding and following.

Onboard system for mobile operation: Compact design, modular vehicle accessories and sensor connections on the front make KiBox ideal for mobile use. All the measurement parameters can be configured on the clearly structured intuitive user interface.

PiezoSmart® support, INCA integration: KiBox supports sensors with automatic sensor identification 

(PiezoSmart®). Signals are parameterized automatically with the help of an electronic datasheet (TEDS); the sensor runtime is recorded and stored for diagnosis. 

CrankSmart® for optimum data quality: The challenge: to optimise measurement data quality for vehicle indication in transient engine mode with strong torsional vibrations. The response: Kistler’s experts joined with the Research Institute of Automotive Engineering and Vehicle Engines, Stuttgart (FKFS) to develop an innovative, time-saving process: CrankSmart® − so Kistler’s KiBox can operate with the vehicle’s own crank angle sensor.

Flexible interfaces for compatibility: Measurements and evaluations with KiBox are easy to configure, so they can quickly be adapted to individual requirements. A universal test bench interface means that KiBox can be integrated into commonly used automation systems such as Morphee, PUMA-Open and Stars.

Added virtual channels: KiBox supports virtual channels, so the number of available channels is high. Multiplexed ignition or injection signals from several cylinders can now be connected to one current probe input, so ignition or injection timing calculations can be performed for all cylinders.