Overview
Zonar Coach enables fleet drivers and managers to increase safety and efficiency through tracking and monitoring of driver performance on the road. The in-cab solution monitors, tracks, and alerts drivers in real time. This tool allows the fleet manager to view driver behavior..
This manual contains instructions for using the Zonar Coach app on a tablet and the Zonar Coach dashboard online. It also contains basic troubleshooting information for the camera.
What Does Zonar Coach Monitor?
Zonar Coach uses a camera and inertial sensors to monitor:
- Speed
- Tailgating
- Lane drifting
- Rolling stops
- Hard braking
- Hard cornering
- Hard acceleration
RideCam Camera
Camera Features and Specifications
| Built-in camera | One channel 1080p AHD CMOS camera |
| Camera viewing angle | Front facing 110° field of vision |
| Video compression | H.264 |
| Video resolution | 1080p / 720p |
| Video frame rate | NTSC: 1 to 30 FPS configurable PAL: 1 to 25 FPS configurable |
| G-sensor | Built-in 3D acceleration sensor (X, Y, and Z-axis) |
| Wi-Fi | Built-in Wi-Fi module and antenna |
| Interface | 1 × USB 2.0 for power input |
| Operating voltage range | 8V DC to 36V DC |
| Operating temperature range | -20°C to +70°C (-4°F to +158°F) |
| Size | Camera only: 10.54 x 4.4 x 4.3 cm (4.15 x 1.73 x 1.69 in.) Camera with mount: 270.51 x 4.4 x 5.03 cm (106.5 x 1.73 x 1.98 in.) |
| Weight | Camera only: 0.1kg (0.22 lbs.) With mount: 0.12kg (0.26 lbs.) |
| Standard compliance | FCC, CE, RoHs |
| FCC ID: 2AN3Y128101RCV1ZDRC |
Camera Position
The RideCam camera must be positioned correctly to accurately scan the road in front of the vehicle, markings on the road, and road signs. The position on the windshield and the direction of the camera lens is important.
Make sure the camera is positioned on the upper center portion of the windshield:
- If there is a rearview mirror or other obstruction on the windshield, the camera should be positioned just under or in front of the obstruction.
- The camera should be positioned below any windshield tinting.
- The camera should be level to the horizon line.
- The camera should be in the path of the wipers.
- If the windshield is angled toward the doors of the vehicle, make sure the mounting is enhanced to keep it parallel to the front end of the vehicle.
- Point the lens forward with a slight downward angle so the camera picks up the front hood at the bottom of the frame. Rotate the camera on the mount to adjust the position.
The camera is secured in position with security tape to prevent tampering.
Check the Camera Position
The RideCam camera should already be installed in the correct position and orientation. If the camera is bumped or moved, it may be necessary to re-position the camera.
Caution: Do not attempt this procedure while driving.
- Make sure the vehicle is parked and turned on.
- Make sure the camera is on (the blue LED is lit on the front of the camera).
- Undock the tablet.
This is necessary to tell the app that the vehicle is not in trip mode and to access the video image on the tablet.
- Open the Zonar Coach app on the tablet.
- Tap the menu icon
and tap Live Video.
- The tablet voice prompts, “Please adjust the dash cam so that it can see the road ahead.”
- If the view field is not clear, adjust the camera by rotating it on the mount.
- The image should be centered on the area in front, with a slight amount of the vehicle hood appearing at the bottom of the frame.
- If the camera was installed upside down, the application will correct the orientation of the video.
- Tap DONE when position and functionality are confirmed.
The Live Video function is only available when the driver is not currently in trip use.
- Re-dock the tablet.
It may be necessary to restart the tablet.
Care and Maintenance
The RideCam camera requires minimal care and maintenance.
Clean the Camera and Windshield
Keep the view area in front of the RideCam unobstructed. Regularly clear the windshield of dirt and grime.
If the camera lens requires cleaning, use a soft cloth to wipe it clean.
Upgrading Firmware
Regular updates to the camera firmware are necessary for optimal performance. To upgrade the camera firmware through the tablet:
- Make sure the vehicle is parked and turned on.
- Make sure the camera is on (the blue LED is lit on the front of the camera) and the tablet is connected to the Internet via WiFi or data connection.
- Open the Zonar Coach app on the tablet.
- Tap the menu icon
and tap Upgrade Camera Firmware. - On the Camera Upgrade screen, tap DOWNLOAD FIRMWARE.
- The tablet downloads the firmware. When the download process is complete, tap OK to finish.
Moving the Camera to Another Vehicle
The RideCam camera can be moved from one vehicle to another. If it is necessary to move the camera from one vehicle to another, follow these guidelines:
- The second vehicle requires a Coach-enabled tablet and a GPS unit. Zonar Coach is based on the vehicle usage. It may be necessary to call Zonar to enable the second vehicle with the Coach application.
- It must be mounted in place in the same manner as original installation.
- The security seal tape must be properly placed to prevent tampering.
- The power connection must be installed to enable the unit to function when the vehicle is keyed on.
Zonar Coach Tablet App
The Zonar Coach tablet application drives and records the input from the RideCam video camera and runs automatically when the vehicle is in motion. There is no need to start the application prior to driving.
The driver receives coaching via a voice from the tablet, alerting them when they are not driving as expected. When the driver is alerted of an incident, a 7 second video or a still image (depending on the incident) is taken and stored on the tablet.
Videos and photos produced during incidents are stored on the tablet locally for 24 hours. The back office administrator has access to the images via the Zonar Coach portal in Ground Traffic Control once the data is sent via cell service.
To access the Zonar Coach app on the tablet, click on the Zonar Coach tile. It can also open by clicking the All Apps 
button, then clicking the Zonar Coach app icon.
Tablet Dashboard
The Zonar Coach dashboard provides a quick look at the total number of incidents, the fleet average of incidents, and scores for each of the event types that are monitored. By default, the app displays the results of the last trip. Click on Last 7 Days or Last 30 Days to view stats for those time ranges.
The color-coded score corresponds to how the driver rates compared to the fleet. Scores are weighted by importance in the Zonar Coach portal by an administrator. Green is “good”, yellow is “fair”, and red is “poor”. The large score in the middle of the screen is the driver overall score compared to the fleet.
The Incident Rate is calculated by taking the average number of incidents per 100 miles.
The Fleet Average is calculated by averaging the incident rates of all the drivers in the fleet.
To access details about incidents that have occurred during the selected time range, click View Incidents on any of the event tiles at the bottom of the screen, or click View All Incidents to view all available incidents.
Incidents Table
The Incidents Table lists details of all incidents during a selected time range, and allows the driver to challenge an incident.
To access the Incidents Table, click View Incidents on any of the event tiles at the bottom of the Dashboard screen, or click View All Incidents to view all available incidents.
At the top of the screen the total number of incidents and averages (per 100 miles) are listed.
The list displays the event type, the date and time of the incident, a link to a video or image of the event, and a Challenge button.
Click view map to view the incidents on a pathed route on a map.
Click Watch Video to view an image or video of the incident.
The Watch Video link contains video or still images, depending on the nature of the incident. It does not contain videos exclusively.
Click Challenge when the incident listed does not appear correct or there were extenuating circumstances. The challenge is sent to the Administrator for review.
Incidents Map
The Incidents Map shows any incidents along the trip path. Each “pin” marker indicates one recorded incident and is color coded for each incident type.
To access the Incidents Map, click view map on the Incidents Table page.
The user can zoom in or out of sections of the map by clicking the + or – buttons in the corner of the map and dragging the map with the cursor.
Click on a pin to view the event type and the time of the incident. Click Watch Video/Image to view the video or image associated with the incident.
| Pin Color | Event | |
 |
Orange | Accelerating |
 |
Purple | Braking |
 |
Red | Cornering |
 |
Teal | Lane Drift |
 |
Brown | Rolling Stop |
 |
Pink | Speeding |
 |
Green | Tailgating |
 |
Black | Video Capture |
 |
White | Camera Test |
Alert Parameters
When the vehicle is moving, the Zonar Coach tablet app monitors driver behavior using the camera and sensors located in the camera. Should the driver stray from the preset driving behavior thresholds, a voice alert is given to guide the driver back on track. For some incidents, the app captures a short video clip and creates a video alert.
Video alerts cannot be accessed while the vehicle is in motion.
Tailgating Warning
The camera recognizes a vehicle in front of the driver. A video alert and capture is triggered when the vehicle in front is closer than the set threshold.
Voice alerts are triggered only when the vehicle speed is greater than 20 mph. Higher speeds require a higher braking distance to be maintained between vehicles. Voice alerts are given to maintain the appropriate distance depending on the speed of the vehicle.
When a tailgating warning is triggered, the application says, “Distance warning!” and “Following too close!”
The “Distance warning!” alert is not scored on the trip record as an incident and no video is recorded. The “Following too close!” warning is scored and recorded.
The tailgating threshold is set for each driver based on the type of vehicle they are driving: Light-duty, medium-duty, or heavy-duty.
Distance Threshold Between the Driver and the Vehicle in Front
| Light | Medium | Heavy | |
| Voice Notification | 12 – 20 meters | 13 – 21 meters | 14 – 22 meters |
| Video Notification | 12 – 20 meters | 3 – 13 meters | 4 – 14 meters |
The distance calculations vary depending on the calibration and on the mounting of the camera in the vehicle. The above specified distance ranges are approximate.
When an alert or video is triggered and the behavior continues, the system holds for 8 seconds before making the same alert.
Lane Drift Warning
This notification is given when one goes off-center in a lane and lingers around very close to one of the lane markers (either right or left).
When a lane drift warning is triggered, the application says, “Lane drifting!”
Speed Limit Sign Violation Warning
The camera scans for and detects speed limit signs on the side of the road.
When the speed limit sign is detected, the travel speed of the vehicle is determined and compared to the sign. A check for a speeding violation occurs for 8 seconds after detection of the sign.
When a speed limit sign violation warning is triggered, the application says, “Over speeding!” (over set threshold) or “Speed limit exceeded!” (violation).
During this 8 second period, the system does not scan for new speed limit or stop signs. If there are 2 speed limit signs in close proximity the system detects the first one and checks for violation on that speed limit sign, but does not read the second sign.
If the most recently detected speed during those 8 seconds is greater than the posted speed limit plus a “grace speed” value set in the back end, then a violation is triggered.
Stop Sign Violation Warning
Once the STOP sign is detected, the system will check for STOP sign violations for the next 18 seconds. During the period of 18 seconds, no new STOP/speed signs will be detected by the system. Hence if there are 2 signs (example: STOP sign followed by a speed sign) which are close by, then the system would detect the first one and look for violation on the STOP sign and would not read the neighboring speed-sign.
When a stop sign violation warning is triggered, the application says, “Stop at sign!”
The minimum speed during the interval of 18 seconds would be considered for providing the STOP sign violation. Only if the speed during the 18 seconds interval is greater than 5 mph and less than 20 mph would a STOP sign violation be detected and announced.
Warnings for Hard Braking, Hard Acceleration, and Hard Cornering
Once any event from the inertial sensors is detected (hard braking, hard acceleration, and hard cornering) and announced, the same event will not be detected and announced for the next 8 seconds.
When a Cornering, Acceleration, or Braking warning is triggered, the application says, “Hard braking!”, “Hard cornering!”, or “Hard accelerating!”
