Instructions for Installing the eDAQ MicroStr3DMGX1 Module

September 15, 2009

Note - The following must be performed whenever the eDAQ system firmware is updated. For the eDAQ v3.13.C release, proceed as follows.

  1. If applicable, update the eDAQ system firmware. The procedure for this is detailed in the Installation Instructions provided with each eDAQ release.
  2. Using a web browser, bring up the start page of your eDAQs web interface. In the Location (URL) bar of your browser, type "http://" followed by the IP number of your eDAQ. For example, an eDAQ with SoMat default settings could be reached at "http://192.168.100.100".
  3. On the eDAQ home page, click on the "Custom" item in the eDAQ menu list.
  4. In the Custom menu option, select the "Install New Module" option. Use the "Browse" button to locate the correct version of the file based on the type of eDAQ.
  5. Click on the "Install Custom Module" button and the eDAQ will proceed to install the module. Click on OK and there will be a new list item associated with this module. The initial status of the module is disabled. To use the module, click on the Enable option in the Action column.
  6. Next, go to the System menu and select the option "Reset eDAQ". The eDAQ will reset. Wait for the LEDs to indicate that the reset is complete (i.e., red and green on, amber off).
  7. To test out the installation, start up TCE, go to the Hardware Setup window and click on the Query button. A list of the hardware modules will be presented. Double click on the line for the MPB Serial Bus card type. TCE will present a dialog window for setup of the MPB Serial Hardware Interface. If the MicroStr3DMGX1 module was correctly installed, there will be a "MicroStr3DMGX1" entry in the Hardware Interface combo box, and a "MicroStr3DMGX1" entry in the Data Base list box. Click on the OK button to enable the MicroStrain channels to be defined and used in TCE.
  8. The MicroStr3DMGX1 channels are handled in essentially the same way as all other Serial Bus (and Vehicle Bus) channels are handled in TCE. In brief, follow the steps below to setup a data recording session using MicroStr3DMGX1 channels in TCE.
    1. Configure the Serial Bus hardware interface for MicroStr3DMGX1 channels as described in Step 7 above, if you have not done so already. Note that active querying is not supported for MicroStr3DMGX1 channels.
    2. Go to the Transducer and Message Channel Setup window, and click on the Add button. TCE presents a list box of the different type of transducer and message channels that are supported. Double click on the MPB Serial Bus entry, and TCE will present the full list of channels defined in the "MicroStr3DMGX1" data base.
    3. Select any or all of the channels in this list, and hit the OK button. TCE will load all of the channels into the Transducer and Message Channel Setup window list. All of the new channels added will be highlighted. This is a good time to change the sample rate if so desired. To do so, click on the Edit button, and TCE presents a set of Group Edit options. Select the Query and Sample Rates option and hit OK. A small dialog window is presented to allow you to choose a new sample rate.
    4. To record data, you must select one or more data modes. For example, to store time history sequences, go to the Data Mode Setup window and click on Add. TCE presents a list of supported data modes. Select the Time History option, and TCE responds with a dialog window for defining this data mode. Select all of the MicroStr3DMGX1 channels, and then assign some ID tag, and then hit OK.
    5. Save this setup file (using the Save As option under the top level File menu item), and this test is now ready to be Initialized (using the Initialize Test option under the top level Test Control menu item). From then on, use the various Test Control menu options (or the ToolBar once you are familiar with it) to start and stop test runs and upload test data.

Note on cables: Connect the MicroStr3DMGX1 unit serial cable to a DB9 Male - DB9 Male gender changer. Connect the gender changer to a DB9 Null Modem adapter. Connect the Null Modem adapter to the eDAQ serial cable.

The MicroStr3DMGX1 MPBSer module initializes the 3DM-GX1 unit into continuous mode for the message "Send Gyro-Stabilized Euler Angles and Accel and Rate Vector", command byte 0x31. The message used is not configurable. The RS-232 serial baud rate is set to 38400 bits per second and is also not configurable.

The available channels from the module are as follows:

roll_stb Roll - Gyro Stabilized Degrees
pitch_stb Pitch - Gyro Stabilized Degrees
yaw_stb Yaw - Gyro Stabilized Degrees
     
acc_x_inst X Acceleration - Instantaneous g
acc_y_inst
Y Acceleration - Instantaneous g
acc_z_inst Z Acceleration - Instantaneous g
     
angr_x_cmp X Angular Rate - Compensated Degrees/sec
angr_y_cmp Y Angular Rate - Compensated Degrees/sec
angr_z_cmp Z Angular Rate - Compensated Degrees/sec

The following channels are for diagnostic/troubleshooting use only:

temp Temperature Degrees C
ticks_07 Timer Ticks 0x31 Tick counter
checksum_07 Checksum 0x31 Message checksum
ticks_31 Timer Ticks 0x31 Message checksum
checksum_31 Checksum 0x31 Tic counter