Using a MTi inertial sensor with LabView

[Ehdi]

 Dear programmers,

First, please excuse my english, I'll try my best to be as clear as possible. I am currently working on a project, which includes an Xsens MTi and a computer with the software LabView. I was wondering if you ever had and example or a hint to use Labview with the "DLLs" furnished with the MTi. The main goal is to acquire data such as angular position, angular velocity and 3D acceleration.The MTi works easily while running the software "MT Manager", but to synchronise all or data, LabView is required.Should you need any further information, please do no hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to your replies, thank you very much...

 Ehdi

[Ehdi]

I recently tried to acquire the buffer provided by the Motion Tracker. I used the "VISA ressources" from the COM Port. I made a screen shot to show you the string that is read. We tried to convert this message into a different "language" but no results.

Thank you very much for any useful information.

Ehdi

[NathanT]

Hello Ehdi,

        I recommend that you request a programming manual from the manufacturer.  The programming manual will explain the device's command set and the format of the data that it returns.  

Another option is to get another IMU that already has a LabVIEW instrument driver written for it.  We have one for the MicroStrain 3DM-GX1, which is worth taking a look at.

Let us know when you have the programming manual.

Cheers,

NathanT

[Shoaib Akhtar]

Hi,

@ Ehdi

Did you find anything ? I am actually using the similar motion tracker and i need to integrate the data into labview.

thanx

Shoaib Akhtar 

[TMorrisNY]

I know this is a bit late, but here is my adaptation of the code sent to me from Xsens.  This VI is designed to display orientation and calibrated gyro data obtained from the xsens MTx sensor.  This vi was adapted from a sample vi sent from Xsens.  The  software registration key must be entered with dashes in order to successfuly run the program.  This key was given to you in a letter from the company.  You may also find it in the system registry by typing regedit in the Windows run application and snooping around (this is what I had to do).

[FixedWire]

Thank you, it's never too late to post! One small timing change you made helped resolve a 3 second read delay.

[bmann2000]

thanks for the code, this will hopefully give me a heads start in developing a labview serial  driver.  do you anything else from xsens you can post?  is the meaning and order of the various commands used in the example VI from a document ?  I have MT Low-Level Communication Protocol Documentation.pdf and the other .pdfs suppleid on the MTi-G install CD, I just wondered if you had any extra documents that were LabVIEW specific.

[Guillaume_H]

Hi,

I made some research. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find any avaible documentation about the functions used in the example.

Maybe the website of MTI can provide more information about the use of their sensor with LabVIEW.

Best regards,

[Hugo Tang]

Thank you so much for your VI of getting CMT input!

However I am still stuck in obtaining a software registration key, asked my workmates, they all used Linux and didn't have this problem.

I emailed Xsens, guess it would take days.

Mind telling me some details of finding the registration key in regedit please?

Thank you!

[FixedWire]

Hi - check the box it came in. We also wrote the key/serial right on the front of the manual! If you don't have the registration key you can't install the necessary ActiveX driver to run anything.

Try: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Xsens\MTManager3.3

Best,

FixedWire