Wireless Dynamics Sensor System

The Wireless Dynamics Sensor System (WDSS) allows you to take data from a three-axis accelerometer, force sensor, and altimeter using a Bluetooth radio wireless connection to your computer.

For complete details about the WDSS, refer to the user's manual.

Computer Software and Hardware Requirements

The WDSS requires the following computer setup:

Windows

Windows XP, Service Pack 2 or newer, and a Microsoft-compatible Bluetooth radio. The Bluetooth radio must be set up to use the Microsoft Bluetooth drivers.

Macintosh

OS 10.3 or newer and a Bluetooth radio or built-in Bluetooth hardware that is Macintosh compatible.

Connecting your Bluetooth WDSS with a Computer

To connect the WDSS to Logger Pro, follow the procedure below:

Turn on the WDSS. Note the name on the label of the device. It will be a famous scientist's name followed by a number.
Make sure Bluetooth is activated on your computer.
Start Logger Pro.
Choose Connect Interface > WDSS > Scan for WDSS Devices from the Experiment menu. There will be a short delay while Logger Pro attempts to establish a connection. A dialog box will appear and your WDSS will appear on the list of available devices. Choose your WDSS device.

After you have made the connection, the icon of the WDSS and live readouts from its sensors will appear on the Logger Pro toolbar.

If your WDSS does not connect, make sure it has battery power and is initially within a few meters of the computer's Bluetooth radio. If that does not solve the problem, refer to the troubleshooting section.

Connecting The WDSS After Initial Setup

After you have completed the steps above, and your Bluetooth WDSS was connected to your computer, the connection process can be simplified. Logger Pro will remember the name of all the WDSS devices it has detected. After connecting once, choose Connect Interface > WDSS > WDSS Name from the Experiment menu. The name of your WDSS should appear and you can choose it. You do not need to scan for WDSS devices.

Data Collection with WDSS

After WDSS has been identified by Logger Pro, you can begin collecting data. Clicking prompts Logger Pro to begin taking data. You can modify data collection parameters for your experiment from within the Data Collection dialog.

In addition to streaming data directly to Logger Pro, the WDSS can be used to collect data away from the computer (remote data collection). After collection ends, the data may be imported into Logger Pro for analysis, printing, etc.

Active Sensors and the Set Up Sensors Dialog Box

By default, the WDSS will report force and three acceleration values. The WDSS has an altimeter, which can also be activated. Choose Set Up Sensors from the Experiments menu and then select your WDSS device. This will display the WDSS setup dialog which will let you turn sensors on or off, or change the calibration of the sensors. Experiment files can be saved with any combination of WDSS sensors active and with calibrations specified. When you open one of these experiment files, the appropriate sensor will be made active and calibrated as set in the file.

Logger Pro remembers the last sensor usage of the WDSS (on a unit by unit basis) so that if you use force, x accel and y accel with unit named maxwell01, and force only with newton01, then later when you reconnect to maxwell01, then you'll get force, x accel and y accel.

For each sensor of the WDSS there is a Configure button, offering options such as turning on or off the sensor, and selecting calibration options for that sensor.

All Sensors

Calibrate: Control how sensor readings are converted to values with specific units.

Sensor Info: Opens a dialog where you will find the typical sample rate and maximum rate for a particular sensor.

Zero: Sets the current reading of a sensor to zero.

Units: Lists all available units for use with the sensor and allows you to change the units.

Force Only

Reverse direction: When this options is checked, positive readings will become negative, and vice versa.

If you want Logger Pro to report data from a particular sensor, check the box next to it. If you do not want data reported from the sensor, uncheck the box. The Calibrate option lets you recalibrate a particular sensor.

The WDSS dialog box also reports other information about the WDSS.

The WDSS operating system version is displayed.
WDSS battery level
Manage Memory allows you to check the device for remote data stored in the WDSS. This data can either be imported or deleted.
The Identify button is used to test Bluetooth communication. If you click Identify, the Bluetooth communication LED on the WDSS connected to the computer will flash. This is designed as a way to find out which WDSS is connected to the particular computer in a classroom situation with several Wireless Dynamics Sensor Systems.