Acqgen DataAcquisition: Difference between revisions
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= AcqGen Data acquisition or control | = AcqGen Data acquisition or control = | ||
Acqgen is a piece of software for generating real-time measurement or control software for plain Matlab for EtherCaT devices, such as the E-Box. | Acqgen is a piece of software for generating real-time measurement or control software for plain Matlab for EtherCaT devices, such as the E-Box. | ||
== Required equipment | == Required equipment == | ||
To use Acqgen, you need | To use Acqgen, you need | ||
1. A Linux computer (tested with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS), with an Ethernet port compatible with the Soem EtherCat master software (that is, a normal TU/e laptop). | 1. A Linux computer (tested with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS), with an Ethernet port compatible with the Soem EtherCat master software (that is, a normal TU/e laptop). Since these laptops usually have Windows that you want to keep, you can use an USB stick to boot and run a Linux operating system from it, rather than install Linux at the hard disk. | ||
2. One or more EtherCaT compatible measurement devices, like an E-Box. The software supports several devices, the full list is in the manual, which is included in the software distribution. | 2. One or more EtherCaT compatible measurement devices, like an E-Box. The software supports several devices, the full list is in the manual, which is included in the software distribution. | ||
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5. Cables, power, etc to hook the EtherCaT measurement device(s) to the experiment, and to connect the EtherCaT devices to the computer. | 5. Cables, power, etc to hook the EtherCaT measurement device(s) to the experiment, and to connect the EtherCaT devices to the computer. | ||
== Using the Acqgen software | == Using the Acqgen software == | ||
If the software is not yet available at the Linux system, download it (see Releases below for a link), and unpack the archive. | |||
If your archive is named <code>acqgen-release-v1-RC2.tar.gz</code>, run a command like | |||
tar xzf acqgen-release-v1-RC2.tar.gz | |||
(extract while decompressing, the file <code>acqgen-release-v1-RC2.tar.gz</code>) | |||
Extracting gives you a directory named like the archive but without extensions, that is, something like <code>acqgen-release-v1-RC2</code>. | |||
Revision as of 08:59, 12 July 2017
AcqGen Data acquisition or control
Acqgen is a piece of software for generating real-time measurement or control software for plain Matlab for EtherCaT devices, such as the E-Box.
Required equipment
To use Acqgen, you need
1. A Linux computer (tested with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS), with an Ethernet port compatible with the Soem EtherCat master software (that is, a normal TU/e laptop). Since these laptops usually have Windows that you want to keep, you can use an USB stick to boot and run a Linux operating system from it, rather than install Linux at the hard disk.
2. One or more EtherCaT compatible measurement devices, like an E-Box. The software supports several devices, the full list is in the manual, which is included in the software distribution.
3. A Matlab (tested with R2015a, newer should also work) installed at the Linux system. The software generates a C module that must be compiled, which means the Linux system must have a working C compiler compatible with Matlab Mex (that is, the normal gcc program).
3. The Acqgen software distribution at the Linux computer (for details see below).
4. An experiment to measure or control.
5. Cables, power, etc to hook the EtherCaT measurement device(s) to the experiment, and to connect the EtherCaT devices to the computer.
Using the Acqgen software
If the software is not yet available at the Linux system, download it (see Releases below for a link), and unpack the archive.
If your archive is named acqgen-release-v1-RC2.tar.gz, run a command like
tar xzf acqgen-release-v1-RC2.tar.gz
(extract while decompressing, the file acqgen-release-v1-RC2.tar.gz)
Extracting gives you a directory named like the archive but without extensions, that is, something like acqgen-release-v1-RC2.