Running the Demo

This section describes how to run the Safari demo using the executable program running on a PC. If you encounter problems please refer to the Troubleshooting section in the Appendix.

1. Initial Setup
2. Making the Connection
3. Run the Demo
4. Understanding the Data

Initial Setup

First the kit components must be connected together and software downloaded. If you have not already done this, click on these links Demo Software Installation and Assembling the Hardware and follow the instructions.

Making the Connection

1. Connect the USB-to-UART cable between connector J3 on the Meerkat board and any available port on your PC.

2. Set jumpers on top of Safari board as follows (see picture below):

Jumper	Settings	Description
JP1	off	enables 30.9k resistor R6A for resistive divider on input IN6
JP2	on	enables 100k resistor R6B for resistive divider on input IN6
JP3	off	enables 30.9k resistor R6A for resistive divider on input IN7
JP4	on	enables 100k resistor R6B for resistive divider on input IN7
JP5	across pins 1-2	enables positive output (2.5V) from precision voltage reference U5
JP6	across pins 3-4	enables negative output (GND) from precision voltage reference U5

3. Connect the 12V power supply to the Meerkat board. Wait approximately 15 seconds for the Meerkat to fully boot.

4. On your PC running Windows 10 open up Device Manager. Look under 'Ports' and make a note of which COM port the Meerkat is connected to. If there are multiple devices listed, you can unplug the USB cable and plug it back in to identify the right one.

Run the Demo

1. Launch Safari GUI software by clicking on file 'safari.exe'. Note: it can take up to a minute for this to open.

Note: Windows' firewall may give you an error message.If this happens, click on 'More Info':

Then click 'Run anyway':

2. In the Serial Connection section of the Setup tab in the GUI, click on 'Refresh' then use the drop-down menu to select the appropriate serial port and click the connect button.

3. Wait approximately 10 seconds for the connection to complete as indicated by the word 'Connected':

4. Navigate to the Safari Data tab in the GUI
5. Click the Start Demo button

6. You should see something similar to this. depending on how you move the accelerometer. In this particular plot the accelerometer and temperature sensor are mounted to a motor.

Note: If you are not seeing these plots go to the Troubleshooting section.

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Understanding the Data

1. Navigate to the Safari Data tab in the GUI to view the data

2. The Data Streaming Method will say “Serial” if data is being received via the serial port connection to the demo kit or “None” if no data is currently being received.

   a. Serial

   

   b. None

   

3. Default setting for both plots is to display the sensor outputs after they have been converted from volts. This is done by the Meerkat board using formulas which have been taken from the datasheets and stored in files.

   

   a. The top plot shows the reading from the accelerometer. The Y-axis is acceleration measured in g’s and the X-axis corresponds to the sample number. The annotation to the right of the plot shows the maximum, mean, and minimum values for the data currently displayed by the plot as well as the last value received. The value of any point on the plot can also be seen by hovering over the desired point.

   

   b. The next plot shows the reading from the temperature sensor. The Y-axis is temperature measured in degrees Celsius and the X-axis again corresponds to sample number. The annotation to the right of the plot shows the maximum, mean, and minimum values for the data currently displayed by the plot as well as the last value received. The value of any point on the plot can also be seen by hovering over the desired point.

   

   c. The third plot shows the reading from the pressure sensor. The Y-axis is pressure measured in Pascals and the X-axis corresponds to the sample number. The annotation to the right of the plot shows the maximum, mean, and minimum values for the data currently displayed by the plot as well as the last value received. The value of any point on the plot can also be seen by hovering over the desired point.

   

4. When the Data Format radio button at the bottom Safari Data tab is set to Raw the actual voltages output from the sensors are displayed.

   

   a. The first plot, Channel 0 Voltage, shows the raw voltage from the accelerometer as measured on channel 0 of the AD7124. Y-axis is Voltage and X-axis is sample number. The annotation to the right of the plot shows the maximum, mean, and minimum values for the data currently displayed by the plot as well as the last value received. The value of any point on the plot can also be seen by hovering over the desired point.

   

   b. The second plot, Channel 4 Voltage, shows the raw voltage from the temperature probe as measured on channel 4 of the AD7124. The Y-axis is Voltage and X-axis corresponds to sample number. The annotation to the right of the plot shows the maximum, mean, and minimum values for the data currently displayed by the plot as well as the last value received. The value of any point on the plot can also be seen by hovering over the desired point.

   

   c. The third plot, Channel 6 Voltage, shows the raw voltage from the pressure sensor as measured on channel 6 of the AD7124. The Y-axis is Voltage and the X-axis corresponds to the sample number. The annotation to the right of the plot shows the maximum, mean, and minimum values for the data currently displayed by the plot as well as the last value received. The value of any point on the plot can also be seen by hovering over the desired point.

   

5. When you are finished with the demo just click the Stop Demo button and close out the GUI by clicking the 'X' in the top right corner.

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