The second component consists of a personal computer that provides the
operator with an interface for real-time control, data acquisition, data storage, and
analysis. This PC has a 266-MHz Pentium processor and uses the Windows NT
operating system. The PC is connected to the real-time controller using a high-
speed data link (MXI-bus interface). Application software was developed with a
graphical user interface to be the primary user interface for operation of the
facility. This application software is referred to as the "MTS control software."
The next four paragraphs provide a brief discussion of the various functions
and organization of the MTS control software. To avoid confusion, these
paragraphs are listed in the same order as the four pull-down menus located on
the main panel of the MTS control software (Figure 35).
Figure 35. Main panel of the MTS control software (Permission to reprint granted
by MTS Systems Corp.)
The File menu on the main panel of the MTS control software allows the
user to restore and save the system parameter settings. A number of system
parameters must be defined prior to conducting an experiment. These parameters
require loading immediately after starting the MTS control software. Some
system parameters only need defining during the initial installation of the
equipment or after repair of the equipment, such as the servo control loop
adjustments, numerical limit detector settings, and ramp rate settings. Other
system parameters, such as those that define the calibration of the wave gauges,
current meters, and the beach profile indicator require updating after every
recalibration of these sensors. This information is saved in a "settings.set" file,
to eliminate the need for redefining all of these system parameters at the
beginning of each experiment, and also to maintain consistency between
experiments. In addition, this menu provides options that allow the operator to
select passwords, convert acquired data files to ASCII file format and to exit the
MTS control software.
The Calibration menu on the main panel of the MTS control software
provides access to control panels for calibrating the linear actuators, wave
gauges, current meters, beach profile indicator, and other generic sensors that
may be added in the future. The operator also can specify the number of sensors,
which will configure each control panel for the number of sensors in use during
an experiment. In addition, there are several other control panels for specifying
other system parameters, such as the servo control loop adjustments, limit
55
Chapter 6
Experiment Control, Data Acquisition, and Analysis Packages
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