How to Capture Laser and RFID Data

What You Need to Have:

• Windows laptop with java and virtual COM drivers installed (and baud rate aliased)
• 4 SICK LMS-291 Laser Range Finders, pre-configured to 500K baud
• 4 Mantis RFID Readers, pre-configured with the correct network info
• 4 Ethernet to WiFi adapters
• 1 WiFi router, pre-configured with the correct network info
• 1 4-port Serial Device Server (SDS) - this is the RS-422 to USB device
• 1 24 Volt power supply
• Appropriate cabling, tools, tripods, etc

What You Need to Do:

1. Set up the hardware
   Laptop:
   1. Connect the laptop to the SDS and the WiFi Router
   2. Power up the Router & laptop.
   
   RFID Readers:
   1. Place one RFID Reader in each corner of the area to be tracked and attach an Ethernet to WiFi adapter.
   2. Power up the adapters only after the the Router is booted.
   3. Power up each RFID Reader only its adapter is booted (30 seconds is sufficient).
   
   Lasers:
   1. Place one SICK laser, mounted at the appropriate height, in the middle of each side of the arena.
   2. Run power/data cables to each laser from the SDS and power supply.
   3. Level each laser & adjust left/right calibration.
   4. Power up the power supply.
   
   
   
2. Set up the software
   1. Open two command prompt windows and switch each to the directory holding the binaries
   2. In one window, prepare the RFID capture software (but do not press enter):
      java RFIDLogger <rfid-output-dir>
   3. In the other window, prepare the Laser capture software (but do not press enter):
      java LaserLogger <laser-output-dir>
   
   
   
3. Begin test run
   1. To start the data capture, press enter in the RFID window, then wait until all 4 Readers are started.
   2. Press enter in the Laser window, then wait for all 4 Lasers to start.
   3. Confirm that all 4 RFID Readers and adapters show network activity.
   4. Confirm that the SDS shows activity on all 4 ports (each orange light should be blinking rapidly and appear to be constantly on). NOTE: The window running LaserLogger should retain focus. If it loses focus for any reason, data capture degrades, as evidenced by a much slower blinking of the SDS lights.
   
   
   
4. Confirm data capture
   Make sure that the data files contain data from all sensors (4 RFID Readers and 4 Lasers).
   
   
5. Begin experiment
   Repeat above steps to capture real data.
   
   

Congratulations! You've captured Laser and RFID data!