Edu-Logger 900-223 User manual

Edu-Logger Motion
Logger Sensor Guide
900-223

2
Edu-Logger motion logger sensor
900-223
The Edu-Logger motion sensor can be used for any
science experiment or activity which requires accurate
distance, velocity, or acceleration readings such as in
the fields of Physics, Mechanics, Physiology, Biology,
etc.
The sensor comes pre-calibrated so you can start
experimentation right out of the box using this guide.
The motion sensor uses an ultrasonic transducer to
both transmit an ultrasonic wave, and to measure its
echo return. Objects in the range of 0.15 to 6 meters
can accurately be measured to give distance, velocity,
and acceleration readings using this method.
Hundreds of possible experiments that can be done
with the 900-223 sensors are: gravity experiments,
ball drops, momentum, impulse, conservation of
energy, kinetic vs. potential energy, and many more.
The motion sensor can collect data using the following
units of measure:
Meters (m): The SI distance unit
Meters/second (m/s): The SI velocity unit
which measures the distance traveled over
time.
Meters/second2 (m/s2): The SI acceleration
unit which measures the change in velocity
over time.

3
For best results:
The 900-223 motion sensor has a working range
between 0.15m and 6.0 meters, results may be
inconsistent outside of this range. Ultrasonic waves
that are emitted from the sensor and spread out in a
cone pattern at about 15° around the point of
reference.
If possible, attach the sensor to something stable to
avoid movements which can give skewed readings.
If you get poor readings, another object in the
foreground or background that is within the cone
that may be reflecting the ultrasonic waves to add
noise to the experiment.
Use objects which are at least 10cm x 10cm when
tracking specific targets.
For smaller targets we recommend starting the
object closer to the sensor, for larger objects we
recommend starting farther away.
When testing in areas with many hard surfaces; the
waves may bounce around and create extra noise
for the detector. This can cause irregular graphs.
To reduce the noise level try covering some of the
surrounding surfaces with a soft material to
dampen sound such as cloth or foam.
When using the motion sensor to detect an
individual’s movements; trying carrying the sensor

4
instead of pointing the sensor at one self. For
example to measure a student’s velocities have
them walk or run with the sensor while pointing it
at the wall.
Make sure your motion sensor is not mounted near
a computer, monitor, or television.
Sometimes other sources of sound (such as fans,
motors, etc can affect results).
Try various sample rates until the cleanest data is
observed, slow rates may provide better results for
certain experiments.
Distance, velocity, and acceleration graphs:
During motion experiments it is often beneficial to
show distance, velocity, and acceleration all on the
same graph. Using the Edu-Logger software it is very
easy to plot all three graphs at once:
1. Use one of the following guides located in the
“Quick start procedure” section of the instruction
manual to connect the motion sensor to your
chosen device.
2. Once your motion sensor has been detected; click
the motion sensor icon and change the range to
“Distance”
3. Ensure the “Speed & Acceleration” button is
selected; it will have a pink color when selected.
4. Collect data.
5. Click the motion sensor icon again.
6. This time click on the pink “Speed &
Acceleration” button, this will cause the data to
change into table form on the right.
7. Underneath the graph select the “Graph” button
to see the data in graphic form.
Note: The velocity and acceleration graphs are
assigned colors; to view which is which you can

5
click the motion sensor icon again and this time
the words “Speed” and “Acceleration” will be
colored according to the graph.
Quick start procedure:
PC or Mac Computer
Materials needed:
900-223 Motion Sensor
900-213 USB Module
USB to mini USB cable (included with the 900-
213 module)
Your motion sensor needs to be connected to a 900-
213 module. The 900-213 module then connects to a
computer via a USB to mini-USB cable. Please note
that you cannot plug the motion sensor directly into
the computer.
Resident PC software and browser based application
can be downloaded for free at www.edulab.com as
well as a full software user guide.
Note: Make sure not to download and install both
types of software they will conflict on the computer.
Procedure:
1. Install the Edu-Logger software
2. Connect the 900-213 module to the PC or Mac
3. Connect the motion sensor to the 900-213
module (they directly plug together). Please note
there is no calibration required for this sensor.
4. Open the Edu-Logger software.
5. Once a motion sensor logo appears on the left
side of the screen the probe has been
automatically identified and you can begin
experimentation.

6
6. If the motion sensor is not automatically
identified then click the “Search for sensors” icon
to find the sensor.
7. Click on the “On-line experiment” button; this
will open a graph below.
8. Click on the “Module setup” button located on
the motion sensor icon in the module window to
change the sensor settings if need be.
9. Click on the "experiment set up" button to change
the experiment settings if need be (experiment
duration for example).
10. The motion sensor will give a live reading in the
box to the left of the screen while plugged in.
11. To run an experiment and collect data click “Run
experiment”.
12. To end data collection early, click “Stop
experiment”.
Tablet, smart phone device
Materials needed:
900-223 Motion Sensor
900-268 WiFi module
900-215 Battery
Your motion sensor needs to be connected to a 900-
268 module. The 900-268 module will create a closed
Edu-Logger WiFi network which will stream the Edu-
Logger data to a device of your choosing. Once your
device is wirelessly connected to the Edu-Logger
network you can run experiments and collect data
through a browser of your choosing.
Procedure:

7
1. Connect the motion sensor directly to the left side
900-268 (no wires required).
2. Connect a 900-215 module to the right side of the
900-268 module.
3. Although not required, we recommend plugging
the 900-215 to an outlet using a USB to mini
USB charger (such as a typical cell phone
charger). The 900-268 module will run for 15-75
minutes (depending on the sensor) without being
plugged in.
4. The 900-268 can be powered directly using a
mini to USB cord and plugging it into your
computer or a wall charger. Please note this
function is only available on 900-268 units with
the USB icon on the cover.
5. For further 900-268 instructions or
the 900-268 quick start guide please visit:
www.edulab.com
6. The 900-268 indicator lights will flash; take no
action until the LED to the far left turns blue; this
can take up to one minute.
7. Take your tablet or smart phone, go to the WiFi
settings and select the Edu-Logger network
which matches the 900-268 Module ID found on
the back of the 900-268 device. (Edu-
LoggerXXXX for example).
8. Give your device about 20 seconds to connect to
the 900-268.
9. Once the device is connected, go to your browser
and type the website wifi201.com into the URL
bar, then wait for 30-60 seconds.
10. You will see a “Control mode” icon in the
browser, click on this icon.
11. The browser will then load a new screen and
begin to auto detect the sensor(s); this can take a
minute. (You can stop the search when the sensor
is found.)
12. If the browser does not auto detect the sensor(s),
select “Search for sensors”.

8
13. Once the sensor is found you will see an icon on
the left side of the screen for the motion sensor.
The icon will display real time data.
14. Click on the “Module setup” button located on
the motion sensor icon in the module window to
change the motion probe settings if need be.
15. Click on the experiment set up button to change
the experiment settings if need be (Experiment
duration for example).
16. To run an experiment and collect data, select
“On-Line” experiment, then select "Run".
17. If you have a newer generation 900-268 (with the
USB icon on the cover) this can be used as a 900-
213, meaning you can tether the probes directly
to the computer using the 900-268. To engage
operation in this fashion, press 3 times on the
panel key. Repeating this operation will return
the unit to WiFi mode.
Operation with Edu-Logger viewer
Materials needed:
900-223 Motion Sensor
900-272 Viewing Module
900-215 Battery
Procedure:
1. Connect the motion sensor to the left side of the
viewer.
2. Connect the 900-215 module to the right side of
the viewer.
3. The 900-272 will auto detect the sensor and you
will see it appear on the left side of the screen.
4. Once the sensor appears it will be monitoring
data in real time.
5. To run an experiment and collect data click the
run button (little green person).

9
Off-line experiments
(Off-line experiments are for when you do not have a
sensor connected directly to a computer, tablet,
smartphone, or Edu-Logger viewer).
Materials needed:
900-223 Motion Sensor
900-215 Battery
Materials needed to configure your offline
experiment:
900-213 Module or 900-268 module or 900-272
Module
USB to mini USB cable (included with the 900-
213 module).
Procedure:
1. Connect the motion sensor directly to the left side
of a charged 900-215 module.
2. When ready to collect data press the “Start/Stop”
button on the motion sensor, a red light will turn
on for the duration of the experiment.
3. To change the experiment settings first connect to
your chosen device (PC, Mac, tablet, smart
device) and select the “Module setup” button.
(For more information on how to change the
experiment settings view quick start procedure
section for your chosen device in this document.)
4. After the experiment has concluded (when the
“Start/Stop” button is pressed again or the data
collection period ends) connect the sensor to your
chosen device. (full instructions in each device’s
quick start procedure section)

10
5. Open Edu-Logger software.
6. Click the “Off-line experiment” button.
7. Click the “Load data from sensors” button.
8. Select which experimental data to upload. (5
experimental runs can be stored at one time on
the 900-223 motion sensor)
Restoring sensor’s factory default settings:
Procedure:
1. Connect the 900-213 to a PC, Mac, tablet, or
smart device.
2. Connect the motion sensor to a 900-213 module
(they directly plug together). Please note there is
no calibration required for this sensor.
3. Open the Edu-Logger software.
4. Click the “Tools” icon.
5. Click the “Restore sensor’s factory defaults” on
the menu.
6. If prompted to clear the graph, click either the
“Off-line experiment” or “On-line experiment”
(whichever you are using).
7. Click “Clear experiment results”.
8. Resume from step 4.

11
Included with sensor:
Edu-Logger 900-223 motion sensor guide (this
document).
Attached metal ultrasonic wave emitter.
Sensor specifications:
Distance
Velocity
Acceleration
Range and
operation
modes
0.25–6.0 m
±10 m/s
±100m/s2
ADC
resolution
13 bit
Resolution
1mm
0.02 m/s
0.08 m/s2
Max sample
rate (S/sec)
100
Sensor features:
Fully digital data.
Rugged plastic ergonomic case.
Push button switch to Start/Stop experiments in off
line mode.
LED indicator of experiment status (blinks while
collecting data).
Pre-calibrated sensing equipment.
Metal ultrasonic wave emitting/detecting cone
with wire mesh covering.
Note: Edu-Logger products are intended for
educational use.

12
Videos and experiment examples:
Videos, literature and other probes can be found
at
www.edulab.com
Technical background:
The philosophy behind Edu-Logger’s plug and play
technology is based on each sensor’s ability to store its
own data due to an internal flash memory chip and
micro-controller in each plastic Edu-Logger body.
This technology allows the sensor to collect and then
store the digital data in the correct scientific units (oC,
oF, Lux, %, ppm, for example).
The sensor is pre-calibrated at the factory. The built-in
software in the logger can be upgraded at any time
using software.
The ultrasonic transducer is a device that can convert
pulse train to transmitted ultrasonic pulses that can
sense and convert back to electronic pulse train by
another similar ultrasonic transducer or by itself.
The ultrasonic transducer is based on ceramic crystal,
which is cut in a certain way and is placed between
two metal plates.
The crystal is characterized by the piezoelectric effect.
Electrical field changes between the plates create
mechanical vibrations in the crystal.
The crystal has a resonance frequency. The
mechanical vibrations and electrical reactions depend
on this resonance frequency.

13
Supplying pulses to the crystal of the ultrasonic
transducer in a rate according to its frequency, causes
it to vibrate and to transmit these pulses as an acoustic
sound. This sound cannot be heard because it is above
the hearing frequency range. Usually it is at 40 KHz.
The acoustic sound can be converted back to
electronic pulses by another ultrasonic transducer or
by the the transmitter when it stops transmitting. The
acoustic pulses vibrate this transducer and these
vibrations are turned into voltage pulses.
The speed of the ultrasonic wave is 300 m/s because it
is a sound wave. For distance measurement a burst of
the transducer frequency wave is sent and the system
measures the time between the sending and the
receiving.
S = 300 * t
Velocity is calculating by calculating the difference
between two successive distances divided by the time
between the samples (according to the sampling rate).
Acceleration is calculating by calculating the
difference between two successive velocities divided
by the time between the samples (according to the
sampling rate).
The motion sensor uses a very sophisticated method
that enables it to measure long distance range with a
low power of pulses, which enables to use it also
battery operated.

14
Maintenance and storage:
Never submerge the Edu-Logger plastic body in
any liquid.
Do not allow liquid into the motion sensor’s body.
After use, gently wipe away any foreign material
from the motion sensor.
Store in a box at room temperature out of direct
sunlight.
Warranty:
We promise to deliver our sensor free of defects in
materials and workmanship for a period of 3 years
from the date of purchase. Our warranty does not
cover damage of the product caused by improper use,
abuse, or incorrect storage. Sensors with a shelf life
such as ion selective proves have a warranty of 1 year.
Should you need to act upon the warranty please
contact your distributor. Your sensor will be repaired
or replaced.

15
Thank you for using Edu-Logger!
Flexible, simple, fast, forward thinking.
W: www.edulab.com
E: [email protected]m
V10012013