TECH TIP VISION Calibration and Data Acquisition Software

Transcription

1 TECH TIP VISION Calibration and Data Acquisition Software December 2015 AVL IndiCom Integration with VISION With the release of VISION 4.0, ATI introduced an interface to AVL s IndiCom, Advanced Combustion Analysis Software. This interface allows the synchronization of IndiCom cyclic combustion result data such as peak pressure and indicated mean effective pressure, for use in VISION recordings and data lists. Result samples are acquired by VISION and time aligned with all other PCM and data acquisition signals. VISION is also able to initiate a start of measurement to the IndiCom application allowing for the capture of high speed pressure trace information to be recorded in the native IFile format. Proper configuration of both the IndiCom software and VISION is required to allow proper communication between the two. Configuring IndiCom Software In order for VISION to view any of the IndiCom SpeedClasses and the channels within them, a Parameter File (or XPA) must be modified for use by VISION in the IndiCom Software by following these steps: 1. Load Parameter File Within IndiCom, select File > Open > Parameterfile to open a specific parameter file (e.g. Demo_Diesel2.xpa ). 2. Add Channels to Result Output Select the menu Parameter > Result Output and then select the Application System tab in the dialog that is showing. The table may be empty as shown in the dialog below: Page 1 of 6

2 Page 2 of 6 Using the Channel Browser on the right of the screen, select the first Speed class (in this case CA Crank Angle. Then select all of the channels in the window underneath it that should be shared with VISION, and drag them into the table.

3 Do this for each of the Speed Classes for use in VISION. 3. Save the Parameter File Finally, press the Save button to save this new information to the *.xpa parameter file. Now this *.xpa file can be used by the IndiCom device in VISION, and it will allow VISION to create DataItems for all of these channels. If the IndiCom software is not running on the same computer as VISION, a copy this *.xpa file must be saved onto the computer running VISION. 4. Additional steps are needed if the IndiCom Software is running on a separate PC as follows: The IndiCom AutomationInterface is needed to enable communication between the PC with VISION and the PC running IndiCom Software. o The program IndiComAutomation.exe must exist on the VISION PC together with the dll libzmq.dll. o The two files are in the IndiCom bin directory and are registered during the AVL IndiCOM installation. o IndiComAutomation.exe must be registered calling IndiComAutomation.exe /RegServer with administration rights. In the AVL licensing: o The IndiCom option R has to be present. If this option is missing, the call to StartRemote will fail and all other functions will send an Error event. o The option X[n] is necessary for access to the IApplicationSystem interface. In the VISION Software: o The remote IP address or hostname of the computer running the IndiCOM application must be entered in to the host computer field of the AVL IndiCOM device Properties Settings Tab (see the following Configuring VISION step 3). Configuring VISION An IndiCom device must be added to the VISION Device Tree in the VISION Project like all other devices: 1. Right-click on the Computer and select Add Device. 2. Select AVL IndiCom from the Select Device dialog. Page 3 of 6

4 3. In the resulting IndiCom Properties dialog select the Settings tab, and identify the name of the computer on which the AVL IndiCom is running. It will default to localhost, which is the same computer on which VISION is running. The checkbox labeled Lock IndiCom User Interface is checked by default. This will disable most of the menu items in the AVL IndiCom Software while VISION is interacting with it. If unchecked, full control of the IndiCom software is available allowing functions such as modification of the parameter file. 4. Add a Parameter Files to the IndiCom Device in VISION by simply right-clicking on the IndiCom device and select Add Existing Parameter File menu. Page 4 of 6

5 This opens a file browser. If IndiCom software is running on the same PC as VISION, simply point to the file that IndiCom is using. As a result if the IndiCom Software saves any changes to the parameter file, VISION will be aware of the changes without needing to copy the file. When a parameter file is selected, VISION will try to launch the IndiCom software. If IndiCom is already running, then VISION will simply try to connect to it. Whenever a parameter file is activated, VISION will send commands to IndiCom to load it. Note: Multiple parameter files may be associated to the IndiCom device, but only one of them may be active at a time. VISION Context Menu Functions for IndiCom Parameter Files If you right-click on a parameter file underneath the IndiCom device, the following menu selections are available: Remove XPA File - Removes the parameter file from the device. It does not affect the actual file. Show in Folder - Opens a Windows Explorer window showing the folder where the parameter file exists. Reload File - Use if you have made changes to the parameter file in the IndiCom software and wish to reload it in VISION to pick up the new changes. Save As - Allows you to make a copy of a parameter file. The same thing of course can be accomplished IndiCom Software. Recording IndiCom Values in VISION Once an IndiCom device has been added to your project and a parameter file is selected, IndiCom data items are available to be added to recorders and stripchart recorders just like any other device in VISION. Remember that the data items that are available are determined by the Parameter > Result Output settings made in the IndiCom Software for a given parameter file. Whenever VISION goes online, AVL s IndiCom Software will go into run mode. Page 5 of 6

6 It is also possible to remotely trigger IndiCom Software to initiate a high speed pressure trace capture when a recorder in VISION is started manually or by start trigger. To active this Remote Capture option, right-click on the Recorder in VISION and select Properties. In the General Tab, place a check in the box next to AVL IndiCom Remote Capture. More information can about VISION Calibration and Data Acquisition Software can be found in the VISION User Manual installed with VISION or on the ATI support portal at For additional questions, contact ATI support at support@accuratetechnologies.com. Page 6 of 6