1. Acquiring Data from Accelerometers
living with the lab
Acquiring Data from Accelerometers
DIGIKEY DKSB1002A
3-axis accelerometer
Parallax USB Oscilloscope
measure voltage vs. time
Arduino Uno
microcontroller board
data sheet for accelerometer is available at . . .

2. Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Hardware
living with the lab
Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Hardware
DKSB1002A is a prototyping board
$20 from
Screw holes for mounting board onto “object of interest”
Board is ~ 20mm square
ADXL axis accelerometer chip
3-axis
±3g
COM - ground
VSS - power (we will provide 5V)
X acceleration in x-direction
Y - acceleration in y-direction
Z acceleration in z-direction z x y

3. Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Wiring to Arduino
living with the lab
Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Wiring to Arduino
COM - ground
VSS - power (we will provide 5V)
X acceleration in x-direction
Y acceleration in y-direction
Z acceleration in z-direction

4. Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Programming
living with the lab
Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Programming
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600); }
void loop()
int xaccel = analogRead(0);
int yaccel = analogRead(1);
int zaccel = analogRead(2);
Serial.print(xaccel);
Serial.print(" ");
Serial.print(yaccel);
Serial.println(zaccel);

5. Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Analysis of Output
living with the lab
Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Analysis of Output
Output from accelerometer will vary from 0 to 5 V
Output when +x points upward: __________
Output when +x points downward: __________
Difference: _______
Change in acceleration = 2g
Change in accelerometer per g: ___________
Output when accelerometer is flat: _________ x y z

6. Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Angle Measurement
living with the lab
Implementing a 3-axis Accelerometer: Angle Measurement
1g (perceived vertical acceleration) ax qx +x
θx = asin(ax/g) z x y
Expected output of Arduino when accelerometer is flat: _________
Expected output of Arduino when accelerometer is at 45 degrees? ________
If the Arduino output is 350, then what is the angle? ___________

7. Measuring Output of Accelerometer with Parallax Scope
living with the lab
Measuring Output of Accelerometer with Parallax Scope
10kW 5V
switch
trigger input
Attach channel 1 leads between x-acceleration signal and ground
Oscilloscope plots voltage vs. time
Export data to a file to acquire voltage (or acceleration) vs. time data
Example of how a switch circuit is used to trigger data acquisition