Vernier Go Direct Acceleration User manual

®

Go Direct
Acceleration

(Order Code GDX-ACC)

Collect acceleration, rotation, and altitude data in
the classroom or in the field. Go Direct Acceleration
connects wirelessly via Bluetooth®or wired via USB to your device. This 3-axis
acceleration sensor has two acceleration ranges plus an altimeter and a 3-axis
gyroscope.

l Measure helmet impacts in concussion-related investigations.
l Slip it into your pocket and pirouette or ride a half-pipe.
l Zip-tie this accelerometer to your bicycle or affix it to your lab cart without

any dragging cables.

Note: Vernier products are designed for educational use. Our products are not
designed nor are they recommended for any industrial, medical, or commercial
process such as life support, patient diagnosis, control of a manufacturing
process, or industrial testing of any kind.

What's Included

l Go Direct Acceleration
l Micro USBCable
l Shim plate for cart
l U-bracket for cart
l Cylinder mounting plate

Compatible Software

See www.vernier.com/manuals/g dx- acc for a list of software compatible with
GoDirectAcceleration.

Getting Started

Please see the following link for platform-specific connection information:

www.vernier.com/start/gdx-acc

Bluetooth Connection USB Connection

1. Install Vernier Graphical
Analysis™ on your computer,
Chromebook™, or mobile device. If
using LabQuest®, make sure
LabQuest App is up to date. See
www.vernier.com/ga4 for Graphical
Analysis availability or
www.vernier.com/downloads to
update LabQuest App.

1. If using a computer or
Chromebook, install Vernier
Graphical Analysis. If using
LabQuest, make sure LabQuest
App is up to date. See
www.vernier.com/ga4 for Graphical
Analysis availability or
www.vernier.com/downloads to
update LabQuest App.

2. Charge your sensor for at least
2hours before first use.

3. Turn on your sensor by pressing the
power button once. The Bluetooth
LED will blink red.

4. Launch Graphical Analysis or turn
on LabQuest.

5. If using Graphical Analysis, click

2. Connect the sensor to the USB
port.

3. Launch Graphical Analysis or turn

®

on LabQuest. You are now ready to
collect data.

4. This is a multi-channel sensor. To
change the channel selections, see
www.vernier.com/start/gdx-acc

or tap Sensor Data Collection. If
using LabQuest, choose Wireless
Device Setup > Go Direct from the
Sensors menu.

6. Select your Go Direct sensor from

Note: This sensor does not work with
the original LabQuest. It works with

LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3.
the list of Discovered Wireless
Devices. Your sensor's ID is located
near the barcode on the sensor. The
Bluetooth LED will blink green
when it is successfully connected.

7. Click or tap Done. You are now
ready to collect data.

8. This is a multi-channel sensor. To
change the channel selections, see
www.vernier.com/start/gdx-acc

Charging the Sensor

Connect Go Direct Acceleration to the included Micro USB Cable and any
USB device for two hours.

You can also charge up to eight Go Direct Acceleration Sensors using our
GoDirect™ Charge Station, sold separately (order code: GDX-CRG). An LED
on each Go Direct Acceleration indicates charging status.

Charging

Orange LED next to battery icon is solid while
sensor is charging.

Fully charged

Green LED next to battery icon solid when
sensor is fully charged.

Powering the Sensor

Turning on the sensor

Putting the sensor in sleep
mode

Press button once. Red LED indicator next to
Bluetooth icon flashes when unit is on.

Press and hold button for more than three
seconds to put into sleep mode. Red LED
indicator stops flashing when sleeping.

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Connecting the Sensor

See the following link for up-to-date connection information:

www.vernier.com/start/gdx-acc

Connecting via Bluetooth

Ready to connect Red LED next to Bluetooth icon flashes when

sensor is awake and ready to connect.

Connected Green LED next to Bluetooth icon flashes when

sensor is connected via Bluetooth.

Connecting via USB

Connected and charging Orange LED next to battery icon is solid when

sensor is connected to Graphical Analysis via
USB and the unit is charging. LED next to
Bluetooth icon is off.

Connected, fully charged Green LED next to battery icon is solid when

sensor is connect to Graphical Analysis via USB
and fully charged. LED next to Bluetooth icon is
off.

Charging via USB,
connected via Bluetooth

Orange LED next to battery icon is solid when
sensor is connected to charger via USB and the
unit is charging. Green LED next to Bluetooth
icon flashes when sensor is connected via
Bluetooth.

Identifying the Sensor

When two or more sensors are connected, the sensors can be identified by
tapping or clicking Identify in Sensor Information.

l Y-axis gyro (rad/s)
l Z-axis gyro (rad/s)
l Altitude (m)
l Angle (°)

Acceleration

There are six acceleration channels, measured by two different chips, which are
located under the 3-axis icon on the sensor label. The icon shows the positive
direction for each axis, with the x-direction of acceleration parallel to the length
of the sensor and the z-direction straight up through the label. Each direction of
acceleration can be measured separately.

If you choose to activate three acceleration channels from one chip at once, you
can create a calculated column for the total acceleration magnitude.

Gyroscope

Use the gyroscope channels to measure the rotation rate of the unit. Measured
values are positive when the rotation is counter-clockwise relative to the axis
directions indicated by the 3-axis icon on the label. For example, when placed
label upward on a turntable rotating clockwise, the x- and y- gyroscopes will
read close to zero and the z- gyroscope will show a negative reading.

If you choose to activate all three gyroscope channels at once, you can create a
calculated column for the total magnitude of angular velocity.

Altitude

The altimeter channel measures altitude with a range of –1800 m to 10,000 m.
Zero the altimeter before use to measure relative height above and below your
zero level.

Angle

The angle measurement channel uses the ±16 g accelerometer chip and
trigonometry to calculate the angle of the x-direction axis relative to horizontal.
If you set the sensor flat on a horizontal surface with the Angle channel turned

on, the green "level" LED, , will glow to indicate 0° (horizontal) or 90°
(vertical) inclination.

Using the Product

Connect the sensor following the steps in the Getting Started section of the user
manual.

Channels

Go Direct Acceleration has 11 measurement channels:

l X-axis acceleration (m/s
l Y-axis acceleration (m/s
l Z-axis acceleration (m/s
l X-axis acceleration - high (m/s
l Y-axis acceleration - high (m/s
l Z-axis acceleration - high (m/s
l X-axis gyro (rad/s)

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Videos

View videos related to this product at www.vernier.com/gdx-acc

Calibrating the Sensor

Acceleration

In most cases, calibration is not necessary for this sensor. However, most
accelerometers, including this one, sense gravity as well as acceleration. Thus, if
you want to measure vertical acceleration separate from gravity, simply place
the sensor in its measurement orientation and zero the axis that is pointing
vertically upward.

If you plan to use this sensor exclusively for vertical acceleration, it makes sense
to calibrate the sensor so that zeroing will not be necessary every time a new

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