Troubleshooting Accelerometer Data: Plotting and Interpreting Results

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on troubleshooting accelerometer data collected from a Parallax BS2 mounted on an Amigobot. The user observes erratic data patterns, with acceleration readings fluctuating before returning to zero after moving one meter. The expected data pattern should resemble a trapezoid, indicating an increase in velocity followed by a constant velocity phase and then a decrease back to zero. The user expresses concern about noise affecting the data integrity, complicating the integration of the area under the curve.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of accelerometer functionality and data interpretation
  • Familiarity with data plotting techniques using software tools
  • Basic knowledge of kinematics, particularly acceleration and velocity concepts
  • Experience with noise reduction techniques in data analysis
NEXT STEPS
  • Research noise filtering techniques for accelerometer data
  • Learn how to use MATLAB or Python for data plotting and analysis
  • Explore integration methods for calculating area under the curve in noisy data
  • Investigate best practices for calibrating accelerometers before data collection
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for robotics enthusiasts, data analysts, and engineers working with accelerometers, particularly those looking to improve data accuracy and interpretation in motion analysis.

math111
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What I am trying to do:
I am placing my accelerometer [parallax BS2] ontop of my amigobot. I move the amigobot 1 meter foward with the acceleromter ontop while taking data for x and y direction. I then read the data to my computer and plot it.

Data:
The plot shows the data jumping up and down as time increasing and then it begins to decrease until it hits 0 again.

What I know :
Acceleration in this case should be like a trapezoid going up based on the increase in velocity and then reaching a constsant velocity(accell is 0) and then coming back down to 0 when the amigobot reaches 1 Meter. It would be pretty difficult to integrate the area underneath this because it looks like there is a lot of noise invlove and that could be affecting it.

Issue: I am not sure why my data is jumping up and down. I never used an accelerometer before so this is proving the textbook stuff right but I am not in this situation I am having.

Thank you if anyone can help.
 
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math111 said:
The plot shows the data jumping up and down as time increasing and then it begins to decrease until it hits 0 again.
So it accelerates, decelerates and ends up at zero acceleration? Isn't that how you move it?

math111 said:
Acceleration in this case should be like a trapezoid going up based on the increase in velocity and then reaching a constsant velocity(accell is 0) and then coming back down to 0
So first it should be 0 and then come down to 0?
 
A.T. said:
So it accelerates, decelerates and ends up at zero acceleration? Isn't that how you move it?


So first it should be 0 and then come down to 0?

Here is my data if it helps. I am just concerned about the up and down. I did an initial without movement and then 3 runs.(from starting at 0 to 1 meter)
 

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