Datawell DWR4

Buoy tester
Manual

Service & Sales

Voltastraat 3
1704 RP Heerhugowaard
The Netherlands
 +31 72 534 5298
 +31 72 572 6406
www.datawell.nl June 12, 2012
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Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 5
2 Installation procedure ................................................................................... 7
2.1 Preparations............................................................................................. 7
2.2 Installation ................................................................................................ 7
3 Buoy tester usage ......................................................................................... 9
3.1 Connect and disconnect........................................................................... 9
3.2 Settings .................................................................................................... 9
3.3 3D model................................................................................................ 10
3.4 Graph ..................................................................................................... 11
3.5 Measurements ....................................................................................... 12

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1 Introduction
Datawell has designed the Buoy tester software in order to verify if the buoy is functioning
properly. One simple tool that can quickly and easily show you the state of your buoy’s sensors.
By representing the data in multiple ways you can get a decent overview of the information a
Datawell DWR4 provides.

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2 Installation procedure
2.1 Preparations
Before installing the buoy tester program make sure that no other programs are active and that
the computer has enough free hard disk space for the installation. The minimum system
requirements are

Operating system : Windows XP (service pack 3)

Free hard disk space : 400 MByte
Processor speed : 1GHz
Free RAM : 512 MByte
Screen resolution : 1024x768

2.2 Installation
Execute the file .exe and follow the instructions on the screen.

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3 Buoy tester usage

3.1 Connect and disconnect

The Buoy tester program requires the use of the buoy’s serial port or console. This connector is
located next to the CF-card on the electronics unit. Also connect the hull to the electronics unit
in order to supply the electronics unit with power and sensor signals from the batteries and
sensors inside the hull.

Make sure that the buoy is connected to the computer serial port before starting the buoy tester
program. And exit the program before disconnecting the serial cable. If not the buoy cannot
change its console to the correct operating mode.

3.2 Settings
The Buoy tester program uses the serial port of the computer, depending on the configuration of
your system this serial port can be a “real” serial port or a virtual serial port created by a USB to
serial port adapter.

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The serial port used, for instance “COM1”, is shown in the settings screen of the Buoy tester
program. If you require a different setting, then click the “edit” button. Now you can select a
different serial port in the appearing menu.

Also shown in the settings screen is the “request rawout messages” button. Press this button if
the buoy does not send rawout messages. The buoy tester program relies on packages of
information (rawout messages). These packages are only send by the buoy if the user requests
them. Simply because these messages are not in a user readable format. So on startup of the
buoy tester program this command is send to the buoy. If for some reason this command fails to
be send to the buoy or the serial cable was not properly connected, then the buoy will not go
into the rawout mode and nothing happens. Then we need to request the rawout mode again and
this button does that.

When we exit the buoy tester program the command “stdout” is send to the buoy. This disables
the rawout messages returning the buoy into its normal state.

3.3 3D model
This screen holds display the buoy’s sensor information in the most intuitive manor. When you
tilt the buoy you will immediately see 3D representation of the buoy tilt in the same direction.
Also rotating the buoy will cause the 3D model to rotate as well as the compass. The 3D model
of the buoy shows pitch, roll and yaw and the compass shows the yaw or to be more precise, the
orientation. Below the compass is the orientation of the buoy shown in degrees, the front of the
buoy is looking into that direction.

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The compass must be interpreted in the following way. Visualise yourself that the display
showing the compass is placed flat onto the buoy where the top of the screen is pointing towards
the serial number of the hull. In that situation the compass will always point with the N towards
North, just as if you’ve placed a real compass on top of the buoy.

3.4 Graph
This screen holds display the buoy’s sensor information in a graph. Graphs can be useful to
indicate the trend of signals that change slowly over time. The screenshot shows the situation
where a stationary buoy is moved into a different position.

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3.5 Measurements
This screen holds the most basic representation of the buoy’s sensor data. The screen is divided
into 3 separate columns. The first column shows the raw values, the sensor data in represented
in volts. This is exactly the data you would see on older versions of the Waverider buoys when
you would measure with a voltmeter in the breakout box. Because the DWR4 buoy digitizes
these signals directly from the sensor this breakout box is no longer present. Using this program
you would get a complete overview of all measured signals, where in the breakout box you
would require a least 8 voltmeters to the same amount of raw information.

But raw information mostly isn’t very practical until it is converted into the proper units, which
is shown in the second column. This column also shows a “Total” value. This value is the total
of the magnetic flux passing through the compass of the buoy. Considering that the magnetic
flux passing through the compass is identical for all possible positions of the compass this value
is a great indicator to show the functional state of the 3 channels of the compass. If this total
varies greatly, when rotating/tilting the buoy, then the compass has a defect.

The third column shows the information derived/calculated from the raw sensor data. Also the
sensor temperature is shown. This is the temperature of the accelerometer sensor, as long as this
value is between -5°C and +40°C your sensor is safe.

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