Force-Plate Actometer Acquisition System

The Force-Plate Actometer, invented by Stephen Fowler, has been an active part of many research efforts at KU and elsewhere.

This IDL effort was directed toward replacement of the data acquisition system and providing a Real-Time Graphical User Interface (GUI) for it.  The new acquisition system is less expensive, equally precise, and has the convenience of a USB connection.

The new Graphical User Interface, rTrack, provides real-time visualization and interaction.

Front-end electronics for the Force-Plate Actometer.  Real-time display of activity activity (using a simulator.) The position is in the upper right, and the lower image shows total force as function of time.  A 4-channel acquisition system for load cells with a wide range of offsets and gains. It uses a commercial ADC board with a custom front-end of instrumentation amplifiers and digital-analog converters.