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AWR1843BOOST: automatic data collection with mmWave Studio

Albert Huang
Prodigy 10 points
Part Number: AWR1843BOOST
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DCA1000EVM

Tool/software:

Hi!

I'm part of a research group at the University of California, and we're looking to mount a radar on a drone to collect data.

Right now, we are using AWR1843BOOST along with DCA1000EVM. We have set up Texas Instrument's mmWave Studio to configure the data capture board, and was able to manually capture data on a computer through the GUI. However, the end goal is to automate this entire process without user input.

Because the radar modules will be mounted on a drone, we can not connect the modules to the computer. What is the best way to collect data and store it automatically?

Please don't hesitate to correct me and provide better suggestions. The first idea is to get the source code of the mmWave Studio, or at least the part pertaining to raw data collection, and running it on a Raspberry Pi that's attached to the drone. Is it possible for TI to provide the code for this application? Otherwise, the next idea is running Windows on a Raspberry Pi and running mmWave studio while it's in the air. 

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 23177 points

    Hello,

    mmWaveStudio was made to be run on a Windows PC. You will need to figure out a way to not only have some sort of MCU like a Raspberry Pi on the drone, but you will need to supply a 5V 3A power supply to the DCA1000 to make it run while in the air. This central MCU or computer must also have two USB ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. If the data collected must be the raw real/complex ADC data, you have no choice but to use a DCA1000. 

    Best Regards,

    Pedrhom

  • 0 in reply to Pedrhom Nafisi
    Prodigy 10 points

    How can one automatically collect data through this method, since mmWave studio has GUI inputs. Is there code that can resolve this issue?

  • 0 in reply to Albert Huang
    TI__Mastermind 23177 points

    Hello,

    mmWaveStudio is indeed a GUI, however every clickable object corresponds to a LUA command. Within mmWaveStudio, you can open a tab named "Output". When any button is clicked, you will see the respective LUA command call that that button does. Then you can write your own LUA script to automate the whole process of configuring and recording with the DCA1000. We also provide some example LUA scripts to start with within mmWaveStudio's installation directory within the Scripts folder.

    Best Regards,

    Pedrhom

  • 0 in reply to Pedrhom Nafisi
    Prodigy 10 points

    Thank you for the LUA command suggestion. However, wouldn't the action of opening the tab named "Output" require an external input? Thus, the LUA script can only automate the configuration and recording, but not actually opening the app and setting the file. Please correct me if I am mistaken.

  • 0 in reply to Albert Huang
    TI__Mastermind 23177 points

    Hello.

    The use of the Output tab would be for debugging and validating the LUA script and the commands that are sent and their syntax. Once developed and fully realized, you can have it auto run so all that would need to happen is the opening of an executable.

    Best Regards,

    Pedrhom