Wireless GPS-based phase-locked synchronization system for outdoor environment.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_00B61D04319B
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Wireless GPS-based phase-locked synchronization system for outdoor environment.
Journal
Journal of Biomechanics
Author(s)
Meyer F., Bahr A., Lochmatter T., Borrani F.
ISSN
1873-2380 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0021-9290
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2012
Volume
45
Number
1
Pages
188-190
Language
english
Abstract
Synchronization of data coming from different sources is of high importance in biomechanics to ensure reliable analyses. This synchronization can either be performed through hardware to obtain perfect matching of data, or post-processed digitally. Hardware synchronization can be achieved using trigger cables connecting different devices in many situations; however, this is often impractical, and sometimes impossible in outdoors situations. The aim of this paper is to describe a wireless system for outdoor use, allowing synchronization of different types of - potentially embedded and moving - devices. In this system, each synchronization device is composed of: (i) a GPS receiver (used as time reference), (ii) a radio transmitter, and (iii) a microcontroller. These components are used to provide synchronized trigger signals at the desired frequency to the measurement device connected. The synchronization devices communicate wirelessly, are very lightweight, battery-operated and thus very easy to set up. They are adaptable to every measurement device equipped with either trigger input or recording channel. The accuracy of the system was validated using an oscilloscope. The mean synchronization error was found to be 0.39 μs and pulses are generated with an accuracy of <2 μs. The system provides synchronization accuracy about two orders of magnitude better than commonly used post-processing methods, and does not suffer from any drift in trigger generation.
Keywords
Biomechanics, Electric Power Supplies, Environment, Geographic Information Systems/instrumentation, Reproducibility of Results, Wireless Technology/instrumentation
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
12/02/2013 15:37
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:23
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