Getting started with your sensor

• Overview Development Kit
  • Getting Started with MT Manager software
  • MT Software Development Kit (MT SDK)
  • Low-level Communication
  • Firmware updates
  • Terms of use of MT Software Suite

Overview Development Kit

The development kit is a very easy to use starter’s kit that allows for fast and easy integration of the sensor in any user scenario. The figure below shows a typical Development Kit, containing an Xsens motion tracker. All software and installation instructions are available online via http://www.xsens.com/setup.

Development Kit

Depending on the model you have purchased, the Development Kit can contain any of the following items:

Getting Started with MT Manager software

The easiest way to get started with your device is to use MT Manager. MT Manager is a software tool to easily get to know and to demonstrate the capabilities of the sensor and to configure the device to suit your needs.

Additionally, MT Manager allows you to:

• record data and playback/review data;
• view orientation, position and velocity in real-time;
• view inertial and magnetic sensor data in real time;
• view low-level communication and XDA communication via message terminals;
• export log files to ASCII and KMZ (format viewable in Google Earth);
• change and/or view various device settings and properties;
• reprocess recorded data with different settings.

Please refer to the MT Manager User Manual for more information on MT Manager.

MT Software Development Kit (MT SDK)

The Xsens Device API (XDA) serves as a starting point for system integrators interested in assessing the basics of the SDK. The main objective of the SDK is to facilitate the development of user-specific host applications based on Xsens motion trackers.

The MT Software Development Kit (MT SDK), part of the MT Software Suite installation, provides examples based on XDA for multiple programming languages. These programming examples can be used as a starting point for further software development.

The MT SDK (and the MT Software Suite) is designed for the MTi 1-series, MTi 10-series, MTi 100-series, MTi 600-series, Xsens Avior series and Xsens Sirius series. See also: Introduction to the MT SDK programming examples for MTi devices

Low-level Communication

The low-level communication protocol (named Xbus protocol) offers full control and functionality. It is essential on platforms that do not support the Xsens Device API, such as custom embedded computers and microcontrollers.

The low-level communication is extensively described in the MT Low-Level Communication Protocol Documentation. Next to that, source code is delivered to make driver development and Xbus message parsing for the motion tracker as easy and quick as possible.

Firmware updates

New firmware versions for products are released several times per year. A release notification will be included in the Xsens newsletter, including all changes made with respect to the previous firmware version. A complete history of firmware releases is available on our Knowledge Base: MTi Release Notes and Changelogs

Public firmware versions can be divided into two categories:

1. Stable firmware versions are fully tested prior to release, including automated functionality tests as well as performance tests. This is the firmware version which is loaded into the device in the factory. It is strongly recommended to update all products to the latest stable firmware in order to take advantage of the latest new features and bug fixes, and to ensure compatibility with the latest MT Software Suite. MT Manager will automatically display a notification in case a device is connected for which a newer stable firmware version is available.
2. Beta firmware versions are subject to rigorous (automated) tests prior to release, but to a lower extent than stable firmware versions. Beta firmware versions are in principle release candidates for stable versions and often contain new features or settings but are not loaded into the device in the factory. Feel free to test and validate in your application. Beta firmware versions may contain bugs or performance issues, which will be fixed in a later stable firmware release. Beta firmware versions are therefore released together with a disclaimer that can be found in the table below.

The firmware of the industrial motion trackers can be updated (or downgraded to an older version) using the Firmware Updater, which can be downloaded from the Xsens website: https://www.xsens.com/software-downloads.

An embedded firmware updater is available specifically for MTi 1-series devices that have been designed-in without the possibility to connect with a PC. It can be found in the MT SDK folder of your MT Software Suite.

Terms of use of MT Software Suite

The installer of the MT Software Suite can install 4 components: MT Manager, MT SDK, Magnetic Field Mapper (MFM) and MFM SDK. The Firmware Updater is a separate installer. The MT Software Suite has a Restricted License Agreement that you need to accept. In the table below, the conditions for use of each component are summarized.