Multi-sensor Data Acquisition Platform Based On LabVIEW

The Multi-sensor data fusion is an important technique in ITS. To evaluate the effect of different multi-sensor data fusion algorithms, the same environment and the same data source are required. With our research of data acquisition platform, we can avoid the needless repeating experiment and avoid the experiment that can not be redone.In this paper, the Virtual Instrument, it's software workbench LabVIEW, the Global Position System (GPS) and the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) are introduced. The performance of an experimental platform for Multi-sensor data acquisition is discussed. The IMU and GPS receiver are selected as the combination of sensors for the platform, and the virtual instrument software LabVIEW and C language are selected as the software for the platform, an experimental platform with the functions of data acquisition, pre-processing, storage, display and replay is achieved. The main elements of this paper are as follows: using the functions of serial port sub VIs for developing LabVIEW instrument driver and data transmission, using the technique of Queue for real-time data acquisition, storage and display, using the technique of CIN (Code Interface Node) for data processing, inserting the GPS UTC time to the data of IMU for synchronized replay of multi-sensor information.To verify the functions of the platform, some tests have been performed, and the practicability of the platform has been proved. The study of multi-sensor data fusion can be much more simplified by using this platform. Therefore, with the effective data acquisition platform, there would be a reliable foundation for the study of sensor data fusion.