AUTOIMET OPERATIONS

The AUTOIMET main CPU board (VMLOGR53) normally operates in RS232 mode.
See the AUTOIMET Functional Description for info on changing to RS485 operation as well as the RS485 note at the end of this document.

Refer to AUTOIMET Commands for full command descriptions.

Getting Started

• The following equipment should be available:
  • Computer running a terminal program (ProComm Plus recommended) with RS232 output set for 9600, N, 8, 1.
    Run with caps-lock ON.
  • Power supply with output of 12-15 vdc and capacity of 100 ma. (1 AMP if testing with a console RF Modem)
    Make sure that the polarity is correct otherwise the AUTOIMET may be damaged!. A meter in series with the AUTOIMET power supply is recommended to monitor the supply current (less than 10 MA is typical after the sign-on message has been sent if no MET instruments are connected).
  • If the AUTOIMET logger housing is open, use the RS232 adapter cable to connect from a DB9 Male RS232 on your PC to the 4-pin Molex that terminates the standard AUTOIMET power/comms cable. This adapter includes a 2-pin Molex connector can mate to a standard AUTOIMET battery or power supply adapter cable. Otherwise, use an SAE adapter cable to connect from the console SAE bulkhead connector to the RS232 adapter cable.

• Make sure the power supply is OFF.

• Hook up everything, start the terminal program and get it set for the correct COM port and 9600 baud, N, 8, 1 operation.

• Power up and check for power consumption of less than 50 MA at outset. Within a few seconds, you'll see a sign-on message, and once the "Running" message appears (up to 15 seconds after the initial message), the current consumption typically drops to about 10 MA with the supply set for about 13.5 VDC if no ASIMET modules are attached. Idle current WITH ASIMET modules will be around 30 MA with miscellaneous peaks during individual module internal activities, and at the top of each minute as the AUTOIMET polls each module for new data.

Individual ASIMET modules may be connected and disconnected while the AUTOIMET logger is running. Each minute, as modules are polled, missing modules are flagged, and the STAT command will report comms failures during all but the final 15 seconds of the logging interval (see RI setting, typically 60 seconds). For example, if there is no response from the PRC module when the AUTOIMET logger polls, the STAT command will report "PRC failure" in its output message for the next 45 seconds; power to the module is also turned OFF during this time, and 15 seconds before the end of the interval, it is restored. Hopefully the module recovers for this next cycle; note that modules DO NOT produce "good" data values until they rollover their internal 60-second sampling intervals; thus, for example, a WND module will respond the first minute after it is connected to the AUTOIMET logger (so there will be no failure message for the next minute) but will not have good data until the next minute. This is normal; ALL ASIMET modules operate asynchronously on their individual internal real-time clocks.

Special Note:The HullCom/SST subsystem only updates the reported temperature once per hour; in addition, if it is powered up after the first 15 minutes of the hour as determined by its own internal real-time clock, it will only report 0.000 for temperature until the next hour rolls over and a new temperature is acquired. See HullCom/SST Sub-System Operations & Prep for details.

Communications

The AUTOIMET (like ASIMET) has a communications protocol based on the SAIL (Serial ASCII Interface Loop) protocol developed at Oregon State University. The module is interrogated by sending commands with the following format (always with capital letters and terminated with a RETURN <cr>):

#STAT<cr>

The STAT command will display several lines of status info about the instrument. Note that unlike the ASIMET and VMCM2 series instruments, the AUTOIMET software does not use SAIL Addresses currently, just the preceding # character, and always a terminating RETURN (ASCII carriage return <cr>)

On power up, the AUTOIMET logger will always come up running and logging as last configured (the STAT command will indicate Sampling GO when the AUTOIMET logger is running).

NOTE that only a subset of the commands is available while the AUTOIMET logger is running. The H command will indicate which commands are available depending upon the GO / STOPPED state of the AUTOIMET logger.

Refer to AUTOIMET Commands document for full command descriptions.

RF Modem Console Option

For normal NOAA/SEAS operation, an RF Modem is connected to the AUTOIMET RS232 console connector, and power for the RF Modem is taken from the RF Modem power connector at P20 (Aux Port A). RF Modem power is normally supplied by the AUTOIMET Aux battery supply, rather than the Sensor or Main (i.e. logger CPU) power sources. The mating RF Modem is typically located at some distance on the ship's bridge.

Due to the high power consumption of the RF Modems, the battery-powered RF Modem located with the AUTOIMET system is power switched to come on several seconds before the transmission of the standard NOAA/SEAS broadcast message. This message is normally sent a 6 minute intervals; since the mating RF Modem at the bridge has ship's power, it is always ON and ready to receive the NOAA/SEAS message. A window of ON time for the AUTOIMET RF modem allows the use of the GPS command to send GPS time and position from the ship's bridge to the AUTOIMET system for storage with the MET records in the FLASH memory card. (default ON time is 15 seconds; set by ON parameter under the UOK command).

NOTE also that power for the console RF Modem will stay ON continuosly if the AUTOIMET logger is STOPped; BEWARE of the BATTERY POWER CONSUMPTION when in this mode. Typical consumption should be determined for each installation and battery size vs. ON time calculated (with a safety factor!!) accordingly. In system tests, 400 MA at 13.0 VDC has been noted for one manufacturer's RF modem, a 5.2 WATT power consumption.

Local GPS Option

The local GPS unit must run continuously, so it is important to insure that it runs on its own battery stack, with power provided via the AUTOIMET Aux battery supply (same supply as RF Modem option above), or via self-contained batteries in the GPS package. Typical consumption should be determined for each installation and battery size vs. ON time calculated (with a safety factor!!) accordingly. In system tests, 200 MA at 12.0 VDC has been noted for one manufacturer's GPS - that's about 2.5 watts continuous power consumption.

Deployment Quick Start

For the complete discussion of AUTOIMET system preparation for deployment, refer to the AUTOIMET System Prep document.

The important steps are:

• Check the basic operation of the logger.
  • Startup looks normal on the attached PC/terminal.
  • After a minute (RI set to 60 seconds), D and E commands give reasonable results from the MET modules.
  • With Sampling STOPPED, T commands give reasonable results.

• Set the clock if necessary (CLOCK command).

• Erase the FLASH memory card and see that the correct size is recognized.
  • F commands to access FLASH card.
  • UOK command to access FEOK full erase command.

• Be sure everything returned by the STAT command looks correct - especially Sampling GO if you are already running on the deployment batteries!!!

• The deployment batteries are NEW batteries, right?

• NOTE: If you did a complete deployment prep per the AUTOIMET System Prep document, you can wait to connect the deployment batteries until shortly before deploying the AUTOIMET system; Remember that the AUTOIMET logger will ALWAYS power up RUNNING and LOGGING to FLASH memory.

• Seal up the AUTOIMET logger and go....

RS232 to RS485 converters

• Black Box, Inc. sells 2 converters that work well. The first is a PCMCIA/RS485 port (Part# IC114A, $199). This unit works well on laptops with PCMCIA slots but does not suppress the transmissions (you see two sets of what happens).

• The second is a standalone unit (Part# IC108A, $259). This unit works well on the bench.

  The settings for the IC108A standalone unit are as follows (* indicates default):

  
    
  XW1A		DCE * 
    
  W8		B-C	2-wire
    
  W15		A-B * RTS/CD enabled
    
  W5		A-B *  RTS/CTS delay normal
    
  W9		RTS/TCS delay	C*	0 msec
    
  W17		D	0.7 msec	time driver remains enabled after a low-to-hi transition
    
  W16		B * 	0.1 msec	Turnaround delay
    
  S1		OUT * 	Normal
    
  S2		OFF *		RS-485 receiver Unterminated
    
  S3		OFF *		Line Bias Off
    
  TB1:
    
     term 1, Rx	B+ (connect to 3, Tx, B+) to the +485 (orange)
    
     term 2, Rx	A-  (connect to 4, Tx, A-)  to the -485 (brown)
    
     term 3		Tx	B+
    
     term 4		Tx	A-
  
  

• An RS485 adapter cable connects from a DB25 Male RS232 on the Black Box IC108A to the 4-pin Molex that terminates the standard AUTOIMET power/comms cable. This adapter includes a 2-pin Molex connector can mate to a standard AUTOIMET battery or power supply adapter cable.