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Unit 1 - 6115 4 St SE
Calgary AB  T2H 2H9
Canada

PHIDGETS Inc.

Unit 1 - 6115 4 St SE
Calgary AB  T2H 2H9
Canada
+1 403 282-7335

PhidgetAccelerometer

ID: MOT0100_0

Measure acceleration up to ±8g in each axis with the PhidgetAccelerometer. Connects via USB or VINT.

$40.00

Quantity Available: 880

Qty Price
5 $38.00
10 $36.00
25 $32.00
50 $28.00
100 $26.00
250 $24.00
500 $22.00
1000 $20.00
50+...

The MOT0100 measures acceleration in three axes. The most common use for an accelerometer is to measure the movement of an object, such as a person or robotic vehicle. It can also be used to determine direction and strength of acceleration, detect vibration, or used as a tilt sensor. This Phidget can connect to your computer with a USB cable, or using a VINT Hub.

Features

  • Measure up to ±8g (or 78.5 m/s²) in the x, y, and z-axis
  • Accurate timestamp for plotting or advanced calculations
  • Connect via USB cable or through a VINT Hub

Accelerometer Guides

VINT Guides

USB Cables

When used in USB mode, you'll need a USB cable to connect the MOT0100 to a computer. We have a number of different lengths available, although the maximum length of a USB cable is 5 meters due to limitations in the timing protocol. For longer distances, we recommend you use VINT mode (see the maximum cable length section on the Specifications tab for more information).

Product Physical Properties
Part Number Price Connector A Connector B Cable Length
3017_1
USB-A to Mini-B Cable 28cm 24AWG
$3.00 USB Type A USB Mini-B 280 mm
CBL4011_0
USB-A to Mini-B Cable 28cm Right Angle
$3.50 USB Type A USB Mini-B (90 degree) 280 mm
3036_0
USB-A to Mini-B Cable 60cm 24AWG
$3.50 USB Type A USB Mini-B 600 mm
CBL4020_0
USB-C to Mini-B Cable 60cm 28AWG
$5.00 USB Type C USB Mini-B 600 mm
CBL4012_0
USB-A to Mini-B Cable 83cm Right Angle
$4.50 USB Type A USB Mini-B (90 degree) 830 mm
3037_0
USB-A to Mini-B Cable 120cm 24AWG
$4.00 USB Type A USB Mini-B 1.2 m
3018_0
USB-A to Mini-B Cable 180cm 24AWG
$4.00 USB Type A USB Mini-B 1.8 m
CBL4021_0
USB-C to Mini-B Cable 180cm 28AWG
$6.00 USB Type C USB Mini-B 1.8 m
3020_0
USB-A to Mini-B Cable 450cm 20AWG
$12.00 USB Type A USB Mini-B 4.5 m

Phidget Cables

When used in VINT mode, you'll need a Phidget cable to connect the MOT0100 to a VINT Hub. You can solder multiple cables together in order to make even longer Phidget cables, but you should be aware of the effects of having long wires in your system. See the maximum cable length section on the Specifications tab for more informaton.

Product Physical Properties
Part Number Price Cable Length
3003_0
Phidget Cable 10cm
$1.50 100 mm
CBL4104_0
Phidget Cable 30cm
$1.75 300 mm
3002_0
Phidget Cable 60cm
$2.00 600 mm
CBL4105_0
Phidget Cable 90cm
$2.00 900 mm
3038_0
Phidget Cable 120cm
$2.25 1.2 m
CBL4106_0
Phidget Cable 150cm
$2.50 1.5 m
3039_0
Phidget Cable 180cm
$2.75 1.8 m
3004_0
Phidget Cable 350cm
$3.00 3.5 m
KIT4030_0
Phidget Cable Kit
$10.00 80 mm

VINT Hubs

To use the MOT0100 in VINT mode, you'll need a VINT Hub. For more information about VINT, have a look at the VINT Overview page. You can use a Phidget Cable to simply and easily connect the two devices. Here's a list of all of the different VINT Hubs currently available:

Product Board Properties
Part Number Price Number of VINT Ports VINT Communication Speed Max Controlled By
HUB0002_0
VINT Hub Phidget
$40.00 6 1 Mbit/s USB (Mini-USB)
HUB0007_0
1-Port VINT Hub Phidget
$24.00 1 1 Mbit/s USB (USB-A)
HUB0001_0
VINT Hub Phidget
$35.00 6 1 Mbit/s USB (Mini-USB)
HUB0000_1
VINT Hub Phidget
$30.00 6 100 kbit/s USB (Mini-USB)
HUB5000_0
Wireless VINT Hub
$60.00 6 100 kbit/s Local Network (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)
SBC3003_0
PhidgetSBC4
$120.00 6 100 kbit/s


Part 1: Setup

PhidgetAccelerometer - Select OS

PhidgetAccelerometer

Welcome to the MOT0100 user guide! In order to get started, make sure you have the following:

  • a MOT0100 PhidgetAccelerometer
  • a USB cable OR a VINT Hub and Phidget cable
  • a computer or laptop

Select your Operating System:

«
»

PhidgetAccelerometer - Windows

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

Step 2: Connect Devices

Step 3: Verify Connection

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

Before you begin using your Phidgets, you will need to install the Phidget Library.

1. Download the installer for your system:

● 32-bit Installer Download

● 64-bit Installer Download

If you're unsure which one you should get, press ⊞ WIN + Pause/Break:

Before installing our libraries, be sure to read our Software License.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

2. Open the download. If it asks you for permission, select Run

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3a. Select Next

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3b. Read the Licence Agreement. Select Next.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3c. Choose Installation Location. Select Next.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3d. Confirm Install

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3e. Wait for Installation to complete. This should only take a few moments.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3f. Installation Complete. Close installation Window.

Step 2: Connect Devices

● Connect USB Cable to your computer and PhidgetAccelerometer

● Connect USB Cable to your computer and VINT Hub

● Connect Phidget Cable to your VINT Hub and PhidgetAccelerometer

Step 3: Verify Connection

1. Open the Phidgets Control Panel:

If your Control Panel does not open, look in your taskbar. Double click the Phidget Icon.

Step 3: Verify Connection

2. If connected, your Phidgets will appear in the Phidget Control Panel.

Done!

If you're able to see and interact with your devices in the Phidget Control Panel, you're done with the Setup part of this guide.

Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.


For more help installing in Windows (e.g. manual install, using a VM, etc.), visit this page:

Windows Advanced Information

«
»

PhidgetAccelerometer - MacOS

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

Step 2: Connect Devices

Step 3: Verify Connection

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

Before you begin using your Phidgets, you will need to install the Phidget Library.

1. Download the installer for your system:

● OS X 10.11+: Installer Download

● Mac OS X 10.7 - OS X 10.10: Installer Download

● Mac OS X 10.5 - OS X 10.6: Installer Download


Before installing our libraries, be sure to read our Software License.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

2. Open the download and double click on Phidgets.pkg

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3a. Select Continue

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3b. Read and continue. Read the License and click Agree.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3c. Here, you have the option to select the installation location. Select Install to continue.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3d. MacOS may ask for permission to install. Enter your username and password and Install Software.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3e. Wait for Installation to complete. This should only take a few moments.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3f. You may see a message that the extension has been blocked. Select Open Security Preferences.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3g. Beside the message for Phidgets Inc, Click Allow.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3h. Installation Complete, Click Close.

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3i. To delete the installer, click Move to Trash.

Step 2: Connect Devices

● Connect USB Cable to your computer and PhidgetAccelerometer

● Connect USB Cable to your computer and VINT Hub

● Connect Phidget Cable to your VINT Hub and PhidgetAccelerometer

Step 3: Verify Connection

1. Open the Phidgets Control Panel:

Step 3: Verify Connection

2. If connected, your Phidgets will appear in the Phidget Control Panel.

Done!

If you're able to see and interact with your devices in the Phidget Control Panel, you're done with the Setup part of this guide.

Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.


For more info installing in MacOS (e.g. developer tools, driver extension, etc.), visit this page:

MacOS Advanced Information

«
»

PhidgetAccelerometer - Linux

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

Step 2: Connect Devices

Step 3: Verify Connection

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

1. First, you need to install the libusb-1.0 development libraries. For example, in Debian based distributions:

apt-get install libusb-1.0-0-dev


You’ll also need a C compiler and builder, if you don’t already have one installed.

apt-get install gcc
apt-get install make

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

2. Next, download and unpack the Phidgets library:

libphidget22

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

3. Use the following commands in the location you unpacked to install the library:

./configure
make
sudo make install

Step 1: Install Phidgets Library

4. (Optional) You can also download and unpack the following optional packages:

phidget22networkserver - Phidget Network Server, which enables the use of Phidgets over your network

phidget22admin - Admin tool to track who is connected to your Phidgets when using the network server

libphidget22extra - Required for phidget22networkserver and phidget22admin

libphidget22java - The Java libraries for Phidget22


For installation instructions for these packages, see the README file included with each one.

Step 2: Connect Devices

● Connect USB Cable to your computer and PhidgetAccelerometer

● Connect USB Cable to your computer and VINT Hub

● Connect Phidget Cable to your VINT Hub and PhidgetAccelerometer

Step 3: Verify Connection

1. The easiest way to verify that your libraries are working properly is to compile and run an example program. Download and unpack this C example that will detect any Phidget:

HelloWorld C Example

Step 3: Verify Connection

2. Next, open the terminal in the location where you unpacked the example. Compile and run using:

gcc HelloWorld.c -o HelloWorld -lphidget22
sudo ./HelloWorld

ou should receive a “Hello” line for each Phidget channel that is discovered:

I don’t see any Phidgets show up in the HelloWorld example

You need to run it with sudo in order to be able to access USB devices. In order to use Phidgets without sudo, you need to set your udev rules. See the Advanced Information page on the final slide of this guide for details.

Done!

If you're able to see your devices in the Hello World example, you're done with the Setup part of this guide.

Scroll down to Part 2: Using Your Phidget for the next step.


For more info installing in Linux (e.g. Udev rules, old versions, etc.), visit this page:

Linux Advanced Information

«
»

Part 2: Using Your Phidget

About

The MOT0100 is a simple 3-axis accelerometer, useful for measuring vibration, tilt and impacts of the object it's attached to.

Explore Your Phidget Channels Using The Control Panel

You can use your Control Panel to explore your Phidget's channels.

1. Open your Control Panel, and you will find the following channels:

MOT0100 Panel.jpg

2. Double click on a channel to open an example program. Each channel belongs to a different channel class:

Expand All
Accelerometer: Reports the acceleration of the MOT0100 in the X, Y and Z axis

In your Control Panel, double click on "3-Axis Accelerometer":

For a more comprehensive look at how to use this example, take a look at the Accelerometer Guide

MOT0100-Accelerometer.jpg

Part 3: Create your Program

1. Setting up your Programming Environment

2. Phidget Programming Basics

Part 4: Advanced Topics and Troubleshooting

Expand All
How do I know what channel, serial number, or hub port to use in my program?

Before you open a Phidget channel in your program, you can set these properties to specify which channel to open. You can find this information through the Control Panel.

1. Open the Control Panel and double-click on the red map pin icon:

The locate Phidget button is found in the device information box

2. The Addressing Information window will open. Here you will find all the information you need to address your Phidget in your program.

All the information you need to address your Phidget


See the Phidget22 API for your language to determine exact syntax for each property.

How can I plot or record sensor data?

Note: Graphing and logging is currently only supported in the Windows version of the Phidget Control Panel.

In the Phidget Control Panel, open the channel for your device and click on the Plot.jpg icon next to the data type that you want to plot. This will open up a new window:

Plot2.jpg

If you need more complex functionality such as logging multiple sensors to the same sheet or performing calculations on the data, you'll need to write your own program. Generally this will involve addressing the correct channel, opening it, and then creating an Event Handler and adding graphing/logging code to it.

The quickest way to get started is to download some sample code for your desired programming language and then search google for logging or plotting in that language (e.g. "how to log to csv in python") and add the code to the existing change handler.

Filtering

You can perform filtering on the raw data in order to reduce noise in your graph. For more information, see the Control Panel Graphing page.

Graph Type

You can perform a transform on the incoming data to get different graph types that may provide insights into your sensor data. For more information on how to use these graph types, see the Control Panel Graphing page.

Upgrading or Downgrading Device Firmware

Firmware Upgrade

MacOS users can upgrade device firmware by double-clicking the device row in the Phidget Control Panel.

Linux users can upgrade via the phidget22admin tool (see included readme for instructions).

Windows users can upgrade the firmware for this device using the Phidget Control Panel as shown below.

ControlpanelFWup.jpg

Firmware Downgrade

Firmware upgrades include important bug fixes and performance improvements, but there are some situations where you may want to revert to an old version of the firmware (for instance, when an application you're using is compiled using an older version of phidget22 that doesn't recognize the new firmware).

MacOS and Linux users can downgrade using the phidget22admin tool in the terminal (see included readme for instructions).

Windows users can downgrade directly from the Phidget Control Panel if they have driver version 1.9.20220112 or newer:

ControlpanelFWdown.jpg

Firmware Version Numbering Schema

Phidgets device firmware is represented by a 3-digit number. For firmware patch notes, see the device history section on the Specifications tab on your device's product page.

FWversion.jpg

  • If the digit in the 'ones' spot changes, it means there have been bug fixes or optimizations. Sometimes these changes can drastically improve the performance of the device, so you should still upgrade whenever possible. These upgrades are backwards compatible, meaning you can still use this Phidget on a computer that has Phidget22 drivers from before this firmware upgrade was released.
  • If the digit in the 'tens' spot changes, it means some features were added (e.g. new API commands or events). These upgrades are also backwards compatible, in the sense that computers running old Phidget22 drivers will still be able to use the device, but they will not be able to use any of the new features this version added.
  • If the digit in the 'hundreds' spot changes, it means a major change has occurred (e.g. a complete rewrite of the firmware or moving to a new architecture). These changes are not backwards compatible, so if you try to use the upgraded board on a computer with old Phidget22 drivers, it will show up as unsupported in the Control Panel and any applications build using the old libraries won't recognize it either. Sometimes, when a Phidget has a new hardware revision (e.g. 1018_2 -> 1018_3), the firmware version's hundreds digit will change because entirely new firmware was needed (usually because a change in the processor). In this case, older hardware revisions won't be able to be upgraded to the higher version number and instead continue to get bug fixes within the same major revision.
Setting the Change Trigger and Data Interval

The Change Trigger is the minimum change in the sensor data needed to trigger a new data event.

The Data Interval is the time (in ms) between data events sent out from your Phidget.

The Data Rate is the reciprocal of Data Interval (measured in Hz), and setting it will set the reciprocal value for Data Interval and vice-versa.

You can modify one or both of these values to achieve different data outputs. You can learn more about these properties here.

Mounting Considerations

Phidget Spatials are excellent at detecting and measuring motion. Mounting your Phidget Spatial correctly will ensure you get the most accurate results possible.

SpatialMounting.jpg

We recommend mounting the board in its enclosure, directly to your system using M2 bolts. Follow these steps:

  1. Remove the top half of the enclosure.
  2. Locate the four mounting holes.
  3. Bolt the Phidget Spatial to your system.
  4. Reattach the top half of the enclosure.


Ensure the bolts are tight enough to prevent the Phidget Spatial from moving, but not so tight that they strain the board. Any strain on the board can introduce unwanted measurement errors.

Spatial mounting strain.png
The illustration above shows exaggerated flexing of the device from overtightened bolts. Overtightening is imperceivable to the eye, but can cause significant measurement errors.


We recommend using a thread locker on your bolts to prevent them from slowly moving over time. This is especially important in systems that are exposed to vibrations.

Improved Immunity and Maximum Cable Length Shieldicon t.png

If your device has a Shieldicon t.png icon printed on the enclosure, it means that it has an improved filter on its VINT connection that upgrades performance when plugged into a port on a VINT Hub that also has the Shieldicon t.png icon:

  • Improved immunity to electromagnetic interference from other nearby electronics
  • Increased maximum Phidget Cable length

For details on how the maximum cable length is impacted, see the specifications tab on the product page for this device.

Product Specifications

Accelerometer
Acceleration Measurement Max ± 8 g
Acceleration Measurement Resolution 250 μg
Acceleration Bandwidth 60 Hz
Accelerometer Noise (@ 4ms) ± 15 mg
Accelerometer Noise (@ 10ms) ± 8 mg
Accelerometer Noise (@ 100ms) ± 4 mg
Accelerometer Drift Max 10 mg
Accelerometer Bias (+15 to +30°C) 20 mg
Board Properties
Controlled By VINT or USB
API Object Name Accelerometer
VINT Communication Speed Max 100 kbit/s
Current Consumption Max 5 mA
Sampling Speed Min 1 s/sample
Sampling Speed Max 4 ms/sample
USB Voltage Min 4.1 V DC
USB Voltage Max 5.3 V DC
USB Speed Full Speed
Operating Temperature Min -40 °C
Operating Temperature Max 85 °C
Customs Information
Canadian HS Export Code 8471.80.00
American HTS Import Code 8471.80.40.00
Country of Origin CN (China)

Cable Length Calculator

Documents

Product History

Date Board Revision Device Version Comment
January 2023 0 100 Product Release
May 2023 0 103 Added support for auto-setSpeed, improved high-speed VINT stability

Software Objects

Channel NameAPIChannel Interface
PhidgetAccelerometer
3-Axis Accelerometer Accelerometer 0 USB
PhidgetAccelerometer
3-Axis Accelerometer Accelerometer 0 VINT

API


Back Forward
Print this API

Code Samples



Example Options


Downloads

				Make your selections to display sample code.
					

Code Samples

Language:

APIDetailLanguageOS
Accelerometer Visual Studio GUI C# Windows Download
Accelerometer JavaScript Browser Download
Accelerometer Objective-C macOS Download
Accelerometer Swift macOS Download
Accelerometer Swift iOS Download
Accelerometer Visual Basic .NET Windows Download
Accelerometer Max/MSP Multiple Download

Have a look at our spatial boards:

Product Accelerometer Gyroscope Magnetometer
Part Number Price Acceleration Measurement Max Acceleration Measurement Resolution Gyroscope Speed Max Gyroscope Resolution Magnetometer Resolution Magnetic Field Max
MOT0110_0
PhidgetSpatial Precision 3/3/3
$100.00 ± 16 g 30 μg 0.004°/s 1.5 mG ± 8 G
MOT0100_0
PhidgetAccelerometer
$40.00 ± 8 g 250 μg
MOT1102_1
Spatial Phidget
$30.00 ± 8 g 250 μg 0.07°/s 1.5 mG ± 8 G
MOT1100_0
Accelerometer Phidget
$20.00 ± 8 g 1 mg
1042_0B
PhidgetSpatial 3/3/3 Basic
$60.00 ± 8 g 976.7 μg ± 2000°/s 0.07°/s 3 mG 5.5 G
1043_1B
PhidgetSpatial Precision 0/0/3 High Resolution
$80.00 ± 2 g 76.3 μg
MOT1102_0
Spatial Phidget
$30.00 ± 8 g 200 μg ± 2250°/s 1E-05°/s 200 μG ± 8 G