Section 1: Installation and setup
This section describes how to install the hardware and software of the MT Software Suite.
Step 1: Installing MT Manager
First you need to install MT Manager on your computer running Windows 10 or Linux. This is easily done by using the MT Software Suite application that guides you through the installation.
The most recent version of the software, source code and documentation can always be downloaded on https://www.xsens.com/software-downloads
The installation procedure installs several components and starts with the screen as shown below:
After accepting the License terms and conditions, you can choose which features of the Software Suite you would like to install. Finally, click Install:
Step 2: Connecting the MTi
Connect a device to your PC using the supplied USB cable and start MT Manager from the start menu. With the USB cable, the MTi is automatically found. Upon connecting the MTi, MT Manager will scan COM-ports and USB-ports for connected device. Alternatively, you can use the Scan icons (
) to detect connected MTi's.
Once connected, MTi's will be displayed in the Device List:
When you cannot connect to the MTi, refer to this article for further help.
Section 2: Basic functionality of MT Manager
This section describes how to use the MT Manager. More detailed information is found in the MT Manager User Manual.
Step 3: Configuring the MTi
The first step is to configure the MTi. Open the Device Settings window (
). The Output Configuration tab will be open:
In this window, you can configure the data outputs of your device. The preset drop down bar allows for choosing several options. For now, we choose the XDA processing preset and click Write to Device at the top of the window. XDA processing means that all sensor fusion is running in MT Manager (XDA). This allows us to change the filter profile of our sensor fusion later.
In this step-through, the settings of the MTi other than the output configuration will not be changed. It is however possible to review the calibration parameters, configure synchronization options, or modify filter settings. In the header of the window, it also shows the hardware ID, Firmware Revision and other MTi information.
Step 4: Recording data
First check if you receive data. Open for example the 3D view (
) and the inertial data graph (
). You should see live graphical representations of your MTi's data outputs:
Let's record some data: Press the record button in the menu bar.
There should be a blinking status shown in the bottom right corner:
Step 5: Opening the file and playback data
Click the record button again to stop the recording. Then, open the (.mtb) log file with File – Open or the Open File icon (
). When orientation data is not in the file (which is the case when using the XDA Processing preset), a pop-up window will ask for the required filter profile.
After opening some plot windows, such as the 3D view and the inertial data view, you can now playback the file by pressing the Play-button. You can revert to the beginning of the file with the Rewind to Start-button.
Choose to playback data in real-time or at once by changing graph settings in Tools - Preferences.
| Parameter | Comments |
| File plotting |
Real-time plays data in real-time; All Data (as fast as possible) plots all data at once. Note that you need to increase the Maximum Display time to see all data; All Data (update every 5 sec..) is required when the file is extremely large |
| Maximum display time | Increase this value to a higher value (File) in order to show more data, especially useful when investigating a file. |
Step 6: Exporting a file to ASCII (text file)
In order to use the data in other programs for post-processing, e.g. Excel or MATLAB, the MT Manager allows to export the data to a csv file or a .kml file (GNSS/INS devices only).
Click the Export icon (
). A window will open, which allows you to choose the data you would like to export. When the exported data is not available, the field will be filled with the Empty Field option. Finally, click Export at the bottom of the window.
Step 7: Explore the MT Software Suite
In the installation folder of Xsens/MT Software Suite, there are other programs such as the Magnetic Field Mapper for magnetic calibration purposes, libraries and example code for Windows, Linux and RTOSs. Everything is documented, accessible via the Documentation folder in the Xsens Program Files folder or at https://www.xsens.com/xsens-mti-documentation
Finally, it is advised to create an account on BASE, where you can find FAQs, a Community forum and Tutorial videos. You can also request private technical support via this page. Do not hesitate to contact us!