Connecting AMTI Digital force plates

When using an AMTI Gen5, OPT-SC (Optima Signal Conditioner) amplifier or the AccuGait Optimized and AccuPower Optimized plate you need to follow these steps. The steps are the same for all of the amplifiers and plates so the instructions only refer to Gen5.

  1. Download the drivers to the computer. There is a Download device drivers link on the Input Devices page in Project Options or you can copy them from the CD supplied with AMTI Gen5.

  2. Connect the AMTI Gen5 to the computer. The installer will ask for the drivers browse to the folder where you saved them. Alternatively, follow the instructions for how to install the AMTI drivers, which are included in the ZIP-file with the driver.

  3. Connect a BNC cable from Sync out on the Oqus camera to the Genlock/Trigger input connection on the AMTI Gen5 amplifier. An adapter is needed from the BNC connector to the RCA connection of AMTI Gen5, this is supplied by Qualisys AB.

  4. Connect the force plate to the AMTI Gen5 amplifier.

These are the hardware connections that are needed. The next step is to activate the AMTI Gen5 force plate in QTM.

  1. Go to Input Devices page in the Project options dialog.

    1. Activate the AMTI Gen5 amplifier that are connected to the system.

  2. Go to the page for each amplifier under the Force plates page, see chapter AMTI Digital force plates.

    1. Set the Sync source option to the device that the sync cable is connected to.

    2. Click on Advanced  to change the frequency of the force plate. You will go to the Synchronization page with just the device used as Sync source selected. Change the Synchronization output setting to the desired frequency, see chapter Synchronization output. It is recommended to use the Camera frequency multiplier option to set the frequency, because for example when exporting to C3D then the force frequency must be a multiple of the marker capture rate.

      If there is an analog board in the system, that is also frame synchronized, then it is recommended to use the same camera as synchronization source for the analog board and the AMTI Gen5. Then you can use the Sample rate option on the Analog board page to control the frequency on both of the boards.

  3. Go to the Force data page in the Project options dialog. Rename the force plate if you want it to have a custom name.

  4. Open the Force plate page for each AMTI Gen5 force plate.

    • Enter the position of the force-plate, see chapter Force plate location. It is good to do this after each new calibration especially if the calibration L is not placed at the same position.

  5. Activate the Calculate force data option on the Processing page. To see the force both in preview and in captured file make sure that it is activated both for Real-time actions and Capture actions.

  6. Test the force plates in QTM. If there is no force, check that the Sync cable is connected correctly.

    • If the cable is connected, make a test in AMTI Netforce to see if there is force data in that program.

    The AMTI Gen5 plate is reset at the following operations in QTM:

    • New file

    • Changing a setting in Project option in QTM during preview

    • Just before the Start capture dialog is opened before a capture

    • In a batch capture just before QTM starts Waiting for next measurement/trigger