Basic operation

This section describes basic operation of the Arena UI. The program can be started from Ubuntu’s Dash menu.

User interface layout

The basic layout of the user interface is shown in Figure Basic elements of the Arena UI..

_images/arena_ui_elements.png

Basic elements of the Arena UI.

The menu pane

The menu pane enables the following basic operations:

  • Open - Open a project (.assisi file), which describes the CASU layout, their connection details, neighborhood definitions and deployment details, or a session (.ArenaUI file), which specifies a project and all user interface customizations (e.g. CASU groups, open Trend graphs etc.);
  • Save - Save a session (.ArenaUI file)
  • Group selected CASUs - Grouped CASUs are treated as atomic GUI elements, i.e., selecting one group member selects the whole group etc; groupings can be hierarchical;
  • Ungroup selected group
  • Connect to CASU - enables manual specification of connection details for a single CASU;
  • Toggle Log - Turns logging on or off
  • Settings - Opens a menu that enables the user to specify default save locations, trending and logging options and the simulator location.

The arena state visualization area

The connection status and sensor values of all CASUs can be visualized, and actuator setpoints can be provided.

  • Physical position - CASUs are visualized at their respective positions (as specified in the .assisi file); Orientation is indicated by a short dash;
  • Selections status - CASUs are selected by left mouse click; selected CASUs are indicated by a solid outline, whereas unselected CASUs have a dashed outline; a treeview with actuator setpoints and sensor values appears in the Casu data configuration tab for each selected CASU; Ctrl-Click on an CASU toggles its selection state;
  • Connection status - Unconnected CASUs have a red outline, connected CASUs have a green outline;
  • Temeprature readings - Temperature readings are displayed as circular segments at 2cm distance from the CASU body; They are color-coded, with a colorbar displayed in the bottom-left corner of the visualization area;
  • Proximity sensor readings - Proximity sensor readings are visualized as six triangles radiating out of the CASU body;
  • Diagnostic LED actuator - Diagnostic LED state is indicated by the color of the CASU body;
  • Airflow actuator - When the airflow actuator is turned on, a shaded circular area is displayed around the CASU body;
  • Context menu - Activated by right-click in the arena visualization area; Enables on/off toggling of sensor visualizations, CASU grouping/ungrouping, customizing connection settings and providing actuator setpoints

CASU state treeview

The CASU treeview is shown in the Casu data Configuration tab for selected CASUs. The treeview can be expanded to show numerical values for all actuator setpoints and sensor values. Several devices can be selected simultaneously by clicking and dragging on their name in the treeview. A context menu, accessed by right-clicking on a device name, enables the plotting of sensor value trends in time, as described in more detail in `Displaying data trends`_.