How to Use This Dashboard

Step-by-step guide to logging, managing, and exporting your prototype test data.

Overview

This data logger is designed to capture clean, defensible experimental data from your v1 prototype tests. It tracks three types of things:

  • Parts— The physical components of your prototype (nail fixtures, dielectric sheets, electrodes). You register these once and reuse them across tests.
  • Test Runs— Individual experiments. Each test captures the full configuration, measurements, environmental conditions, equipment, and observations.
  • Media— Photos and videos from your tests, linked to specific test runs.

The recommended workflow is: Register Parts first, then Log Tests, then Add Data Points and Media to each test.

1

Register Your Parts

Go to Parts Inventory in the sidebar. Parts are organized into three tabs:

Nail Fixtures

Your PETG nail holders. Each one has a tip geometry (sharp, cut-flat, sanded, or solder-bead), nail type, count, grid pattern, and spacing.

Dielectrics

Your dielectric sheets. Track material (alumina, PETG, Sylgard), purity, thickness, dielectric constant, and breakdown strength.

Electrodes

Ground plates and bus plates. Track material, thickness, and dimensions.

Your database is pre-seeded with the four nail fixture variants (NF-001 through NF-004), one 96% alumina sheet (AL-001), and both electrodes (EL-001 aluminum ground plate, EL-002 copper bus plate). You can add more parts any time.

To add a part: Click the tab for the part type, click Add Part, fill out the form, and click Save. The “Tests” column shows how many test runs reference each part — you can't delete a part that's in use.

2

Log a New Test Run

Go to New Test in the sidebar. The form is a single page with four sections:

Title

Give the test a descriptive name, e.g. “Sharp tips + alumina @ 8kV”

Required
Parts Configuration

Pick the nail fixture, dielectric, and electrodes from your inventory. This is what varies between tests.

Test Parameters

Set voltage (kV), polarity (nails HV+ or ground), and force direction (up = lighter on scale, down = heavier).

Weight Readings

Enter the total weight of the device with power off, and the weight change when power is applied. Positive = lighter, negative = heavier.

Config Advisor:As you select parts and voltage, the system will show live warnings if your configuration risks dielectric breakdown. It also shows the framework's predicted weight change based on the v4.0 paper's calibrated coupling constant.

Tip:You don't need to have results yet. Create the test with just a title and parts config, and come back to add weight readings later.

3

Add Data Points

After creating a test, go to its detail page (click the test title from the Tests list). The detail page has a Persistence Timer and manual data entry buttons.

Persistence Timer

Set the alert interval (e.g. every 5 minutes), then click Start Timer when you disconnect power. The timer shows two clocks: total elapsed time and a countdown to the next reading.

  • When the countdown hits zero, the screen flashes and the computer plays a 3-beep audio tone (uses your speakers/headphones).
  • Toggle Sound alerts on/off with the checkbox.
  • Enter the weight change reading and click Log Reading. Each reading is timestamped automatically.
  • Click Save to Test to write all logged readings to the database. You can keep logging and save in batches.

Add Voltage Sweep Data

For F vs V² tests. Enter each voltage step with the measured weight change and current draw. V² is computed automatically. Use this when ramping from 1 to 8 kV.

Add Decay Curve Data (Manual)

Alternative to the timer. Manually enter elapsed time and weight change. Use this for entering data after the fact.

4

Upload Photos and Videos

There are two ways to upload media:

  • From a Test Detail page:Scroll to the Media section at the bottom. Drag and drop a file onto the upload zone, or click “Browse Files.” The file is automatically linked to that test.
  • From the Media Gallery: Use the upload zone at the top. Files uploaded here are not linked to a specific test (useful for general lab photos, equipment shots, etc.).

Supported formats: any image (JPEG, PNG, HEIC, etc.) or video (MP4, MOV, etc.). Files are stored locally in the logger/uploads/ directory.

5

Review and Compare Tests

The Tests page shows all your test runs in a table with columns for test number, title, date, status, nail tip type, dielectric, voltage, thrust, and persistence duration. Click any column to sort.

The Dashboard gives you an at-a-glance view with summary stats: total tests, completed count, average thrust, and maximum persistence duration.

6

Export Your Data

You can export data in two ways:

  • Export All Tests as CSV: From the Tests page, click the Export CSV button. This downloads a CSV with one row per test and all configuration, measurement, and environmental fields as columns. Good for spreadsheet analysis.
  • Export a Single Test as JSON: From any test detail page, click Export JSON. This downloads the full test record including all voltage sweep data points, decay curve data points, and media references. Good for archiving or sharing with reviewers.

Test Status Workflow

Each test run has a status that tracks where it is in the process:

planned

Test is configured but not yet run

in-progress

Test is currently being run or data is being collected

completed

All data collected, test is finished

Use needs-review for any test where results are ambiguous, equipment malfunctioned, or you want to flag it for a second look.

Data Discipline Reminders

The whole point of this system is to produce data that an independent reviewer would trust. Keep these principles in mind:

  • Raw Notes vs. Interpretation:Always separate what you observed from what you conclude. “Balance reading shifted +0.3mg over 4 hours” is a raw note. “Persistence signal consistent with framework prediction” is an interpretation. Use the two separate text boxes on the Observations tab.
  • Record environmental conditions: Temperature, humidity, and pressure for every test. These rule out thermal drift and buoyancy artifacts.
  • Record current draw:Should be ~0 uA in steady state. If it's not, the dielectric is leaking or breaking down, and the measurement is compromised.
  • Use consistent equipment: Log the balance and HV supply serial numbers. If you switch equipment, the comparison across tests requires knowing that.
  • Photograph everything: Upload photos of the assembled stack, the balance reading, any damage or anomalies. Future-you will want visual documentation.

Quick Reference

I want to...Go to...
See a summary of all my dataDashboard
Log a new test runNew Test
See all past tests in a tableTests
Add voltage sweep or decay dataTest Detail page (click any test)
Upload a photo or videoTest Detail page or Media Gallery
Add a new nail fixture or dielectricParts Inventory
Export all tests as CSVTests page > Export CSV button
Export one test as JSONTest Detail page > Export JSON button
Delete a test runTest Detail page > Delete button

Technical Details

  • Database: SQLite, stored at logger/data/emgravity.db. To back up your data, just copy this file.
  • Uploads: Stored in logger/uploads/images/ and logger/uploads/videos/. Back these up separately.
  • Running the app: cd logger && npm run dev — opens at http://localhost:3000
  • Fully offline: No internet connection needed after initial setup. All data stays on your machine.