Data Acquisition

Data acquisition or DAQ are terms that relate to applications in which electronics and software receive sensor data, save data and analyse data. Data acquisition can be expanded further to process control based on the control data created for the process by DAQ hardware and software. DAQ data is generated and recorded by measuring precisely various sensor voltage and current.

Data Acquisition (DAQ) Options

MatDeck’s ingenious software architecture provides an advanced interface for a wide range of electronic hardware applications. These include data acquisition units and cards, custom electronics and OEM products. Running both analogue to digital and digital to analogue converters, timers, counters, input and output ports, buses, and TCP/IP all done simply and efficiently meaning MatDeck truly provides a fresh and comprehensive approach to data acquisition.

Some MD Data Acquisition features:

  • Classical Data Acquisition, Measurement and Control
  • Virtual Serial Port GUI Designers including FTDI USB devices for Control and Data Acquisition
  • TCP GUI Designer for Control and Data Acquisition
  • Drag and drop Virtual Instrumentation panel with no coding.
  • Drag and drop Virtual Instrumentation GUI application builder which generates Python and MD Script code
  • No code drag and drop Visual SCADA
  • MD Script and Python SCADA
  • DSP functions, DSP GUIs, signal smoothing, PID, Vibration functions, Wavelets, various signal GUIs , curve fitting and math functions
  • Modbus, Profibus, TCP, Serial ASCII, Serial RTU, universal device configuration from Excel file
  • Hardware devices Advantech, ICP DAS, LabJack and others
  • GPU acceleration and advanced FFT
  • AI modelling and functions
  • Build and Distribute unlimited Windows applications royalty free
Design GUIs and Engines for Data Acquisition (DAQ) example

Using SCADA and Data Acquisition (DAQ)

SCADA applications are used throughout the data acquisition world to allow for the collection, reading and sending of data, in MatDeck all of this is combined into the SCADA Toolbox. SACDA allows for a connection to made with devices while using effective virtual aids to monitor, receive and send data to and from the devices from one centralized software.

Using SCADA for Data Acquisition

As you can see, MatDeck allows you to run the Panel, Tag Manager as well as inbuilt script from one Toolbox while still being able to access and utilize the MatDeck document and its plethora of features. The SCADA Toolbox is also a codeless solution as all virtual instruments, channels and more are created by the MatDeck Software

Virtual Instrumentation for Data Acquisition

Virtument is MatDeck virtual instrumentation panel that allows for the communication between devices and MatDeck using visual aids such as Digit meter, Sliders, Tanks, Gauges and more. Virtument is a No-Code Toolbox, this means that no knowledge of programming is needed as users need only to click a few buttons to create a connection to a device and add a virtual instrument to it. However, a user can choose to add code, GUIs and function to work with the virtual instruments.

Using Virtument for Data Acquisition

Virtument also works in real time meaning that any changes in the virtual instruments will be received or sent straight away, allowing for the professional use of devices with a simple yet effective methods.

Specialized Interface for Data Acquisition

MatDeck’s hardware interface software functions can be used for hardware data channel management and hardware drivers as well as API. These channels can fluently receive and transmit data direct to MatDeck documents.

MatDeck documents can simultaneously run the execution and communication all while the user can edit the exact same document while it is being run in the same time providing an inexhaustible variety of options. To achieve even higher execution speeds, the document file can be converted into an EXE file. This EXE file can now communicate directly to other MatDeck documents, EXE files and other electronic hardware.

Advanced data acquisition commonly requires expert coding and expressing programming ideas in MatDeck takes usually less lines of code. MatDeck Code allows the user to easily add member functions and data during the execution, variables do not have a fixed type and any memory not used any longer is freed automatically. To find out more about MatDeck’s various data acquisition features please have a look at the following links:

embeded SCADA

What is data acquisition

Data acquisition is used extensively in modern day engineering and technologically based work areas and fields. MatDeck performs data acquisition, virtual instrumentation, AI, digital signal processing, GPU acceleration, programming, process control, signal filtering and conditioning, SCADA, Databases, generating custom GUIs with simultaneous generating documents all performed in harmony in the software with simplicity in mind providing an astounding user-friendly interface.

Some sensors that are often used in Data Acquisition applications include sensors for light, temperature, humidity, movement, speed, proximity, flow,  gasses.. Each of these sensors are measured by data acquisition card or modules. Data acquisition hardware has analogue inputs with a resolution ranging from 8 to 32 bits and sampling rates ranging from a few Hz to tens of GHz.

To perform control based operations via DAQ, users need to run analogue output created by digital to analogue converter with resolution ranging from 8 to 32 bits and a rate ranging from a few Hz to tens of GHz or run digital outputs. Additionally, output can be categorised into two groups, current and voltage. Analogue and digital output can then run various drivers which will contribute to some process control.  When users wish to watch and analyse a process, users need to monitor and record system parameters which is done by data acquisition. These parameters describe the system’s functionality and each parameter represents a single input data channel and data generated for output parameters represent output data channels.

A crucial aspect of data acquisition and DAQ applications is that all measurement data is recorded in real time and output channels responsible for process control are generated in real time as well. To achieve real time recording and control, suitable data acquisition software and hardware is required.

Data acquisition concept and introduction

We can divide data acquisition into several key segments:

  • Signal source Sensors
  • Transducers and switches
  • IoT
  • Tx data channel
  • Signal amplifying
  • Signal smoothing and filtering – DSP
  • Attenuating
  • Signal reader which usually converts analogue to digital
  • digital input
  • trigger input
  • RX data input channel 

One of the main processes that is performed by dedicated data acquisition software is signal data smudging and signal data processing and recording.

If the DAQ application is comprised of multiple input channels and multiple hardware devices then it can be considered a DAQ system. If users have to perform some sort of control which is usually process control, control signals are generated by sending data to output channels which are in turn connected to digital/analogue converter, registers, PWM drivers, power drivers, relays and TX data channels. Control output signals usually control output drivers that are generated by data acquisition control software.

Data acquisition hardware

Data acquisition hardware includes various DAQ cards, modules and IoT devices which can be further divided into two main groups, data input and output channels. Input channels are analogue and digital inputs, trigger inputs, gate and interrupt inputs. All inputs can be split into current, voltage and Rx data channels. Analog inputs are connected to analogue to digital converters whereas digital inputs are connected to various registers and gates.  Data acquisition output channels are used in process control via digital to analogue converters, registers PWM drivers, relays and TX data channels. Data acquisition channels are used to collect data or RX data and send or transmit data called TX data. TX data channels and RX data channels are more primed towards iot and control applications. Data acquisition devices can be connected to PC by ethernet, USB, RS232, RS 485, PCI, PCIe, BlueTooh, ZigBee, WiFi, ModBus, ProfiBus …

Data Acquisition protocols

Data acquisition hardware has various data transfer protocols. A protocol’s data speed can range from a few bits per second to 1000MB/s. The main protocols are: UART serial protocol which is usually as a RS232 voltage loop, R485, 4 to 24mA current loop, Ethernet data transfer, PCI, PCIe, Modbus, Profinet, EtherCAT, ZigBee, USB, WiFi, Bluetooth, IoT, IIoT, HART, DeviceNet, SATA. Choosing the right protocol depends on the ADC and DAC speed. Choosing the wrong data protocol can lead to the loss of input and/or output data. Usually, basic devices are on Etherent, USB, RS485, or Modbus. Higher speed devices will often use protocols such as for example PCI, PCIe, Profinet, and SATA. Please see https://labdeck.com/modbus/ and   https://labdeck.com/modbus/introduction-to-modbus/  

Data acquisition software

Data acquisition software is responsible for saving, processing and generating data. All inputs and outputs within DAQ software are represented as input and output channels. Data can be saved in excel, text and database files. Data acquisition software is usually equipped for signal smudging and filtering. Only advanced data acquisition software can perform digital signal processing. All these features are available in MatDeck. When using data acquisition software, users need to be careful with the number of channels that are connected to the software. Too many data channels will increase the necessary PC processing power meaning data acquisition software that require more channels will also require a better PC with better processors and memory. Some data processing can be passed onto the GPU card.

Data acquisition and AI

By analysing different process parameter data, AI can be used to find patterns and trends in data allowing for accurate predictions regarding future data. AI can also help to implement software protocol commands for communication with data acquisition devices. Additionally, AI can analyse data from channels and generate system status and conditions. The same approach is applied to process control where AI can recognise process conditions and status.

Developing new technologies with DAQ

Developing and testing new technologies with Data acquisition is a necessary step in any development. Product testing and production is also done with data acquisition. Data acquisition can be seen everywhere nowadays.