The latest news, tutorials and articles on data acquisition and control using personal computers. http://www.windmill.co.uk/ http://www.windmillsoft.com/wmicon.gif http://www.windmill.co.uk/ 64 64 According to a report from Venn Research, recovery of the US control systems market is expected in 2010, with healthy growth over the coming years up to 2014. According to a report from Venn Research, recovery of the US control systems market is expected in 2010, with healthy growth over the coming years up to 2014. According to a report from Venn Research, recovery of the US control systems market is expected in 2010, with healthy growth over the coming years up to 2014. Scientists are developing technology that may enable people to power MP3 players and other devices through their clothes and the carpets they walk on. The aim is to generate energy through people's movement, eliminating the need to change batteries on devices. http://tinyurl.com/38mpgp3 http://tinyurl.com/38mpgp3 Automotive Testing Expo China On from 14-16 September, this exhibition covers, amongst other things, Test simulation, Engine and emissions analysis, Vibration testing, Environmental testing, Data acquisition, Sensors and transducers. August's issue of Monitor, the data acquisition and control newsletter, is now freely avail August's issue of Monitor, the data acquisition and control newsletter, is now freely avail August's issue of Monitor, the data acquisition and control newsletter, is now freely available on-line at http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor145.html http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor145.html http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor145.html Sony Corporation has developed a single wire interface technology, a hybrid transmission technology which facilitates both data and power transmissions through a single cable. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sony-develops-technology-to-facilitate-both-internal- http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sony-develops-technology-to-facilitate-both-internal- The Handbook of Metrology is a new, two volume, 744-page reference book recently published which would be of value to anyone looking for up-to-date information about the science of measurement. It covers everything from units of measurement, uncertainty, fundamental constants and measurement across a range of sciences. 2010 is a special year for the science of measurement, as this autumn marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the SI system. http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/3527406662/rss1-21 http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/3527406662/rss1-21 Purity of ingredients is a constant concern for the semiconductor industry, because a mere trace of contaminants can damage or ruin tiny devices. In a step toward solving a long-standing problem in semiconductor manufacturing, scientists at JILA and collaborators have used their unique version of a "fine-toothed comb" to detect minute traces of contaminant molecules in the arsine gas used to make a variety of photonics devices. http://www.nist.gov/physlab/div848/comb_080310.cfm http://www.nist.gov/physlab/div848/comb_080310.cfm For the first time, scientists have been able to measure the amount of water that rises and falls annually in the Amazon River floodplain. http://www.newswise.com/articles/first-satellite-measurement-of-water-volume-in-amazon-floodplain http://www.newswise.com/articles/first-satellite-measurement-of-water-volume-in-amazon-floodplain New wireless technologies in cars may compromise a driver's privacy and pose a security threat, warn researchers at Rutgers University. Modern automobiles are increasingly equipped with wireless sensors and devices, such as systems that monitor air pressure inside tyres and trigger dashboard warnings if a tyre;s pressure drops. The researchers have shown that these wireless signals can be intercepted 120 feet away from the car using a simple receiver. Since signals in tyre pressure monitoring systems include unique codes from each wheel sensor, this raises concerns that drivers' locations could be tracked more easily than through other means. http://news.rutgers.edu/medrel/news-releases/2010/08/wireless-tire-pressu-20100811 http://news.rutgers.edu/medrel/news-releases/2010/08/wireless-tire-pressu-20100811 Researchers have demonstrated the first plastic computer memory device that utilizes the spin of electrons to read and write data. So-called "spintronics" could store more data in less space, process data faster, and consume less power. http://www.newswise.com/articles/researchers-successfully-test-new-alternative-to-traditional-semiconductors http://www.newswise.com/articles/researchers-successfully-test-new-alternative-to-traditional-semiconductors This new book includes using integrated sensors to infer soil properties for Digital Soil Mapping. It aims to make digital soil mapping operational around the globe. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9048188628/mussoutdoorpursu http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9048188628/mussoutdoorpursu Sunderland University researchers have developed a computerised early-warning system that monitors the condition of ship's lube oil. Until now, lube oil has remained a void in the engine-management system. http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/warning-system-monitors-lube-oil-on-ships/1004018.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/warning-system-monitors-lube-oil-on-ships/1004018.article Sensors currently used to monitor the quality of diesel fuel during engine operation are unable to adequately detect certain fuel-quality concerns. New commercially available sensors placed in the fuel line prior to where the fuel enters a diesel engine, can detect if there are any contaminants in or other problems with the fuel http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/researchers-develop-fuel-contaminant-sensor/1003968.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/researchers-develop-fuel-contaminant-sensor/1003968.article Kites have a long history in meteorological research, including being used to carry aloft sensors that measure wind speed. However, because these sensors were exposed to direct sunlight they were prone to temperature errors that affected their accuracy. Now researchers have developed a way to use a kite itself to measure wind speed. A ground-based strain gauge monitors the tension in the kite's tether line. That line tension is linearly related to wind speed. http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/566885/ http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/566885/ In Excel you can paste a live picture of some of your data in another workbook. When the original data changes, the picture updates. The picture floats above the normal cells and columns, so you don't have to clear a space for it. This is very useful for reports and data summaries or dashboards. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor144.html#Excel http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor144.html#Excel New Handbook on Sensor Networks comprises 40 chapters on sensor network theory and applications. http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/9812837302/rss1-21 http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/9812837302/rss1-21 A recent study of handset motion sensors by ARCchart predicted that the market for accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers (compasses) and pressure sensors to exceed $1 billion by 2014. The study examines the technology behind these sensors and the factors driving their incorporation into phone handsets. Accelerometers are expected to see the greatest device penetration, with 55% of phones containing this component by 2014, while pressure sensors will see the least penetration. However, penetration in smartphones will be substantially higher - 60% of these devices are expected to have a gyroscope in five years time. http://www.arcchart.com/reports/sensors.asp http://www.arcchart.com/reports/sensors.asp How to use the Open Office Calc spreadsheet to regularly collect data from instruments and transducers like balances, GPS receivers, pH transmitters, titrators, pressure transducers, voltmeters, digital thermometers: anything that can communicate over RS232. http://windmill.co.uk/openoffice.html http://windmill.co.uk/openoffice.html Hackers have built a computer virus that attacks Siemens AG's widely used industrial control systems, creating malicious software that analysts said can be used for espionage and sabotage. The company said the malware is a Trojan worm dubbed Stuxnet that spreads via infected USB thumb drives, exploiting a yet-to-be-patched vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system. The virus affects Siemens WinCC and PCS7 programs and their data. Siemens are offering a software tool to detect and remove the virus at http://support.automation.siemens.com/WW/view/en/43876783. http://www.livemint.com/2010/07/20095807/Virus-targets-Siemens-industri.html http://www.livemint.com/2010/07/20095807/Virus-targets-Siemens-industri.html July's issue of Monitor, the newsletter for PC-based data acquisition and contol, is now freely available at http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor144.html. In this issue - data acquisition under Linux, Excel corner and the data acquisition news roundup. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor144.html http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor144.html This new book reports on developments in Proximal Soil Sensing and high resolution digital soil mapping. In particular it covers soil sensor sampling, proximal soil sensor development and use, sensor calibrations, applications of proximal soil sensing and high-resolution digital soil mapping. http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/904818858X/rss1-21 http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/904818858X/rss1-21 Studying the deep ocean floor is cumbersome, expensive and dangerous. The majority of exploration efforts have to employ an autonomous unmanned vehicle (AUV), which works without control cables. But many AUVs are specialised, they cannot travel far alone and they can only provide a narrow range of data. Moreover, there are few AUVs and the unexplored kilometres of ocean are many. The work of one European project, however, has the potential to dramatically increase the range and functionality of the world's AUV fleet using networking technologies and software. http://news.scubatravel.co.uk/2010/07/submarine-robots-learn-teamwork.html http://news.scubatravel.co.uk/2010/07/submarine-robots-learn-teamwork.html "Flat" computer chips are getting too crowded, so an approach to building tiny wires in three-dimensions is timely. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19181-growyourown-approach-to-wiring-3d-chips.html http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19181-growyourown-approach-to-wiring-3d-chips.html Scientists in Germany are examining how three-legged dogs move to help design and develop robots that can adapt in the event of an "injury." The new research looked at walking and running techniques in dogs with fore-limb or hind-limb amputations, using a treadmill and a set of high-tech infra-red cameras. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-06/sfeb-tdb062410.php http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-06/sfeb-tdb062410.php European researchers have developed breakthrough standards that will let microchip designers integrate more complex circuits more easily. It will mean a faster design process, more energy and cost efficient microchips, and more sophisticated designs to meet complex tasks. http://tinyurl.com/267hkwe http://tinyurl.com/267hkwe Integrated are constantly being pushed by the semiconductor industry to become smaller, faster, and cheaper. As has happened many times in the past and will continue in the future, integrated circuit scaling is perpetually in danger of hitting a wall that must be maneuvered around. According to Maxime Darnon, a researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research, in order to continue increasing the speed of integrated circuits, interconnect insulators will require an upgrade to porous, low-dielectric constant materials. http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/566124/ http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/566124/ New book covers the full spectrum of industrial maintenance and control, from servomechanisms to instrumentation. http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1435488881/rss1-21 http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1435488881/rss1-21 Software that allows cellphones to collaborate could help improve the quality of data collected by the handsets' sensors. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19104-share-information-to-boost-cellphone-performance.html http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19104-share-information-to-boost-cellphone-performance.html China will drive global automotive electronics growth over the next few years as production volumes increase and average content per vehicle rises. According to a recent IMS Research report, the Chinese market will more than double to reach $22 billion by 2017. http://tinyurl.com/2gyv56f http://www.imsresearch.com/press_release_details.html A NASA-led research team has successfully demonstrated for the first time elements of a prototype tsunami prediction system using GPS technology that quickly and accurately assesses large earthquakes and estimates the size of resulting tsunamis. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jun/HQ_10-139_Tsunami_Prediction_System.html http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jun/HQ_10-139_Tsunami_Prediction_System.html Swarms of flying robots may one day soar into blazing forest fires, cling to undamaged trees and deploy crucial sensors and tools to track the inferno and its effects. http://www.theengineer.co.uk/video/flying-robots-could-monitor-forest-fire-effects/1003198.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/video/flying-robots-could-monitor-forest-fire-effects/1003198.article A detailed review of underwater channel characteristics. This new book provides efficient sensor communication protocols for the underwater environment. http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1420067117/rss1-21 http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1420067117/rss1-21 A non-invasive acoustic-seismic method of soil testing is being developed, to help improve crop yields in times of water shortages. "The interaction of sound with soils can provide information on soil strength, moisture content and permeability to air flow." The proposed technique will provide the basis for subsequent development of automated data acquisition and processing in the field. http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/grant-awarded-new-method-soil-strength-testing http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/grant-awarded-new-method-soil-strength-testing Issue 142 of Monitor, the newsletter for data acquisition and control, is now freely available on-line. Covering energy management, data acquisition with Open Office, opening the COM port and the DAQ news roundup. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor142.html http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor142.html Part of the UK's largest manufacturing and engineering event of 2010. Drives and Controls, Air-Tech, IFPEX and the Plant and Works exhibition take place alongside MACH 2010, Subcon and Electrex at Birmingham's NEC from 8-10 June. http://www.drives2010.com/ http://www.drives2010.com/ Electric vehicles are only as 'green' as the electricity that charges their batteries, a report published today by the Royal Academy of Engineering points out. http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/releases/shownews.htm?NewsID=566 http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/releases/shownews.htm?NewsID=566 Instrumentation and control concepts have undergone a drastic change over the past few years. This new book is devoted to transducers, telemetry and process control. http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/9380026579/rss1-21 http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/9380026579/rss1-21 A new guide for process plant engineers - from an introductory tutorial to discussions of new and critical material for the new generation of smart plants: error-free process variable estimation, control, fault detection, instrumentation upgrade and maintenance optimisation. http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071604715/1286 http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071604715/1286 Conceived as a reference manual for practicing engineers, instrument designers, service technicians and engineering students. Historical anecdotes as far back as Hellenistic times to modern scientists help illustrate in an entertaining manner ideas ranging from impractical inventions in history to those that have changed our lives. http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/3211783806/1286 http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/3211783806/1286 The second edition of Sensors Handbook is completely updated with new sensor breakthroughs. The first all-inclusive reference on sensors in industry and science. Helps engineers, scientists, medical researchers and technicians pinpoint the optimum sensor for any given application. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071605703/rss-21 http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071605703/rss-21 A new step-by-step guide to dealing with noisy data acquisition systems, with particular reference to pH measurements. http://www.microlink.co.uk/debug.html http://www.microlink.co.uk/debug.html When you communicate with an instrument over RS232, you often have to send it a string of characters. It is not always obvious how to enter some of these but this table should help. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor120.html#ASCII http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor120.html#ASCII How to set Excel to send you an e-mail whenever one of its live data values goes into an alarm state. Plus how to get the live data into Excel from your sensors and instruments. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor117.html#Excel http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor117.html#Excel You can connect digital dial gauges (or digital indicators as they are also known) to a PC and automatically record all measurements. Read the new step-by-step guide on using the free Windmill data acquisition software to collect data from a Sylvac dial gauge. http://www.windmill.co.uk/sylvac.html http://www.windmill.co.uk/sylvac.html How to log data from a Garmin GPS, and other instruments, on your PC. http://www.windmill.co.uk/garmin.html http://www.windmill.co.uk/garmin.html Find out how to count the number of negative readings in a set of data, or the the number of readings which are between 20 and 30 oC. How can you use the COUNTIF function in your macros or count over scattered cells? http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor115.html#Excel http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor115.html#Excel Free Windmill software helps research into radioactivity at the Yucca mountain. http://www.windmill.co.uk/rock.html http://www.windmill.co.uk/rock.html Robert Kwiatkowski wanted to see his fuel consumption in real-time. Unfortunately his truck did not give him this information, so he designed his own fuel consumption monitoring system using the free Windmill data acquisition software. He connected his laptop to the On Board Diagnostics system of his Ford Expedition, used Windmill to collect data from the truck and Excel to calculate and display his current fuel consumption. http://www.windmill.co.uk/fuel.html http://www.windmill.co.uk/fuel.html Here are eight tips on successfully using a USB-Serial convertor for data acquisition on a Windows computer. http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/win/win108.html http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/win/win108.html Guide to using free software to continually collect readings from an NMEA instrument. Many instruments use NMEA messages to communicate with a computer, including GPS receivers, echo sounders and anemometers. You plug your device into the PC's COM port then run the free Windmill data acquisition software. Data can be transferred to Excel in real time. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor109.html#NMEA http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor109.html#NMEA Tips on using Excel for data acquisition: data logging with Excel, creating virtual instruments, showing live data in Excel forms, recovering data from corrupted worksheets... http://www.windmill.co.uk/excel.html http://www.windmill.co.uk/excel.html The new 751 SBox lets a PC monitor four strain gauges. It connects to the computer over a USB cable and comes with the Windmill data acquisition and control software suite. Windmill designed the SBox to be really easy to set-up and use. Putting everything in just one box means that it is ideal for mobile applications, or for moving from place to place. http://www.sensorsportal.com/HTML/DIGEST/april_07/Strain_gauges.htm COMIML lets Windows software read and control serial devices connected to the PC's COM port. These include such diverse equipment as electronic balances used in a laboratory, GPS receivers used in the field and data loggers used in process plant. The COMIML device driver can communicate over RS232, RS422, RS485 or Modbus. New checklist quickly gets you started logging and charting data from your serial instruments. http://www.windmill.co.uk/comiml_ts.html Receive the data acquisition and control news via your mobile phone. http://www.mobispine.com/MyMobispine/MyServices/SignUp.do?serviceId=11075 Windmill Software announces their 751 SBox which lets a PC monitor four strain gauges. It connects to the PC over a USB cable and comes with the Windmill data acquisition and control software suite. The SBox has been designed to be really easy to set up and use. http://www.buildingtalk.com/news/wnd/wnd100.html Let your PC monitor four strain gauges through the USB port. The new 751 SBox has been designed to be really easy to set up and use. Putting everything in just one box means that it is ideal for mobile applications or for moving from place to place. The Windmill data acquisition software comes free with the package. When the software takes a reading from a strain gauge bridge, it automatically monitors excitation voltage and calculates the measurement in microstrain. This eliminates errors due to changes in excitation voltage. You can also set a zero reference level and monitor changes relative to that level. An integrating analogue-to-digital converter reduces noise and the system automatically recalibrates itself. http://www.windmill.co.uk/751sbox.html Most analogue sensors produce a voltage, including thermocouples, strain gauge bridges and gas concentation probes. This is converted to a form the computer can understand by an analogue-to-digital (A-D) coverter. The input range (or gain range) of an A-D coverter refers to the maximum and minimum voltage that it can accept. You should always choose the smallest range that encompasses your signal, as this optimises the resolution. Although the resolution increases when you narrow the range, there is no point in trying to resolve signals below the noise level of the system: all you will get is unstable readings... http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor95.html#range If you have an instrument or device which you can plug into the PC's COM port, and it communicates using ASCII messages, chances are you can use the free Windmill software to collect its data. This is because Windmill's free LabIML driver was designed to be as flexible as possible and accommodate almost any instrument with an RS232 port. However, this flexibility has meant that the initial set up can be a case of trial and error. These notes should reduce the error and help you decide the best way to interpret, or parse, the messages from your instrument. http://www.windmill.co.uk/parse.html New article gives tips on measuring pH with a PC. pH electrodes have a very high output impedance and you cannot just connect them to a normal voltage input on your data acquisition unit. You will need instead to choose a DAQ unit that will amplify the signal to the appropriate level. http://www.microlink.co.uk/pH.html Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and temperature are increasing. Periods of low water availability are expected to increase in Mediterranean and other ecosystems. Researchers in Spain have simulated predicted increases in CO2 and temperature, and investigated the effects on crops. To monitor and control environmental conditions they used a Microlink 751 data acquisition unit which they connected to their PC's USB port. http://www.microlink.co.uk/climate.html Biodata new Video Turnstile people counting system designed for large-scale installations, monitoring hundreds of doorways. http://www.buildingtalk.com/news/bod/bod101.html Researcher Edward Winward at Loughborough University is investigating diesel engine fuels and lubricants, using the Windmill Logger application to continuously collect data for later processing. http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/win/win105.html The BASIC Stamp is already noted for the ease it has brought to resolving control technology problems. Its use of the BASIC language with inbuilt control instructions can dramatically shorten industrial development time. The free Windmill software can read ASCII data and be configured to pass information directly to an application like Excel. http://www.windmill.co.uk/stamp.html Free software lets you automatically collect data from a Mettler Toledo balance. For PCs running Windows software like Excel. http://www.windmill.co.uk/mettler.html You can use the free OpenOffice suite of software to collect data from almost any measurement device with an RS232 port. http://www.windmill.co.uk/openoffice.html New tips on connecting measurement instruments and devices to the computer's COM port. Discover where to find free troubleshooting software, how to check the COM port is working correctly, what to do about cabling errors and which handshaking settings to use. http://www.windmill.co.uk/wiring.html#Serial Building managers can now connect automatic people counting systems to the PC over a WiFi wireless network. Previously, the people counters from Biodata were connected to the PC over RS232, RS485 or Ethernet cables, or via a modem. The new WiFi option speeds up installation and reduces cabling costs. http://www.buildingtalk.com/news/bod/bod100.html You can use instruments with RS232 ports over WiFi networks. To do this you need a serial device server. This will make your balance, GPS receiver, multimeter, fluorometer, force gauge, torque meter, etc. appear as if it were connected to the COM port. You can therefore use any data acquisition software which reads RS232 instruments to log data from your instrument, such as the Windmill COMIML software. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor82.html#RS232 Free Windmill software now lets you interface Transcell TI-500 digital indicators, and other instruments with an RS232 serial port, to a PC running Windows. A free data logging program can continuously collect readings, or data can be sent straight to other programs like Excel. http://www.windmill.co.uk/trancell.html E-Print ArXiv is a fully automated electronic archive and distribution server for research papers. It covers areas such as physics and related disciplines, mathematics, non-linear sciences and computer science. The e-prints on E-Print ArXiv are freely accessible for everyone. The E-Print ArXiv data in Scirus are retrieved through the Open Archives Initiative. http://www.scirus.com/srsapp/aboutus/#sources New product: you can now determine how long people spend in one place, and how many people visited that place. For example, stores can determine the effectiveness of a product displays or analyse waiting times at checkouts. The new dwell meter from Biodata Ltd counts the number of people entering and leaving a zone and records the duration of their stay. http://www.videoturnstile.com/dwell.html Every People Counting system bought from Biodata now includes free analysis and reporting software. Called VisitorTrends Lite, this is easy-to-use with a range of interactive charting and information options. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/2/prweb205619.php You can now use either php or Javascript to display this news on your own web pages. http://www.windmill.co.uk/newsfeed.html New: How to use Excel to log data up to 1000 times a second. http://www.windmill.co.uk/excel.html When underground water is contaminated by oil, environmental agencies need to find the source and extent of the pollution. Traditionally this has been difficult to establish but researchers at the University of Waterloo (Canada) are working on an answer. http://www.windmill.co.uk/oil.html Find out when you need RS232 handshaking, what it does and how to do it. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor74.html#handshaking See new tips on charting with Excel. For instance, find out how to scroll a chart and how to label individual data points on x-y charts. http://www.windmill.co.uk/xlchart.html The tutorial on using a computer to measure strain has been updated. Discover the 8 points you need to look for when monitoring strain and learn how strain gauges work. http://www.windmill.co.uk/strain.html Notes on interfacing Modbus devices and free software to trouble-shoot Modbus connections. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor72.html#Modbus New article on controlling digital equipment is now available. http://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor71.html#control