British Geological Survey Case Study - SPP Lab

British Geological Survey required a configurable system to data log and control a network of RS-232 laboratory instruments. The instruments were to be arranged in any combination for an undefined number of tests each of which could run for up to 5 years.


System Design
NI cFP Hardware
  • NI cFP 2120
  • NI cFP 1808 ENET interface
  • 2 AI 110 Analog Input Modules
  • 2 TC 120 Thermocouple Modules
  • 2 NI ENET 232/4 Modules

RS-232 Instruments
  • APC Smart UPS RT1000
  • Mettler Toledo SICS Electronic Scales
  • 2 LVDT 4 Port Multiplexers
  • Upto 16 ISCO 500D Syringe Pumps


NI Software Components
  • LabVIEW™
  • Real Time
  • NI Serial

The system incorporates NI cFP and LabVIEW™ Real-Time technology to allow data to be gathered for extended periods of time even if the host PC is offline.

BGSSoftware
BGS
Design Challenges

The system had to use an object orientated approach to the host code and the embedded code to facilitate the desired functionality. The cFP header was used as a data repository to store all channels and communication protocols for all the instruments that were configured to be logged.


All RS-232 commands had to be issued from the cFP header, in order for it to behave completely autonomously. The system had to be capable of detecting if the host PC was offline and store all data locally on a 2Gb CF card ready for upload when the host PC was back online. The system also had to be capable of logging data at varying sample rates for different tests.


System Results
  • Network of instruments that are configurable for multiple tests
  • Fully autonomous object orientated code deployed to cFP
  • Stable platform for long term testing