Control and automation engineers use real-time Ethernet to create high-density distributed I/O measurement and control systems. Such platforms are constantly evolving in form, fit and function to accommodate various application needs, including those related to footprint and workspace requirements. Fortunately for these engineers, there’s a plethora of different systems, models and configurations from which to choose for bench-top I/O, highly integrated workstations, and data/control center (rack-mount) projects.
For data/control center applications that require a standard 1U rack-mountable solution, the choices have been limited…that is until now!
Check out this new Ethernet-based measurement and control system platform. The DNF-4-1G FLATRACK™ is a highly integrated, low-profile (1U) chassis providing access to a wide array of I/O including analog, digital, avionics, communications and more. The 6” x 1.75” x 17.5” unit was developed in response to key customer requests for a 1U version of the company’s RACKtangle™.
Designed for a variety of high-density applications that cannot tolerate external signal conditioning, the FLATRACK provides two Gigabit Ethernet (100/10 Base-T compatible) interfaces and four front-loading slots that allow I/O boards to be quickly and easily installed, retrofitted or removed. The Flat-RACK plays host to dual-channel NICs, a PowerPC CPU, two USB 2.0 controller/slave ports, timing/trigger interface circuitry, configuration ports, power supply and operational software – all in a standard 1U (6″ x 1.75″ x 17.5″) rack-mountable chassis.
The beauty of the FLATRACK is its configurable versatility for deployment as a high-density Power DNA (Distributed Networked Automation) system, Programmable Automation/Embedded Controller, MODBUS TCP interface, or a Simulink I/O platform. These high-density I/O deployments require precise, real-world measurement and control capabilities. The FLATRACK’s PowerDNA® (Distributed Networked Automation) architecture hosts a rugged, Ethernet-based data acquisition (DAQ) interface, ideally suited for various industrial, aerospace and laboratory data acquisition and control environments. A MODBUS messaging protocol is used to establish master-slave/client-server communication between devices that measure voltage, current, strain gages, thermocouples and more. The UEIPAC (Programmable Automation Controller) is nicely suited for embedded data acquisition (DAQ) applications, as it allows systems to be developed without the cost or the additional space required by an external host computer.
Finally, UEISIM offers Simulink developers a powerful and flexible I/O target. Models built in Simulink are deployed directly on the UEISIM using Real-Time Workshop to create, for example, an efficient tuning solution for real-time and non-real-time applications, including simulation model verification, rapid prototyping, and hardware-in-the-loop testing. With I/O interfaces for analog I/O, digital I/O, counter/timer, ARINC-429 and ARINC-664, MIL-STD-1553, quadrature encoder, CAN-bus, serial I/O and more, the DNF-4-1G FLATRACK stands protocol-ready.
Contact UEI Sales for a demonstration.
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Two new rugged DAQ (Data Acquisition) and I/O Control platforms promise military-grade reliability and COTS configurability. The DNR-MIL and DNA-MIL are designed for MIL-STD-461/810/1275 compliance and deployment in harsh environments involving military and aerospace computing, oil drilling platforms and storage refineries, heavy machinery, outdoor test stands and other I/O applications. Both platforms offer several technological advantages, including the ability to create a configurable COTS-based solution for virtually any analog/digital I/O sensor, interface and control application.
Data Acquisition Systems Engineering 