Acquisition software links production and research

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 29, 2006

Daqworx is a PC-based integrated data-acquisition software package for acquiring and recording data from equipment used in the production and research and development environments.

Daqworx from Yokogawa UK is a PC-based integrated data-acquisition software package for acquiring and recording data from equipment used in the production and research and development environments.

Designed to acquire and record data such as flow rate, pressure, temperature and voltage from production and test equipment, Daqworx allows users to configure a variety of data-acquisition systems without having to perform any special programming tasks.

The Daqworx package also makes it possible for users to easily expand the measurement bandwidth and application range by adding software to existing data-acquisition systems to optimise them for users' specific application needs.

Daqworx includes three types of software components: basic data-acquisition components; add-on high added-value components; and interface components.

Users can build data-acquisition systems optimised for their particular application environments by selecting a combination of individual software components from the available line-up.

The basic data-acquisition components do not require special programming skills or any other specialised technical expertise.

Users are able to easily set up various data-acquisition hardware components, expedite the start of data-acquisition system operation, and perform analytical processing.

The value-added components facilitate various tasks, including customised monitoring, networked remote monitoring, group-by-group data acquisition and storage, and data acquisition triggered by monitoring measured data.

They can be linked with the basic data-acquisition software to build high value-added data acquisition systems.

The interface or 'gate software' components enable users to easily connect not only data-acquisition equipment but also power measuring instruments, industrial instrumentation equipment, monitors for data acquired from OPC servers and monitors for images from Web cameras, without the need for programming.

Yokogawa already provides data-acquisition software packages that are dedicated for exclusive use with the company's DA100 and MX100 data-acquisition systems.

The new Daqworx system is designed for users who may wish to customise their packages by, for example, providing them with advanced functions that match the production or R and D equipment that they have in use.

Previously, such customers would either have to ask their data-acquisition software vendor to undertake the customisation, or independently configure the systems using Scada, Visual Basic or C++ programming software.

There is a strong potential demand for software packages such as Daqworx that do not require advanced programming skills and can be easily customised by users.

The demand for PC-based data-acquisition equipment is steadily increasing because of the advanced functionality (including the ability to generate reports) and the decreasing price of PC hardware.