The project comprises the development of FPGA-based measurement electronics containing both AD (analogue-to-digital) and DA (digital-to-analogue) converters. These measurement electronics will serve as a test platform for software development. As part of the project, circuits will be designed, circuit boards developed and the housing designed. The electronics will also be assembled and tested. The aim is to provide fully functional hardware which, together with detailed documentation, can be used as a basis for further software development.
The development goal is a universally applicable, modular hardware platform with basic software and interfaces for customised software modules. This is to be used for applications in multi-channel data acquisition, processing and output in the frequency range from MHz to GHz. In view of increasing digitalisation and automation, there are numerous applications such as AI, HIL tests, control technology and fast sensor/measurement systems. Customisable and more cost-effective measurement and data processing systems can be developed on the basis of SoCs (system-on-chip) compared to current desktop PC systems (over €20 thousand). These new systems are therefore also suitable for widespread industrial use. The project includes the development of interface software for tools such as MATLAB to facilitate the creation of complex applications without programming knowledge. The combination of this software with new hardware technology (SoCs) and the development of a modular electronics platform together with VELOMAT Messelektronik GmbH represent a significant achievement that goes beyond routine work.
On the German market, measuring amplifiers and electronic units for measurement data acquisition and processing are usually predefined by the supplier. This means that customised adaptations for the user are rare or expensive. However, future applications with more complex data processing algorithms, such as AI algorithms based on process data, require customisable solutions.
1. pre-development:
2. main development:
3. test execution:
4. documentation:
Simple customisation requires modular software with interfaces that enable integration and operation by the customer. The challenge lies in the variable size, configurable processing speed and flexible interfaces to the customer application and hardware. In addition, customer modules should be easily created by the customer without programming knowledge and integrated into the FORTecH software. This requires extensive development work in the software architecture and new concepts for data transfer and interfaces. At the same time, a hardware platform must be developed that can be easily customised to customer requirements despite the complex SoC system and hardware requirements (e.g. EMC).
In conclusion, it can be said that the project to develop FPGA-based measurement electronics represents an important contribution to the creation of a versatile and customisable hardware platform for data acquisition, processing and output. The integration of AD and DA converters and the modularity of the hardware enable flexible utilisation in various application areas. Despite the challenges in the development of modular software solutions and flexible hardware platforms, the project promises innovative solutions for the increasing digitalisation and automation in various industries.
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