Smart Sensors Network System - By Bestech Australia

The Smart Sensor Network System from VIP Sensors, which is available at Bestech Australia, is a brand new type of sensor measurement and control system which utilises a multi-drop network sensor-actuator architecture.  The system allows a drastic reduction of interconnecting cables, and lowers installation and system costs, as well as increasing noise immunity and overall performance.

Typical test and monitoring systems are based on stand-alone instrumentation and require point-to-point analog wiring, which can result in cumbersome cabling and connectors, bulky instrumentation, susceptibility to EMI/RFI noise pick up, and a compromised signal-to-noise ratio. For example in aircraft testing and onboard monitoring, measurements including pressure, temperature, strain, flow, vibration, etc. need to be known.

Many wires from each sensor carry small analog signals and power to and from the signal conditioning and data acquisition instrumentation. For a large number of sensors, this means an added weight and occupation of much space.

The Smart Sensors Network System is a multi-drop sensor architecture with smart digital output sensors interconnected to a Network Interface Controller (NIC) through a common digital transducer bus. It means a minimum amount of interconnecting cables, and it is easy to design and involves low installation and system costs.

The Smart Sensors Network System accepts different types of transducers, from traditional analog types to the new smart sensors. They can handle a large number of measurement channels, and allow for easy expansion or reduction in the number of channels.

Base bus interface modules (IBIMs), such as the 6003 model, in addition to providing signal conditioning and processing functions, also provide network communication.  Therefore, they may be used as stand-alone modules or as module stacks, which provide a high channel count in a very small volume.

A powerful, easy-to-use application software is available, which allows the user to automatically discover the bus configuration and the type of smart sensors and IBIMs present on the bus. It configures the units on the bus, reads the current setups, and acquires and displays sensor data.

The Smart Sensors Network System is available in Australia and New Zealand from Bestech Australia Pty Ltd.