System combines flexible measurements with easy-to-use USB connectivity

Test & Measurement

17 May 2006 Test & Measurement

National Instruments has launched a new USB-based modular data acquisition system, which is a platform for sensor and electrical measurements for use either on the benchtop, in the field or on the production line.

Called the NI CompactDAQ, the system offers an eight-slot chassis that accepts I/O modules capable of measuring up to 256 channels of electrical, physical, mechanical and acoustic signals in a single system. By combining the plug-and-play simplicity of USB with the performance and flexibility of modular instrumentation, Ni says that the system provides fast and accurate measurements in a small, simple and affordable system.

"USB has gained tremendous popularity as a result of its ease of use and ubiquity in modern electronics. We designed NI CompactDAQ to take full advantage of the bandwidth now available with high-speed USB and minimised both size and power consumption for laptop users and portable requirements," said Dr. James Truchard, NI president and CEO. "Expert test engineers as well as novice users will benefit from the combination of powerful, high-speed data acquisition and the familiar, user-friendly experience of USB."

The new system delivers connectivity and signal conditioning for measurements including voltage, temperature, strain, sound and vibration, as well as digital I/O and switching. All modules are hot-swappable and autodetectable for simplified setup, and offer up to 2300 V r.m.s. of isolation to ensure PC and user safety. The system delivers four dedicated USB signal streams for synchronous analog and digital I/O for data-intensive applications including sound and vibration, mixed-signal automated test and high-speed data logging. In addition, the small size (25 x 9 x 9 cm) and flexible power options (AC or 11 to 30 V d.c.) make NI CompactDAQ well-suited for a wide range of test settings, such as in-vehicle, benchtop and automated test applications.

Every NI CompactDAQ system is shipped with NI-DAQmx driver software and additional measurement services, a collection of powerful tools and interfaces.

For more information contact NI South Africa, 0800 203 199.

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System combines flexible measurements with easy-to-use USB connectivity

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