Control System Development

Sensdata specialises in bespoke Control System Development for a wide-range of industrial applications.

• Portable Vibration Data Collector and Analyser
• Automatic Vibration Data Collecting System with Remote Monitoring & Analysis Facilities
• Data Collector with embedded DSP Functionality
• Asset Management System
• FPGA Data Interrogator
• CNC Retrofit
• Valve Controller
• Infra Red Decoder
• High Speed Jetting Valve

Applied Research Portfolio

Portable Vibration Data Collector and Analyser

A vibration monitoring system was developed for Monition Ltd., a leading condition monitoring and asset management specialist based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. The system was designed around a standard ‘slab top’ personal computer, and was capable of navigating a database of data monitoring points. Moreover, the data collector provided facilities to analyse data in the frequency and time domains, monitor and historically trend data and to impose alarm envelops on data magnitude associated with multiple alarm bands. Additionally the system could simultaneously capture data from up to eight sensors when connected to a central nodal point.

Automatic Vibration Data Collecting System with Remote Monitoring and Analysis Facilities

Also developed for Monition Ltd., the automatic vibration monitoring data collecting system was an extension of the portable system previously presented. Here the nodal point facility was provided with data storage, HTML server attributes and TCP/IP networking facilities which enabled data to be captured and analysed remotely on user sites or more distantly utilising internet technology in the headquarters of specialist’s engineers.

Wireless Vibration Data Collector with embedded DSP Functionality
A further development for Monition Ltd., this project embedded digital signal processing technology locally within a vibration sensor, providing data manipulation and compaction functions to improve wireless transmission data rates in license free bands.

Asset Management System

For Monition Ltd., a simple asset management system, based around a database and graphical user interface combination to displaying the status of assets and particularly those requiring immediate user attention or action.

FPGA Data Interrogator

Again for Sarclad limited, a project to develop a small human machine interface (HMI) to interrogate and display the data contents of a field programmable data array (FPGA). Using a microcontroller, keypad and display the system provided user selectable function and modes to navigate the data structure of the FPGA.

CNC Retrofit

For C.B. Kaymich and Co. Limited, Sheffield, UK, a manufacturer of equipment for the tobacco/cigarette industry the development of a automatic three axis control system applied to a manual milling machine to repeatedly position a small diameter roll (Ø = 69mm) for accurate patterned drilling of holes (Ø Hole ~ 0.5mm, Holes / roll revolution ~ 400, Roll revolutions ~200)

Valve Controller

For C.B. Kaymich and Co. Limited, a controller and bespoke drive circuit for a ‘jetting valve’ to apply glue ‘spots’ to cigarette paper and cigarette packaging. Using a micro controller driving a Mosfet ‘H’ bridge the controller was capable of running the valve in the frequency range 1-1000Hz and with proximity or encoder inputs could instruct glue application to predefined patterns.

Infra Red Decoder

For Sarclad Limited, this was an intellectual property recovery exercise to develop a method to emulate the functions of an obsolete infra red decode chip, type ‘Plessey - MV601’. This was achieved by utilising a micro controller to monitor and decode a pulse period modulated (PPM) input signal supplied via IR detection circuitry yet fundamentally derived from a separate IR transmitter.

High Speed Jetting Valve

For C.B. Kaymich and Co. Limited, this intellectual property recovery study focussed on defining the operating parameters of a high speed jetting valve previously developed for the company. Establishing the operational parameters allowed the company to judge whether the valve was suitable for the proposed target market and to structure future development of the valve in terms of financial and time attributes.