Measurement technology for Industry 4.X
Without precise measurement data, any system analysis is worthless! Industry 4.X relies on automated, decentralized analyses and intelligent monitoring within machines. However, the quality of the measurement data is often underestimated in this context.
In one of his presentations at the messweb masters event, expert Michael Tasler explained why high-end measurement technology is the foundation for reliable industrial processes. The quality of any signal analysis is determined throughout the entire measurement chain:
1. Sensors & mounting: An improperly selected sensor (e.g., incorrect sensitivity) or suboptimal mounting (magnetic vs. bolt mounting) distorts frequency responses and masks critical signal peaks.
2. EMC & ground loops: Unisolated grounds, electrostatic charges (e.g., from production processes), and insufficiently twisted cables lead to massive equalizing currents and interference. Galvanic isolation and clean cabling are essential here.
3. Numerical precision in embedded systems: Even the best hardware is of little use if mathematical filters in embedded designs are calculated using single precision (32-bit) instead of double precision, which can lead to serious measurement errors.
The solution for system designers: Modern system-on-module approaches (such as the ADCstamp) bring highly optimized precision measurement channels directly into existing FPGA and CPU environments, thereby reducing the burden on developers and minimizing complex sources of error.
Find out more about system-on-modules here: