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A common problem experienced in many field experiments is the ability to collect data from a wide range of different analog and digital instruments and/or sensors. To solve this issue Applied Technologies, Inc. has designed and developed a modular and configurable ClusterController that can incorporate instruments of disparate manufacture, accept the digital and analog information and combine all data into a single coherent station.

The ClusterController will accept a combination of analog and digital inputs, combine and format the data, and present it in a single packet for transmission to a host or supervisory computer.

The ClusterController utilizes multiple process architecture to provide supervisory control and data acquisition over a geographically distributed network of stations, instruments, and sensors. It provides the inter-process communication required to orchestrate complex systems, while transcending operating system barriers. Its special features preserve high-fidelity temporal data correlation and controller coordination where varying network transmission latency is the norm.

FEATURES:

• Low power
• Rugged construction
• Configurable for small to large applications
• Unattended Operation
• Microprocessor based
• Software Configurable
• Analog Inputs - anti-aliasing filter
• Analog Inputs - 16X over sampling

FUNCTIONS

• Provides a common time base for all instrument data
• Time can be coordinated among many cluster controllers to within micro-seconds
• Can collect data from, and control a wide variety of serial instruments
• Capable of connecting to synchronous and asynchronous data
• Synchronizes the analog-to-digital conversion of analog inputs to the digital
• Supports DAC and switch outputs to control a variety of external actuators
• Concentrates, organizes and time-stamps the instrument data
• All data collected within a given time frame can be put into the same record
• Transmits the concentrated data via most links, from wires to radios
• Provides basic storage for stand-alone operation and periodic downloading

APPLICATIONS

• Incorporates diverse off-the-shelf instruments into a coherent network
• Can provide network layers for complex applications