Wireless Data Acquisition Technology

NI Wi-Fi data acquisition (DAQ) devices combine IEEE 802.11g wireless or Ethernet communication, direct sensor connectivity, and the flexibility of NI LabVIEW software for remote monitoring of electrical, physical, mechanical, and acoustical signals. With built-in signal conditioning and the highest commercially available network security, Wi-Fi DAQ devices stream data in real time for easy to use, high-performance remote measurements.

Incorporating Wireless Measurements with Wired Data Acquisition Systems:

Wireless technology provides promising possibilities and benefits – reduced cost of cabling; measurements previously prohibited by physical location; distributed measurements; and intelligent, self-healing networks. Wireless is poised to play a significant role in shaping the capabilities of future measurement systems. But exactly what role and how? Will wireless replace wired systems? Will existing investments still be useful in future systems? What important decisions should be made before selecting a wireless data acquisition device? When should wireless not be considered as a possible solution?

There are many questions that need to be answered and there is still time to contemplate the possibilities before your existing measurement systems run the risk of technology obsolescence. This article helps to answer some of these questions by considering several high-level design decisions of wireless measurement systems and how to complement existing wired systems with wireless technologies.

From continuous monitoring of vibrations on mechanical systems to producing clean energy for domestic and industrial hot water, NI hardware and software tools can help you build customizable systems to meet your monitoring needs. Wi-Fi DAQ improves performance of your industrial remote monitoring application by:

Reducing cabling installation and maintenance cost
Providing secure, reliable data with 128-bit AES encryption
Integrating seamlessly with existing wired systems and enterprise (SCADA)
Leveraging widespread Wi-Fi infrastructure with standardized 802.11g protocol