Power and Energy: Compact Size Three-Phase Control

Compact Size Three Phase ControlCHALLENGE

Create an electrical power utility control to monitor sensors for a three-phase distribution bus that fits in the mechanical package of an existing single-phase control, leverage the extensive legacy firmware functionality, and add harmonics monitoring.

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Topics: Electronic Engineering, Industrial Controls

Endurance Testing: Quick-Turnaround Software for Life Cycle Test

iStock_000013476514_SmallCHALLENGE

Create test software for a one-time duration test of a high-voltage, high-current automotive product. Full functionality was necessary within 5 days while test rack hardware was concurrently developed.

SOLUTION

National Instruments LabVIEW with client-supplied hardware including MagnaPower high voltage supply, Neslab heater/chiller, and Wago Kontakttechnik digital I/O. 

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End of Line Test: Production Board Assembly Testers

Bed-Of-NailsCHALLENGE 

Automate the process of testing printed circuit board assemblies to reduce test time, improve repeatability, and improve product reliability.

SOLUTION 

Bed-of-nails test fixture with National Instruments (NI) off-the-shelf hardware and LabVIEW-based scripting of individualized tests to verify pass/fail criteria and log results. 

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End of Line Test: Marine Transmission

Challenge

Create a turnkey test solutions and measurement system to simplify testing of marine transmissions, and a historical database with worldwide user access.

Solution

National Instruments LabVIEW development platform, NI PXI control and instrumentation hardware, SQL Server web service interface to LabVIEW, and .NET web-based user interface to the historical database.

Summary

The assembly and test needs for marine transmissions are complicated by the variety of end user applications and options available from suppliers.  For example, pleasure craft, commercial, and military applications differ greatly between manual operating modes and those governed by electronic controllers. Tracking of assembled component options and proper testing of each installed option is critical to producing and delivering the correct transmission to fit the need.

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Topics: End of Line Test

Software: Corporate Document Availability Search Engine

Challenge

Create an internet search engine with an intuitive interface that searches multiple document formats and presents relevant search results.

Solution

Use VB.NET to create a series of ASP.NET pages to simulate the look and feel of Ask.com on an internet site. The Autonomy IDOL Enterprise documentation aggregation tool and Microsoft SharePoint provide search results.

Summary

Management of unstructured or semi-structured data is a problem for companies with large stores of varying document types. Data may not always be available in database form but rather it may be scattered throughout multiple network locations, e-mails, presentations, pictures, and other files.

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Topics: Software & Mobile

Wireless Communications System

Challenge

Create a secure, robust, and proprietary battery-powered wireless communications system consisting of a custom-designed transceiver, repeater, and receiver-only devices.

Solution

Texas Instruments integrated radio and microcontroller system-on-chip (SoC) components, PCB level antennae, and lithium-polymer batteries.

Summary

Emergency circumstances require coordination of personnel from within and among departments. Police, fire, and ambulance resources often work in concert to resolve difficult and dangerous situations. Modern communication systems are needed to ensure resources are in place to perform the correct tasks and to maintain the safety of all individuals involved.

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Topics: Electronic Engineering, Firmware Development