In different technological and information fields there is the need for multipoint measurement systems, to monitor a process evolution and to take proper controlling actions; several applications require for a Distributed Measurement System (DMS) able to measure the same or different parameters at different points. Traditional test and measurement applications have been based on the use of centralized control and data management; usual implementations involve a central controller that handles instruments and sensors, polls for any results and processes the acquired data. In these systems, the essential determination of the system’s behaviour resides just in the central controller. The primary advantage of centralized systems is their simplicity: because all data is concentrated in one place, these systems are easily managed and have no problems of data consistency or coherence. However, in some cases the physical area over which carry out the measurements is so wide that the implementation of a single measurement system will be unacceptable; main reasons are cost, reliability, and the distance between the measurement points. The measurement system must be split in a number of measurement devices, able to carry out each single measurement, to process the acquired raw data and to transmit the information to the final user. Today, with the advent of dedicated microcontrollers and digital signal processors, complex data processing and transmission can be performed in a fast and easy way. These new technologies permitted the implementation of DMSs that addresses these issues: instead of having one single powerful system, distributed systems employ multiple systems communicating to each other via a common network. DMSs usually refer to systems comprising one or more controllers each with one-to-one connections to sensors, instruments and possible actuators. This approach is always based on a number of smart measuring systems, where the nodes determine the system behaviour; the control protocol must therefore support each node internally, managing the application details occurring at that node. In addition, nodes can communicate directly with each other or with groups of other nodes, without any restriction to one-to-one communication links. The control protocol must support the transmission of synchronization messages between nodes to produce the correct overall system behaviour. Synchronization includes not only the timing of measurements, but the overall progress of the application from one sequence of events to another. In a DMS the management of data must be more structured than in traditional ones: in centralized systems many data management tasks, such as identifying the source and time of a measurement, are based on the properties of point-to-point communication links; in distributed systems using multicast, other techniques must be used for linking the various pieces of information in the system. This chapter discusses about the new technologies that have been proposed, in recent years, for applications involving measurement systems distributed on a wide area.

New Technologies For Measurement Systems Distributed On A Wide Area

BUCCI, Giovanni;CIANCETTA F;FIORUCCI, EDOARDO
2010-01-01

Abstract

In different technological and information fields there is the need for multipoint measurement systems, to monitor a process evolution and to take proper controlling actions; several applications require for a Distributed Measurement System (DMS) able to measure the same or different parameters at different points. Traditional test and measurement applications have been based on the use of centralized control and data management; usual implementations involve a central controller that handles instruments and sensors, polls for any results and processes the acquired data. In these systems, the essential determination of the system’s behaviour resides just in the central controller. The primary advantage of centralized systems is their simplicity: because all data is concentrated in one place, these systems are easily managed and have no problems of data consistency or coherence. However, in some cases the physical area over which carry out the measurements is so wide that the implementation of a single measurement system will be unacceptable; main reasons are cost, reliability, and the distance between the measurement points. The measurement system must be split in a number of measurement devices, able to carry out each single measurement, to process the acquired raw data and to transmit the information to the final user. Today, with the advent of dedicated microcontrollers and digital signal processors, complex data processing and transmission can be performed in a fast and easy way. These new technologies permitted the implementation of DMSs that addresses these issues: instead of having one single powerful system, distributed systems employ multiple systems communicating to each other via a common network. DMSs usually refer to systems comprising one or more controllers each with one-to-one connections to sensors, instruments and possible actuators. This approach is always based on a number of smart measuring systems, where the nodes determine the system behaviour; the control protocol must therefore support each node internally, managing the application details occurring at that node. In addition, nodes can communicate directly with each other or with groups of other nodes, without any restriction to one-to-one communication links. The control protocol must support the transmission of synchronization messages between nodes to produce the correct overall system behaviour. Synchronization includes not only the timing of measurements, but the overall progress of the application from one sequence of events to another. In a DMS the management of data must be more structured than in traditional ones: in centralized systems many data management tasks, such as identifying the source and time of a measurement, are based on the properties of point-to-point communication links; in distributed systems using multicast, other techniques must be used for linking the various pieces of information in the system. This chapter discusses about the new technologies that have been proposed, in recent years, for applications involving measurement systems distributed on a wide area.
2010
978-953-307-061-2
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11697/26905
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