Research and development departments in many fields and industries rely on wind tunnel systems to
analyze and assess such essential parameters as wind, climate and noise. The complexity of the medium wind itself and its parameters humidity, temperature, and noise require flexible systems to measure and determine experiment parameters in wind tunnel facilities. No matter what kind of wind tunnel system - aerodynamic, climatic, or acoustic: both owners and users want to use the valuable time they have in the systems to perform measurements and experiments most efficiently.
The developers expect a control system that is flexible and easy to configure while providing components for data acquisition and control that are able to meet the particularly high practical demands. Safe data management procedures and a high experiment throughput are further fundamental requirements.
Especially for this field of application Germany-based S.E.A. Datentechnik and Werum Software & Systems have cooperated in developing WTCS, the integrated and flexible control system for wind tunnels. New wind tunnel installations or modernization of existing facilities - WTCS meets all the requirements.
System Architecture
WTCS is as an open system platform enabling integrated hardware and software solutions.
The development of WTCS primarily focused on the following requirements:
An architecture suited for any kind of application focus A flexible architecture enabling modifications and expansions A high availability A high data throughput An open architecture allowing for the integration of any kind of measuring devices Advanced control engineering capabilities Flexible test set-ups and procedures Integration of existing infrastructure Reusability
WTCS provides a modular and configurable solution that creates the basis for wind tunnel control systems which have to cope with a great variety of requirements in aerodynamic wind tunnels, in climatic or supersonic wind tunnels.
WTCS is a highly scalable system. This applies to the connected hardware components (most versatile measuring technology and computer infrastructure) as well as to the software components (powerful client/server applications and multi-user capability).
The modular WTCS architecture facilitates subsequent expansions without the need for structural changes. Special interfaces (APIs) allowing application-specific hardware and software extensions are another highlight of this product. Just by selecting the most suitable modules the system properties can be adjusted to the requirements of the particular application. Due to a plug-in architecture it is possible to easily integrate external hardware and software components.
Integration of Measurement Hardware & Subsystems
Special subsystem modules handle the integration of individual subsystems and measurement systems, such as fan control, rolling roads, or air conditioning, or of experimental systems. Simply by choosing the suitable subsystem modules the user can integrate components by various suppliers without changing the overall system.
The subsystems supply their measurement values and additional information to the control system and receive data from this system. This interaction takes place in the value pool, a central component for data exchange between application, subsystems and dialogs. It is this concept of subsystem modules that makes it possible to integrate intelligent subsystems as easily as less sophisticated devices into one overall system.
Open interfaces facilitate a subsequent integration of measurement hardware and subsystems. Apart from the actual driver functionality, the subsystem modules also include functions for manual control and customizing of the individual components. The supplier-independent integration of measurement systems and subsystems has become possible due to a hardware abstraction layer, which enables the integration even of uncommon measurement systems and equipment. Direct analog and digital measurement hardware components as well as industrial bus systems like PROFIBUS, InterBus, or CANBus are supported.
Software
Dialogs and user interfaces smoothly fit into the modular concept. Dedicated communication interfaces are used to exchange data with the central data server and, thus, with the system. Irrespective of the actually installed type of subsystem dialogs remain the same, because communication takes place on a functional level. Due to the open architecture, dialogs and interfaces can be adjusted to each customer's requirements and, if needed, can also be distributed to several systems. Being integrated into a common framework, the dialogs always have a uniform look & feel.
Core Functions & Add-Ons
WTCS also offers numerous core functions, which are independent of specific fields of application and which are used to configure, operate, and maintain wind tunnel systems:
- Management of test and configuration data
- Error & event management
- Test sequencing & test management
- Central data management
- Data visualization
- Data processing & data logging
- Evaluation functionalities
- External interfaces (API)
- Open hardware and software interfaces allow the integration of additional functions, specific user dialogs or subsystem modules.
WTCS Highlights
Whether for a newly built wind tunnel or to modernize an existing wind tunnel: with its modular structure WTCS can be easily integrated into existing or planned structures. Independent functional modules ensure that additional measurement systems or other equipment can be integrated at any time. Moreover, most versatile user demands on the representation of measured values and experiment statuses can be handled due to the flexible structure.
Based on the core functions for measurement and configuration data management, test sequencing and control as well as error management the WTCS enables users to set up a control system that can easily be adjusted to different tasks just by slightly changing the system configuration. Irrespective of the chosen architecture the result is a homogeneous system with consistent look & feel.
Tried and Tested
WTCS has already been installed several times and has proven successful in practical application, for instance in the area of high-performance motor sports (Toyota Motorsport) or in the sector of streetcar development (Audi).
Consulting & Services
S.E.A and Werum are competent partners for your projects with many years of experience in the field of system integration for measurement and automation technology. WTCS is based on the products DAVIS by Werum and S.E.A. and TestMaster® by S.E.A., which are being applied on many large test beds. Profit from our expertise - we would be pleased to provide our consulting services.
Werum Software & Systems AG and S.E.A. Datentechnik GmbH are Alliance Partners of National Instruments.
Technical Data & Features
Architecture:
Scalable client/server architecture Single or multi-user systems Multi-monitor systems Support of realtime applications for deterministic systems Platform-independent: Windows, Unix
Measurement systems Up to several thousand data channels Sampling rates for slow or high speed data acquisition with variable resolutions
Subsystems:
Climate control/air conditioning Pressure measurement & suction control Rolling road systems Fan control Balance & model positioning Motion & vision support for positioning systems, force measurement systems
Interfaces:
Field bus systems (InterBus, PROFIBUS, CANBus) Ethernet via TCP/IP, GPIB support Acquisition of analog and digital signals via dedicated plug-in boards or external measurement devices Support and integration of all hardware and software components by National Instruments
more : http://www.werum.de
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