ProDAQ 8400 Data Acquisition Software

Description

Bustec’s ProDAQ Data Acquisition and Analysis Software (DAAS) provides a comprehensive software environment for configuring, controlling, acquiring, displaying, storing and analysing measurement data from ProDAQ data acquisition systems.

Designed for demanding test and measurement applications, DAAS brings hardware configuration, acquisition control, real-time system monitoring, data visualisation and engineering analysis together within a single flexible platform.

From a standalone ProDAQ instrument to a distributed measurement system spanning multiple devices, controllers and display stations, DAAS can be configured to match the architecture and requirements of the test system.

Scalable Distributed Data Acquisition

DAAS is designed to support distributed, network-based data acquisition systems.

Multiple ProDAQ instruments can operate as part of a coordinated measurement system, while DAAS provides a central environment for configuring devices and channels, monitoring system status, controlling acquisition and managing measurement data.

Different DAAS installations can perform specialised roles within the same acquisition architecture:

• Controller – configures and controls the acquisition system and manages acquisition.
• Listener – receives instrument data and status while another DAAS instance controls the system.
• Display Client – receives measurement data remotely through the DAAS Data Server without directly controlling the instruments.
• Offline Station – imports previously acquired measurement data for post-test processing and analysis.

This flexible architecture allows DAAS to support both laboratory-scale measurement systems and larger distributed test installations.

Precise Synchronisation Across the Test System

Accurate correlation between measurements is essential in complex test systems.

ProDAQ instruments support IEEE 1588-2008 Precision Time Protocol (PTP), enabling measurements from multiple network instruments to operate against a common time reference.

Measurement scans are precisely timestamped in hardware, helping maintain consistent time correlation across distributed measurement systems.

DAAS also supports resilient system operation. Individual devices can be handled independently and instruments can reconnect during acquisition while other parts of the measurement system continue operating.

Real-Time Data Visualisation

DAAS provides flexible tools for examining measurement data while a test is running.

Available visualisation options include:

• Time-domain waveforms
• Analog and digital signals
• Numerical displays
• Amplitude spectra
• Phase spectra
• Frequency-response plots
• Spectrogram / waterfall displays
• Digital event displays

Channels can be searched, selected and displayed in different combinations, while graphs can be docked, detached and arranged across multiple monitors to create an operator-specific workspace.

Signal Analysis and Measurement

DAAS combines acquisition with built-in signal processing and measurement capabilities.

Analysis functions include:

• FFT analysis
• Amplitude spectrum
• Phase spectrum
• Frequency-response analysis
• Spectrograms
• Minimum, maximum, mean and RMS measurements
• Sine-wave fitting
• AC performance measurements
• Configurable markers and measurement regions

FFT processing includes configurable windowing and zero-padding, allowing engineers to investigate signal behaviour directly within the acquisition environment.

Online and Offline Analysis

DAAS can be used both during live acquisition and after testing has been completed.

Acquired measurement data can be stored and subsequently imported back into the software for offline analysis.

Offline processing capabilities include:

• Data import
• FIR filtering
• Resampling
• Engineering-unit conversion
• Time-offset adjustment
• Signal visualisation
• FFT and frequency-domain analysis
• Measurement calculations
• Data export

Data from different test runs or acquisition sources can also be imported for further analysis.

This allows engineers to use the same software environment from initial system configuration through acquisition and post-test investigation.

Flexible Data Storage and Export

DAAS supports measurement data storage in:

CSV
Suitable for shorter acquisitions and straightforward access from applications such as Microsoft Excel, MATLAB and other data-analysis environments.

BIN
Optimised for larger datasets and long-duration acquisition, providing more efficient storage and faster data import.

Measurement and processed data can also be exported for use in external engineering tools.

Supported graphics export includes:

• PDF
• PNG
• SVG

Data export options include:

• CSV
• TXT
• DAT
• ODBC-compatible formats

Reports, self-test results, digital-event information and measurement results can also be exported.

Integration with External Systems

DAAS can form part of a wider test, monitoring or automation architecture.

The optional TCP/IP Data Server provides measurement data and system configuration information to remote clients.

Individual clients can request selected measurement channels and appropriately processed data, enabling different software applications or display stations to access the information required for their particular role.

Additional integration options include:

• OPC UA Server
• EtherCAT Slave
• Display Node Software
• Third-party Count Down Timer support

The OPC UA Server provides measurement information to external OPC UA clients.

The EtherCAT Slave service enables acquired ProDAQ measurement data to be transferred into an external EtherCAT control environment.

This architecture allows high-precision measurement data to be integrated with wider automation, control and engineering systems.