Data Acquisition Software for Mission-Critical Test Systems
Modern aerospace and defence test programmes generate vast quantities of measurement data from increasingly complex systems. Whether validating aircraft structures, propulsion systems, environmental chambers or military equipment, engineers need more than accurate instrumentation—they need software capable of managing, synchronising and distributing measurement data across the entire test environment.
Bustec’s Data Acquisition and Analysis Software (DAAS) has been developed specifically for high-performance test applications where accuracy, reliability and scalability are essential. Rather than acting solely as a data logger, DAAS provides the software infrastructure that connects measurement hardware, automation systems and engineering teams throughout the testing process.
Built for Large-Scale Test Environments
As test facilities grow, managing hundreds or even thousands of measurement channels become increasingly challenging. DAAS enables engineers to configure, monitor and control distributed ProDAQ measurement systems from a single software environment, simplifying system management while maintaining measurement integrity.
The software supports distributed architectures using standard Ethernet networks, allowing multiple instruments to operate together as a synchronised measurement system. This approach provides the flexibility to expand test systems as requirements evolve without fundamentally redesigning the overall architecture.
For aerospace and defence organisations operating large qualification facilities or long-duration test programmes, this scalability helps protect investment while reducing system complexity.
Integrating Measurement with Industrial Automation
One of DAAS’s key capabilities is its ability to bridge high-precision measurement systems with industrial automation environments.
The EtherCAT DAAS Service enables measurement data acquired by ProDAQ instruments to be transferred directly into EtherCAT-based control systems with low processing latency. This allows engineers to combine precision data acquisition with real-time automation, making the software suitable for applications where measurement and control must operate together as part of a single test system. The service supports up to 255 measurement channels, automatic engineering-unit (EU) conversion and automatic reinitialisation when channel configurations change, helping to simplify integration and reduce manual configuration effort.
By separating the measurement hardware from the automation layer, DAAS gives engineers greater flexibility when designing complex test environments.
Open Architecture for Easy Integration
Modern test facilities rarely rely on a single supplier. DAAS has therefore been designed around an open architecture that integrates with existing software and automation environments.
Communication over standard TCP/IP allows the software to operate across distributed systems, while SCPI commands and C/C++ drivers enable integration into custom applications and automated test sequences. The software can operate on the same machine as the measurement system or communicate across a network, providing flexibility for both laboratory installations and larger distributed facilities.
This open approach helps organisations preserve existing software investments while incorporating Bustec instrumentation into established workflows.
Designed for Reliable Operation
Mission-critical testing demands dependable software as well as dependable hardware. DAAS incorporates features that support reliable long-duration operation, including configurable service behaviour, automatic channel mapping, engineering-unit conversion and configurable responses to acquisition or communication events. Engineers can tailor software behaviour to suit the requirements of individual test programmes, improving resilience and reducing manual intervention during testing.
The software also provides real-time system monitoring, helping users quickly identify the operational status of connected instruments and acquisition processes throughout a test.
Supporting the Complete Test Lifecycle
From initial system configuration through acquisition, monitoring and analysis, DAAS is designed to support every stage of the measurement process.
Working alongside Bustec’s LXI, VXI, PXIe and signal conditioning products, the software provides a unified environment for configuring hardware, visualising live measurements and managing data generated during complex engineering programmes.
As aerospace and defence systems continue to increase in complexity, software plays an increasingly important role in ensuring that measurement systems remain accurate, scalable and easy to manage. Bustec’s Data Acquisition and Analysis Software provides the foundation that enables engineers to move beyond simple data collection and build integrated, high-performance test systems for today’s most demanding applications.
