SAPHIR, Signal Physique et Intrumentation

User Solution

LabVIEW and NI CompactDAQ measure the risks in the mountains

The trigger avalanche Daisy Bell ® in action.

Author (s):
Philippe Berthet-Rambaud - MND Engineering

Industry (s):
Test / Instrumentation, Research, Industrial Control

Product (s):
Sound and vibration, CompactRIO, Compact Fieldpoint, PDA Module, NI CompactDAQ

Objective:
Develop a system of autonomous data acquisition, transportable in a backpack, used in severe conditions and controlled remotely via PDA, to characterize and quantify the phenomena studied in the context of mountain safety.

The solution:
Embed in a suitcase NI CompactDAQ chassis, for conditioning and digitizing the signals, controlled by a laptop. Also enable the steering of the device remotely via a PDA.

Within the group, and Snow Mountain Development, MND Engineering complements the traditional study in the world of risk and the mountain by its specific behavior of materials, dynamics of mechanical structures and civil engineering and his knowledge of natural phenomena involved (avalanches, falling blocks ...). Its positioning between operational research and brings new expertise to all professionals in the sector: developers, local authorities, owners, manufacturers, ski resorts ...

The company offers comprehensive and integrated scientific advice and support R & D for the development of all systems and structures of protection or security. It also offers its services and expertise to study and operational solutions.

Develop tools for risk analysis
To do this, MND engineering should quickly develop and implement various tools directly adapted to the specific activity and the same technical and scientific level. In particular and in the context of pattern-analysis diagnosis''proposal''structuring of most studies, it is necessary to have the best information and data sources to properly understand the phenomena involved and then provide the best solutions the problem.

To secure the Mountain
This is reflected in the structures and systems related to areas of risk and the mountain by the dynamic measurement of high frequency sampling to characterize and quantify the phenomenon under study: impact of a block rock explosion for preventing the outbreak 'avalanches, vibration of a tower ... One of the characteristics and difficulties of these measures is to reconcile duty quality, versatility and ergonomics:

• Quality to ensure the value of the results obtained and their representative, regardless of conditions outside the test should not be restrictive in relation to the problem.

• Versatility to perform different types of tests and measurements without the need of specific equipment, requiring a multiple investment and secondly, that offer opportunities limited.

• Ergonomics to adapt and be compatible with a measuring and testing situations are often difficult.

This last point is the crux of the approach taken with the SAPHIR Company, specializing in the integration of data acquisition. Indeed, there is now providing all material guarantees and opportunities related to the two preceding paragraphs. These include the data acquisition system modular NI CompactDAQ National Instruments for which preliminary tests have already been able to confirm the specifics sought in the development of Daisy Bell Helicopter ® trigger avalanches on behalf of TAS society. This equipment combined with the expertise of SAPHIR is particularly used by different academic research centers such as the Cemagref, the University of Savoie, INSA Lyon ... just offering quality and versatility compared to other central Dedicated measures too, including ground.

Means simple, robust and effective in a bag
The goal is to make the necessary developments and specifically the condition NI CompactDAQ hardware. To make it fully suitable for use by MND Engineering, the form used is a full frontal system integrating, in a bag called STELA, a PC with software and dedicated nutrition. The frontal system that will take the form of one or more housing and adapted to transport back to man (access by foot, skiing, abseiling, to use any weather including mountain and snow) will also be accompanied by two levels, developments in LabVIEW that are subject to the service provided within this framework by the SAPHIR:

• Primary level: the default level is directly accessible via commands (buttons, LED color) on the boxes to put on and off the system, have a simple control function effectively, start and stop the acquisition, start and stop recording data. This means that the system has been configured in advance before the mission on the ground (track configuration and characteristics of the acquisition).

• Secondary Level: This level provides a level of control and also on setting the field to set the sample rate and trigger conditions, and visual signals from a secure area. To remain consistent with the use of the system, this level is deported on an external wireless (PDA type) without having to open the boxes that must be preserved during any phase of mission. Acquisitions are made continuously and captures events are recorded on parametric conditions.

The bag STELA is now regularly used for all types of measures: efforts on helicopter sling, gauges on impacted structures, vibration and acceleration .... The edge ergonomic system also makes it very valuable including industrial applications or for more conventional

NI CompactRIO to CompactDAQ
This system is compatible with future developments. In particular, it is planned to enrich it with a trigger automatic backup at the capture of an "event" as well as the synchronization of several subsystems distributed.

Finally, a version of the bag STELA replace the PC board by an integrated type CompactRIO, knowing that this range of equipment or share the same modules that NI CompactDAQ.

December 2008

Author information:

Philippe Berthet-Rambaud
MND Engineering
Parc d'Activités Alpespace - 74, Magellan track
Saint Helena Lake 73800
France
Tel: +33 (0) 4 79 72 22 00
philippe.berthet-rambaud @ groupemnd.com

Company

Products

Training

Contact

User Solution