Data Acquisition and Processing

Specific basic knowledge is not recommended.

The course comprises theoretical, practical, and laboratory classes, utilising a combination of different teaching methodologies to foster active, diverse, and student-centred learning. These include:

1. Theoretical Presentation and Demonstration

To introduce fundamental concepts and visualize examples;

2. Practice-Based Learning

With extensive use of LabVIEW software with practical examples;

3. Discussion and Critical Reflection

Utilising opportunities for debate, exchange of ideas, and collaborative identification of solutions in the classroom;

4. Group Work and Final Project

With laboratory activities to be carried out individually and in groups and development of project.

5. Stimulating Creativity and Innovation

With challenges to explore different approaches and generate original solutions.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Explain and apply the principles of process monitoring and control, recognising the importance of measurement systems in Mechanical Engineering.

2. Understand the importance of experimental methods in solving problems in mechanical engineering;

3. Develop applications in LabVIEW instrumentation software, specifically in data acquisition, processing, and visualisation, using virtual instrumentation. 

4. Demonstrate knowledge of configuring and evaluating data acquisition systems, including hardware, software, signal conditioning, transfer and treatment, considering performance parameters such as accuracy and speed;

5. Work collaboratively in a team, presenting results accurately, demonstrating autonomy, responsibility, and technical communication skills.

1. Introduction. Process monitoring. Control of operations and processes. Functional description of measurement systems.

2. Hardware and software configuration. Analog inputs / outputs. Digital inputs / outputs. Counters.

Applications. Signal conditioning. Digitalization. Measurement fields. Types of entries. Acquisition methods.

Acquisition speed. Accuracy. Transfer methods.

3. Introduction to LabVIEW: virtual instrumentation (VI). Conditional cycles. Graphical representations. Vectors and Matrices. Text files. Data acquisition.

4. Development of practical works regarding acquisition, processing and storage of electrical transducer signals.

NAO