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One
of EML's products is a portable Modular Weather Station, a multi-channel
analytical recording system for the Environmental and Weather
Industries. It records rainfall, wind speed and direction, radiation,
temperature and humidity.
Need
for the New Product Development
The
original EML Weather Station relied on EML's data logging product
"Winlog" to measure and record data. Winlog had a
number of limitations which were severely affecting its sales.
It had insufficient sensor channels to satisfy customers' requirements,
and lacked other desirable features offered by its competitors.
It also contained obsolete components and was expensive to manufacture.
Although
EML had strong skills in sensor technology and analogue electronics,
it lacked in house capability in support microcontroller circuit
design and programming, having subcontracted out the Winlog
Support Microcontroller development. EML recognised that it
would require training and assistance to replace the Winlog
product.
Support
from EDSC
The
Electronics Design Support Centre at Northumbria University
acted as advisors to EML during the design and development of
the replacement product.
EML
were able to use the resources of the Support Centre to evaluate
development tools, and to make the best selection without financial
risk. The Support Centre delivered a comprehensive package of
management training, development assistance and technology transfer
to ensure that EML could continue to operate independently in
the future.
The
New Generation Product
It
was vital to choose the correct technology for the new generation
product, named "DataTrek", to give it the broadest
range of capabilities together with low manufacturing costs
and a long product lifetime. A new microcontroller was chosen
which integrated many of the required functions into a single
chip, increasing the product's flexibility while reducing the
component count.
Additional features and benefits were incorporated into DataTrek
to increase its functionality and competitiveness:
- Additional
analogue and digital input channels
- Increased
memory capacity
- Digital
outputs for alarms and to control external equipment
- High-speed
serial communications
- Optional
modem for remote configuration and data reading
- Optional
solar panel battery charging for longer unattended operation
- Reduced
size, allowing larger batteries to be used
- Lower
power consumption
- Windows-based
configuration and data reading utility software
The
new DataTrek data logger comprised only two circuit boards compared
to the three of the Winlog logger. By thoughtful design to ensure
ease of manufacture and test, a 22% reduction in build cost
was achieved.
The
EML portable, modular weather station data logger
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Best
Practice Design
The
use of Best Practice methodologies during the design process
reduced the cost and timescale of the development, and will
continue to bring benefits throughout the life of the product:
- The
initial technical and commercial feasibility studies gave
confidence that a profitable market exists for the product
- The
thorough specification and top-down design process ensures
that the product is fit for its purpose
- Built-in
product self-test and auto-calibration reduces build costs
- The
circuit boards were designed for ease of manufacture and test
- The
modular design provided scalability and ease of adaptation
- The
code is re-usable for future enhancements and new products
Technology
Transfer
The
design assistance delivered by the Support Centre was supplemented
by a comprehensive technology transfer programme to allow
EML complete independence in their future electronic designs.
Training courses and hands-on assistance were given in:
- Best
Practice Design
- Project
Planning
- Design
of Support Microelectronics hardware
- Coding
in 'C' for embedded systems
- PCB
CAD
- Serial
communications
EML
now has the confidence, knowledge and skills to develop new
products based on the DataTrek technology.
Benefits to Environmental Measurements Ltd
Acquiring
the capability to design its own data logging equipment gives
EML a significant advantage over their competition, who mostly
rely upon third-party hardware. EML expect to increase its
weather station market share significantly, and to move into
new environmental monitoring markets.
The
production cost of the logger has been reduced by 22% due
to lower component, build and test costs, and manufacturing
time has been reduced by 50%. Unit sales are expected to increase
4-fold, and the development costs should be recovered within
two years.
Most importantly, EML has gained additional knowledge and
expertise to compete successfully in a world-wide market for
their products.
For
further information, visit: www.emltd.net
The
original Winlog data logger weather station.
The
new "DataTrek" logger, complete with modem expansion
board.
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