Engineering Software Case Studies

 Remote monitoring and site server software

Our customer was developing Green Energy systems to be installed at various, sometimes remote, locations around the country. Each bank of energy producers was connected to a system controller and there could be a number of system controllers at any one site. PTP developed an application which encompassed the following:

  1. standard Microsoft Windows PC application to enable connection to a system controller via a USB port to carry out system testing, operating parameter setup, control and monitoring.
  2. design and development of a Site Server platform. This is a separate computing element that connects to some or all of the system controllers at a particular site via an RS-485 multi-drop serial link. The Site Server is responsible for monitoring the state of and logging data from all of the connected system controllers and energy producers. It is both remotely and locally accessible via a secure mechanism to upload logged data. It is also capable of identifying alarm situations and notifying a remote party when an alarm condition exists.
  3. standard Microsoft Windows PC application to connect to a remote Site Server. This provides simple facilities for the graphical display of uploaded data and storage of uploaded data in an industry-standard format for subsequent analysis by third party data packages (e.g. Microsoft Excel). The application can additionally monitor live data provided by the Site Server.
  4. formal training on the installation, use and structure of the software applications

 Windows Mobile PDA development for instrument control

An established pharmaceutical instrument manufacturer was looking to develop a portable, hand-held controller for their multi-cell reaction vessel. PTP were contracted to develop a PDA-based application which could remotely configure, control and log data from the reaction vessel. The key features of the development included:

  • analysis of end customers' requirements
  • intuitive User Interface design
  • low level communication with the reaction vessel using customer bespoke protocol
  • application development for multi-functional control (heat, cool, hold, stir, sample, dilute etc)
  • data logging, Real Time graphical presentation and trend analysis
  • recipe creation "wizard"
  • event scheduling and conflict handling
  • simulation software to allow testing and trouble-shooting in the absence of hardware (which was still in development)

The development was carried out in Microsoft Visual Studio with the PDA being connected to the reaction vessel via a Compact Flash-to-Ethernet converter.

 Asset tracking software

A company with offices throughout the UK asked PTP to develop an asset tracking database to replace their old and temperamental system which was based around an Excel spreadsheet. The database was to help them manage a number of items of test and measurement equipment for use out in the field. The equipment is generally held in a number of different stores and the system needed to allow staff to book items out of one store and return them to another. The database also needed to manage "reservations" for particular projects as well as recording calibration data and physical condition of the equipment. This allows administrators to schedule regular re-calibrations and repairs as required.
From a technical perspective, the database needed to be available, concurrently, to any of the company's staff on its intranet. Issues and potential conflicts needed to be flagged up to individual users and Administrators at the log-on stage and be subsequently available via a manual query function. The database also needed to be robust enough to deal with the loss of connection to the company network.

 Software upgrade for Fluke

When Fluke Precision Instruments wanted to upgrade the software component of their 7000 Series Automated Voltage Measurement System, they turned to Product Technology Partners for help.
The instrument uses a LabWindows/CVI software application for the configuration of and download to the 7000S Reference Modules with a bespoke Excel add-in that allows the user to view and manage the data collected. Fluke needed the software to be compiled under the latest version of CVI and they had a number of support issues with the newer versions of Excel. They were also looking for advice on how to connect the instrument to a PC via USB.
The combination of our extensive experience in LabWindows/CVI programming and the robust nature of the development platform from National Instruments ensured that the upgrading was achieved in a cost effective and timely manner. We were then able to address the support issues in Excel and make recommendations for the USB connectivity.
A full report was generated which detailed all the code changes carried out and listed the alternative ways for the equipment to be connected by USB. This was then followed by a site visit to Norwich to hand over the completed software and ensure that all issues had been satisfactorily addressed

 Software module development

A major mobile telephone company required signal processing software for the batch analysis of audio data acquired on field trials. We designed and implemented a versatile and extensible system of "plug-in" software modules to provide our client with their initial requirement and to allow them to add extra functionality to the system as required in the future.

More case studies to be added soon!