Portable DAQ peeks inside tornadoes

Aug. 25, 2011
Twistex researchers use National Instruments hardware to sample and store data on tornados

Resources: National Instruments

A small, portable data-acquisition device is a key tool for a team of meteorological scientists gathering data on tornados for the past 10 years. They have devised a 600-lb probe that they place in the path of oncoming tornados to record measurements of temperature, humidity, pressure, sound, and wind. The portable DAQ consists of a 3110 industrial controller, CompactDAQ, DIAdem analysis software, and Lab- View system-design software, all from National Instruments, Austin. It replaces standalone data loggers that were plagued by limits on the sample rate and the number of data channels it could handle. The team also had difficulty comparing and correlating data from the old loggers. The portable data-acquisition device, however, can store large data sets and display the data in a usable way. The new setup easily expands to handle new sensors in the future.

© 2011 Penton Media, Inc.

Sponsored Recommendations

NEW Low Profile, Ultra Compact Power Supplies

March 13, 2024
Learn more HERE about Altech's Power supplies!

Altech's Liquid Tight Strain Relifs Catalog

March 13, 2024
With experienced Product Engineers and Customer Service personnel, Altech provides solutions to your most pressing application challenges. All with one thought in mind - to ensure...

Industrial Straight-Through Cable Gland

March 13, 2024
Learn more about Altech's cable glands and all they have to offer for your needs!

All-In-One DC-UPS Power Solutions

March 13, 2024
Introducing the All-In-One DC-UPS, a versatile solution combining multiple functionalities in a single device. Serving as a power supply, battery charger, battery care module,...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!