Testing in the field

Hardened data-acquisition modules benefit companies conducting off-highway testing in harsh environments.

Builders of off-highway vehicles and vehicle transmissions are saving field-testing time and money-and acquiring better data-with a new breed of hardened, distributed onboard testing module. Hardened to IP 65 standards, the module fits anywhere on the vehicle, withstands the elements, and samples data at 19.2 kHz. Early users are saving 30-60% in data-acquisition (DAQ) setup and knockdown time, simplifying instrument placement, and eliminating the bulk and expense of protective enclosures for onboard analyzers.

In its northern France field-testing site for agricultural equipment, John Deere straps the test modules on the tools of its tractors and combines. The modules face the same grit, water, heat, cold, bumps, agricultural chemicals, and other abuse as the tools themselves. Shock and vibration are especially severe as the machines negotiate rough terrain and sudden drops from sheer ledges. In some cases, Deere test engineers mount the modules next to the hydraulic system, exposing them to the heat and oil leakage typical of such areas. Yet the engineers get the data they need while eliminating re-runs due to lost data, a problem with their previous wireless transmission from onboard sensors to a remote console in a protected enclosure. The new arrangement saves tens of thousands of dollars per test on average.