A New Test Cell Computer for Exhaust and Evaporative Emission Testing

For the increased requirements on computer automatization and data evaluation in the field of emission testing, new programming / computer - technologies are required. To fulfill the requirements of the programmer and the user of the software, Windows NT with object oriented programming was found to provide the best possibilities to control such highly automated, complex systems. Under these directions the new Emission Test Cell Computer (short ETCC) was developed with use of the latest software and hardware technology. The Test Cell Computer provides a control system with integrated storing and paperless documentation of all relevant test data as well as protocols with all today's possibilities to create printouts. Also the managing work necessary for multiple tests running in parallel at the same time in different rooms with progress monitoring is included.

The ETCC can easily be integrated into network environments and connected e.g. to existing networks. Data evaluation stations for research and development work can operate on the same network. With the integrated client/server-database, all evaluation stations have access to available data even with multiple test cell computers connected in the network.

This was realized by using new technologies for the man machine interface, based on the well known Windows operating interface.