June 20, 2013. United Electronic Industries (UEI) has announced the release of an innovative Ethernet-based data acquisition (DAQ) and control platform. The DNF-4-1G FLATRACK is a highly integrated, low-profile DAQ I/O engine made to accommodate a growing need for greater system programmability, functional versatility, and scalable deployments. Developed in response to new market demands for a rack-mountable 1U chassis with high-density I/O capabilities, its low-profile (6” x 1.75” x 17.5”) footprint and user-friendly programmability set it apart from other rack-mounted systems.
According to Bob Judd, Universal Electronic Industries’ director of marketing, “The beauty of the FLATRACK is its deployment flexibility. As a 1U Power DNA (Distributed Networked Automation) system, Programmable Automation/Embedded Controller, MODBUS TCP interface or Simulink I/O platform, the FLATRACK’s versatility is unprecedented. For rapid prototyping, evaluation, and hardware-in-the-loop testing, its advanced architecture and I/O flexibility make it suitable for a variety of next-generation DAQ applications.”
The DNF-4-1G FLATRACK provides two Gigabit Ethernet (100/10 Base-T compatible) interfaces and four front-loading I/O slots. Over 50 compatible I/O boards can be installed and easily interchanged for blended I/O architectures. The FLATRACK can accommodate up to 100 analog inputs, 128 analog outputs, 192 digital I/O bits, 48 ARINC-429 channels, a MIL-STD-1553 serial bus, and 32 RS-232/422/485 ports. Users can easily design, configure, test and blend I/O channels to suit any sensor or interface requirement.
The DNF-4-1G FLATRACK features a simple, universal API-friendly layer and full compatibility with common programming languages, including VB, VB .NET, C, C#, C++, and J#. The system is compatible with popular OS distributions, including Windows, Linux, RTX, InTime, VxWorks, and QNX, as well as engineering packages such as MATLAB, LabVIEW, DASYLab, OPC, and ActiveX. The FLATRACK is the host to dual-channel NICs, a PowerPC CPU, two USB 2.0 controller/slave ports, timing/trigger interface circuitry, configuration ports, power supply and operational software.
Backed by a 10-year availability guarantee, the FLATRACK delivers 130,000 hour MTBF, vibration tested to 3 g, and shock tested to 50 g—optimized for rugged industrial and military environments and temperatures ranging from -40°C to +70°C. Consuming less than 8 W per chassis (not including I/O), AC and DC powered versions of the FLATRACK require either a universal 9 to 36 volt DC power source or 100 to 240 VAC at 50 to 60 Hz. Pricing starts at $2,700 with delivery from stock commencing in July.