Decentralised Measurement Technology in the Railway Sector

Decentralised distributed measurement technology describes systems in which measurement data is not recorded centrally but directly at the point of origin, where it is then processed and evaluated. This is made possible by the use of distributed measurement nodes that are installed in close proximity to the sensors and communicate with each other via networks.

This additional meta information is precisely assigned to the corresponding measurement channels, stored and, together with video channels, forms an integrated overall concept that brings together analogue, digital, virtual (calculated), fieldbus and multimedia data sources.

The complete data pool is then available for intelligent storage management and further analysis with imc FAMOS. This allows well-founded results to be generated, which serve as a valuable basis for decision-making for developers and test engineers – for example, for brakes, chassis or drive systems.

imc Test & Measurement has been developing and supplying distributed, decentralised measurement systems since the 1990s – not only for the railway industry, but across a wide range of sectors. With the advent of Industry 4.0, this approach has become a megatrend that is now in demand in almost all areas of manufacturing, mobility and infrastructure.

• Lower latency: Data processing takes place close to the sensor, enabling rapid responses to process changes
• Reduced cabling: The proximity of sensors and measuring nodes eliminates the need for long cable runs, reducing costs and minimising interference
• Easy expandability: Components can be flexibly combined and replaced as required, making it easy to adapt to different requirements. Robustness: Distributed systems are often designed for use in harsh environments and deliver reliable data even under difficult conditions.
• Real-time data analysis: imc systems enable immediate processing and analysis of the collected data, which supports fast decision-making

Despite its many advantages, decentralised distributed measurement technology also presents a number of challenges:

• Complexity of synchronisation:
  Precise timing between multiple measurement nodes requires special procedures, especially over long distances. imc offers various solutions for this. With a specially developed, innovative process, imc guarantees precise, sample-accurate synchronisation across all units.
  1. Synchronisation via a synchronisation cable
  2. Synchronisation via GPS
  3. Synchronisation via PTP network (Precision Time Protocol)
• Increased effort for power supply:
  Multiple decentralised modules must be reliably supplied with power, which can make planning more complex. Here, imc offers practical solutions, such as power supply directly via the communication cable – e.g. with Ethernet via Power over Ethernet (PoE).
• Costs for additional components:
  The integration of special interface and distribution modules can increase investment costs. However, the imc standard parts concept optimises system costs, resulting in an attractive price-performance ratio.

Overall, imc's decentralised distributed measurement technology offers a future-proof, flexible and efficient solution for modern measurement tasks – especially in demanding and dynamic fields of application such as the railway industry.

• imc CRONOSflex: Flexible, frameless DAQ system with distributed modular architecture. Modules can be connected via Ethernet or EtherCAT over distances of up to 100 m. Multiple units can be operated synchronously – ideal for widely spaced measurement points.
• imc ARGUSfit: Click-modular, highly flexible system with up to 1000 channels and a total sampling rate of 5 MS/s. Real-time processing takes place directly in the device. The system can be expanded as required – for example with fieldbus or UPS modules – and can be seamlessly synchronised with other systems.
• imc CANSAS & BUSDAQ: Intelligent measurement amplifiers and data loggers based on CAN bus or BUSDAQflex. Robust and decentralised, they offer up to 20 kHz sum sampling rate per node – ideal for distributed measurement tasks.

Designed for use in harsh environments: The imc PROTECT series is particularly resistant to extreme temperatures (–40°C to +85°C) and electromagnetic influences – ideal for wind turbines, rail vehicles and industrial applications in electromagnetically polluted environments.

imc telemetry solutions enable fully integrated, wireless measurements – specifically designed for use in railway and aircraft technology. Synchronous connection to existing DAQ systems is guaranteed at all times.