Custom DAQ System
Discover how our embedded FPGA-based DAQ architecture replaced costly VME crates while improving reliability and control.
CHALLENGE
A national laboratory relied on commercial VME crates costing $10K–$15K to read sensor data. Budget constraints demanded a cheaper alternative. The lab needed a data‑acquisition system that could configure and control sensors, send data to a datacenter and maintain reliability without the expensive crates.
SOLUTION
We proposed combining an embedded web server with an FPGA, then led the hardware and software design. Using HTML, JavaScript, AJAX and C device drivers, we created a web interface for configuration, while VHDL controlled the circuitry.
Impact
The embedded system outperformed the VME crates and dramatically cut costs. The architecture became a blueprint for future experiments.
