This article originally appeared in the June’25 magazine issue of Electronic Specifier Design – see ES’s Magazine Archives for more featured publications.
The ongoing technology developments in the electric vehicle (EV), renewable energy, and industrial sectors are placing great pressure on engineers. Especially during evaluation and testing, many measurements must be taken and patterns analysed. There is a growing need to measure multiple parameters, so engineers can perform complete system analysis. That information then must be organised and streamlined in the most efficient manner, to better control the systems and improve their capabilities. This calls for the right tools.
Yokogawa’s newly launched SL2000 High-Speed Data Acquisition Unit brings a wide range of data logging capabilities to evaluation and test, including high-speed sampling and analysis. The instrument analyses the finest waveform details whilst observing multi-channel measurements over long periods of time. There is a dual capture function that allows it to sample at the highest rate (200MS/s) yet store this information at a lower sample rate for long term recordings. When an event occurs, it will capture the sample at the high sample speed for a short period of time to allow its detailed analysis, yet still provide observation of long term trends.
The SL2000 can be synchronised with other equipment, such as the power analyser, oscilloscope, and data acquisition recorder, to provide a multifaceted, comprehensive solution for high-precision mechatronics and electric power markets. For example, in the development of motors for industrial and EV systems, it is necessary to measure parameters like temperature and vibration in addition to voltage and current, to assess power consumption and efficiency. The fast sample speed of the SL2000 instrument allows the evaluation of output signals from the inverter and to log data sent over communication buses such as CAN, CAN FD, LIN, and SENT.
“With the SL2000 instrument being the latest addition to the product family, Yokogawa provides a total solution for the high-precision mechatronics and electric power markets that is contributing to the advancement and development of new technologies and applications. We provide measurement solutions that no other company currently offers,” said Michael Rietvelt, Product Manager, Europe, Yokogawa Test & Measurement.
In the aerospace industry, the SL2000 can solve measurement challenges in electric propulsion systems, where the signals driving and controlling the electric motor can be measured and correlated to its mechanical behaviour. This way motors, rotors, actuators, and other components can be thoroughly assessed for performance and efficiency. By measuring electrical signals, but also vibration and strain of the mechanical components, the SL2000 helps comprehensively evaluate on-board systems, whether part of the flight deck, cabin, or galley.
Another good example of the capabilities of the SL2000 instrument is in the evaluation of EV components. A durability test takes a long time to perform and requires a highly reliable measurement instrument, which nowadays also requires high sampling rates.
The SL2000 High-Speed Data Acquisition instrument has a raft of capabilities required by sectors such as EV development, transportation (automotive, railways), autonomous driving, renewable energy and power, and advanced industrial applications. The instrument has eight available slots (with up to 32 channels), for which over 20 types of input modules are available to enable measurements of electrical signals, mechanical performance parameters indicated by sensors, and decoded vehicle serial bus signals. To increase the number of measurement channels, up to five SL2000 and DL950 units can be synchronised.
The SL2000 is a PC controlled system. It has DAQ software tools provided with it, required for the evaluation and testing stages. A single license of the IS8000 control software comes with the unit for its control and continuous data acquisition. In addition, programming tools are provided to integrate the IS8000 in customer’s own control systems. Find out more at: https://tmi.yokogawa.com/eu/
