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CyRIC’s Research and Innovation Use Cases using NI Platforms

Dr. Panayiotis PhilimisCEO

CyRIC, Cyprus Research & Innovation Center

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RampCo: Accessibility without limits

• FP7-SME project, funded under FP7

programme

• CyRIC is coordinating the project, which

includes 9 additional partners from Italy,

Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and

UK

Main objective is the design and development of an Innovative

Portable Traction Ramp for Automatic Ascending and

Descending of Wheelchair Users

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RampCo: Brief Description

▪ RampCo allows wheelchair users to automatically ascend and descend stairs without any

assistance. It enables easy assembly and disassembly, folding and transferring to other sites.

▪ This disruptive technology provides universal accessibility for wheelchair users in various kinds of

staircases as well as elevated surfaces without stairs.

▪ This is the first technological step in history of advancement of accessibility providing every

building owner the opportunity to welcome wheelchair users in their premises without any

interventions in their buildings.

▪ It can be operated on web platform and mobile application. By using geolocalization data it notifies

the user of the exact location of the system and has the ability to pre-book RampCo online.

▪ It allows the owner to get remote access to the control system of RampCo for monitoring and

controlling purposes, by providing an instant remote access in order to solve functional problems that

might occur.

▪ NI products are used for the control system, while the control program was created using the NI

LabVIEW.

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RampCo: Design

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RampCo: Prototyping

Track belt drive system

Control system

Deployable support surface

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RampCo: Control system

The RampCo control system is responsible for:

▪ Controlling the cart operation (ascending,

descending, user inputs)

▪ Ensuring that all operations are conducted in safety

(safety sensors and routines)

▪ Communicating with the user (on-board control panel,

remote control, send information regarding operation

and faults to be used in the Mobile Application)

▪ Communicating with the installer (building operator)

to monitor the RampCo status and receive

notifications whenever a problem appears.

Control System Architecture

(Controller-Sensors-Actuators)

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RampCo: Use of NI products in RampCoThe control system of RampCo includes the NI myRIO controller and all necessary sensors for handling

the complete operation. It is responsible for controlling all system motors and thus for interfacing with them

through the dedicated motor drivers. The control system continuously monitors the user input (up/down

buttons, emergency button, etc.) before initiating the corresponding control procedures.

The control program was created using the NI LabVIEW software.

The prototype control system ensures that all operations are conducted in safety (safety sensors and

routines). The control system continuously monitors the user input (up/down buttons, emergency button,

etc.) before initiating the corresponding control procedures. During operation, it constantly receives input

from the sensors (limit switches, inclinometer, etc.) and issues appropriate commands to the actuators

(traction motors, balancing motors, flap motors). At the same time it collects all information required for the

web and mobile applications.NI myRIO ports

10 (8 single ended 0-5V and 2 differential ±10V)

Aggregate sample rate 500kS/s

Resolution 12 bits

6 (4 single ended 0-5V and 2 differential ±10V)

Aggregate maximum update rates 345 kS/s for the 4 single ended and

345 kS/s for the 2 differential

Resolution 12 bits

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5 V compatible LVTTL input; 3.3 V LVTTL output

Stereo (can be used for safety signals and instructions)

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RampCo: Control System Design - Schematics

Signals are directed to NI-myRIOmicrocontroller either directly or through an interface circuit

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RampCo: NI LabVIEW

▪ The graphical programming syntax of LabVIEW was particularly efficient in creating the control

program.

▪ For the specifics of the logic decisions and sequence of actions, the various blocks available in

LabVIEW (Numeric, Boolean, Timing, etc.) were placed and graphically interconnected in the VI.

▪ The control program is deployed on the myRIO controller to be used as the start-up application so that

it runs automatically when the controller is powered-on.

▪ The control system continuously monitors the user input (up/down buttons, emergency button, etc.)

before initiating the corresponding control procedures.

▪ During operation of the system it constantly

receives input from the sensors (limit

switches, inclinometer, etc.) and issues

appropriate commands to the actuators

(traction motors, balancing motors, flap

motors).

▪ Information required for the online service

(alarms, report data) is also collected.

Overview of the Program Structure

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RampCo: Testing & validation of control system

▪ Power supply. The main power supply and operation of the safety buttons was first tested

▪ Electronic boards to confirm their operation (traction motors, balancing motors, flap motors, sensor

measurements, etc.)

▪ Kinematic tests to confirm that cables were appropriately attached to the system without

interferences with the moving parts.

▪ Control inputs/outputs and sensors were tested using the control software (LabView).

▪ Individual modules of the control program were tested on the integrated system, including traction

control and balancing control.

▪ Overall control system testing (hardware and software) to confirm that the system appropriately

responds to the user input (remote control buttons and operation buttons) and sensory input. The

system was found to reliably and safely perform the required sequences of actions (ascending,

descending, etc.)

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Why NI in RampCo

▪ Relatively compact size, suitable for our application.

▪ Flexibility in the design. Being RampCo a research project, requirements

and approach changes through the development and testing phases. NI

products offer maximum flexibility for quick reconfiguration of the system. This

is essential, especially for the early prototypes of the traction and balance

systems of RampCo.

▪ Support. Important to be able get support from NI and the NI Community.

▪ Future product development. Possibility to use the developed prototype as a

basis for the design of an industrial product using other NI platforms.

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Using NI products for pervasive drinking water quality analysis

WaterSpy

High sensitivity, portable photonic device for pervasive water quality analysis

• Research and Innovation project, funded under EU’s

H2020 programme

• CyRIC is coordinating the project, which includes 8

additional partners from Italy, Greece, Poland,

Switzerland, Austria and Germany

• Started on November 2016, with a duration of 3 years

Main objective is to develop a high accuracy, portable, mid-IR photonics-based

water quality analysis device, suitable for online, field measurements

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Pervasive and on-line water quality monitoring data is critical for detecting environmental

pollution and reacting in the best possible way to avoid human health hazards. Nevertheless:

• It’s difficult to gather pervasive and on-line water quality monitoring data, for most

contaminants mentioned in EU Directives on water quality

• The concentration of contaminants is very low and thus hard to detect

• Mid-IR absorption spectroscopy is powerful tool that could assist in the development of

online instruments for water quality measurements. Unfortunately, water itself is a very

strong absorber of infrared light and special techniques have to be applied

• Water utilities, public authorities and regulators rely heavily on frequent sampling and

laboratory analysis. This is time-consuming and expensive

The Challenges

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WaterSpy approach and objectives• Develop compact photonics technology, capable of identifying selected heterotrophic

bacterial cells in the water. Specificity and sensitivity levels will respect regulatory

requirements

• Develop water quality analysis photonics technology suitable for inline field

measurements operating in the mid-infrared region (6-10 μm)

• The solution is based on the combined use of advanced Quantum Cascade Lasers

employing the Vernier effect and novel, fibre-coupled, fast and sensitive Higher

Operation Temperature (HOT) photodetectors

AT probe and custom-built

ultrasound pre-concentration accessoryPhotodetectors

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WaterSpy approach and objectives

• Targeted analytes will be specific heterotrophic bacterial cells. Several novel

techniques are employed for increasing Signal-to-Noise Ratio

• The device will require a couple of hours for a full sample analysis. Current

techniques require up to 3 days in some cases

• The WaterSpy technology will be integrated, for validation purposes, to a

water quality monitoring platform, in the form of a portable device add-on

Salmonella P. aeruginosa E. coli

The TRITON platform

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Use of NI products in WaterSpy

• A NI solution has been adopted for the development of the WaterSpy device’s main processing unit.

• The main processing unit is responsible for:

Communicating with the TRITON platform

Controlling the QC Lasers and modulating them

Acquiring data from the system’s photodetector

Monitoring the operation of the secondary processors responsible for sample pre-

concentration, sample preparation and microfluidics

• Key requirements:

At least 24-bit, 20kHz ADC for acquiring photodetector data

At least 14-bit AO channels with low settling time (<10μs) for the lasers

Several additional GPIOs

Flexibility for quick modification purposes

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Use of NI products in WaterSpy• Solution adopted for first prototype design: CompactRIO

• Controller: cRIO-9038 (1.33GHz Dual Core, 2GB RAM, 8GB storage, 8-slots)

• AI: NI-9238 (50KS/s per channel, 24bit, ±10V, 4 channels) for the photodetector

• AO: NI-9263 (100kS/s per channel simultaneous,16bit, ±10V, 4 channels, 10μs settling time) for the

lasers modulation

• AI: NI-9207 (500S/s, 24bit, ±10V, 16 channels) for less demanding analog signals acquisition (such as

temperature reading)

• AO: NI-9264 (25kS/s/channel, 16bits, ±10V, 16 channels) for less demanding tasks (such as

temperature setpoint)

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Use of NI products in WaterSpy

• DIO: NI-9403 (32 DIO channels, 5V) for various purposes

• Comms: NI-9870 (4-Port, RS232 Serial Interface) for communication with various sub-

modules and the TRITON device

Some of the selected modules

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Why NI in WaterSpy?

• High resolution and sampling rate for the AI. This is needed for the photodetectors

which will be required to record minimum changes in analog signals that rapidly change.

• High resolution, fast AO. Needed for lasers modulation.

• Relatively compact size, suitable for our application.

• Flexibility in the design. Being WaterSpy a research project, requirements and approach

might change. NI products offer maximum flexibility for quick reconfiguration of the system.

This is essential, especially for early prototypes.

• Support. Important to be able get support from NI and the NI Community.

• Future product development. Possibility to use the developed prototype as a basis for

the design of an industrial product using other NI platforms.

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Thank you for your

attention

CyRICThe Cyprus Business Innovation Center