Data Acquisition Systems
Data acquisition systems bridge the analog world of physical phenomena with the digital domain of processing, storage, and analysis. These systems capture real-world signals such as temperature, pressure, voltage, and vibration, converting them into digital data that computers can process. From simple single-channel measurements to complex multi-channel instrumentation, data acquisition forms the foundation of modern measurement, testing, and control applications.
The design of effective data acquisition systems requires balancing numerous factors including signal bandwidth, resolution, accuracy, channel count, and throughput. Understanding the complete signal chain from analog input conditioning through digitization to digital processing enables engineers to specify, configure, and optimize systems for their specific measurement requirements.