There are numerous portable data acquisition systems available on the market today, and each has its own set of features that make some units more suitable than others for certain applications. Portable data acquisition systems face unique requirements given that they are used in harsh environments or on a moving platform such as automobiles, airplanes, etc.

Ideal portable data acquisition systems are compact, lightweight units that run off of either a self-contained battery or a single DC power source and require no other connection to function except the connection to the sensors under monitor. In remote areas, a user interface and means of communication with the device become important.

Signal conditioning, such as gain and filtering, and high-capacity nonvolatile data storage are other important considerations.

Whether we realize it or not, portable data acquisition systems are used to acquire data and perform testing of everyday utilities that we take for granted as being safe and reliable — i.e. automobiles, airplanes, bridges, tunnels, ships, etc. These powerful, yet compact data acquisition devices play an important role in the verification testing and monitoring of these critical systems, and selecting the right one for a given application requires careful consideration.

This article was written by Nicole Faubert, marketing manager for GaGe/KineticSystems (Lockport, IL). For more information, contact Ms. Faubert at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit http://info.hotims.com/10981-401.