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Wireless Telemetry Systems 101

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A wireless telemetry system enables the remote measurement and transmission of data from one location to another without the need for physical wired connections.  As technology continues to advance, wireless telemetry systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated, reliable, and secure, enabling them to be applied in a wide range of industries and use cases for test and measurement applications.

Interface offers a wide range of wireless telemetry products. Components in wireless telemetry systems typically include sensors, transducers, instrumentation, communication modules, transmitters, displays and printers.

The sensors are used to measure tension, compression, weight, torque, or any other measurable quantity. Interface utilizes proprietary strain gage sensor technologies. Transducers convert the analog signals from sensors into digital data that can be processed and transmitted to instrumentation.

Load cells are commonly used with wireless telemetry systems to measure and transmit data related to the force or weight applied to an object. The load cell converts the force exerted on it into an electrical signal, which can then be wirelessly transmitted to a remote monitoring system.

The most popular Interface wireless load cells are our WTS 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile® Wireless Load Cell, WTSTL Wireless Tension Link Load Cell, WTSLP Wireless Stainless Steel Load Pin and WTSSHK-D Wireless Crosby™ Load Shackle. Interface works with our customers to develop engineered-to-order wireless solutions by request.

The analog output from the load cell may require signal conditioning to ensure accuracy and compatibility with the wireless telemetry system. Signal conditioning can also be required for amplification, filtering, and analog-to-digital conversion to convert the analog signal into a digital format.

Wireless communications modules are responsible for transmitting the data over wireless channels. It can use various communication technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth depending on the application’s requirements. The transmitter is responsible for wirelessly communicating the load data to the receiving end of the telemetry system.

There are various options for data collection. Data acquisition instrumentation is preferred in force measurement applications for the purposes of collecting vast amounts of the data from sensors and transducers and preparing it for transmission.

At the receiving end of the telemetry system, another wireless communication module receives the data from the load cell’s transmitter. Once the data is processed, it can be analyzed, logged, and displayed on a user interface, such as a computer dashboard or a mobile app. This allows operators, engineers, or users to monitor the load values in real-time and make informed decisions based on the data

Interface Wireless Telemetry System (WTS) Solutions

The Interface Wireless Telemetry System (WTS) offers flexibility by eliminating physical connections, making it easier to deploy sensors in remote or challenging environments. Wireless telemetry systems offer more flexibility in sensor placement and system configuration.

The absence of physical wires allows for easier repositioning or adding new sensors without significant infrastructure changes. This setup is particularly useful in scenarios where it is challenging or impractical to use wired connections, such as in large-scale industrial applications or when monitoring moving or rotating machinery.

Wireless Telemetry System Components

Wireless Transducers

Wireless Transmitters

Wireless Receivers

Wireless Output Modules

Wireless Displays and Instrumentation

This is a list of what types of products are available. The Interface WTS offering continues to grow with added products to the line. Check out the Wireless Modular System Overview for more system details.

Wireless Telemetry System Benefits

The Interface WTS is a wireless telemetry system that transmits high-quality data to single and multiple devices. It offers a wide variety of benefits, including:

  • High accuracy: The WTS offers measurement accuracy of ±0.02% of full scale, ensuring that you get accurate readings from your sensors.
  • High speed: It is a high-speed system that can transmit data at up to 1000Hz.
  • High resolution: The WTS has a resolution of 10,000 counts, which means that you can measure even slight changes in force.
  • Multiple configuration options: The WTS can be configured to meet a wide variety of needs. You can choose from a variety of transmitters, output modules, receivers, antennas, and displays.
  • Easy to use: It is a modular system that can be easily expanded to meet the needs of your application. It is supported by our powerful WTS Toolkit configuration software that makes it easy to set up and use.
  • IP-rated enclosures: The WTS transmitters and receivers are available in two different sized enclosures that are rated to IP67, making them dustproof and waterproof.

A major benefit of wireless telemetry systems is the ability to adapt and expand by adding additional sensors or devices to system, without the constraints of wireless and cables. They are easy to integrate, and installation is fast for immediate benefits.

Wireless telemetry seamlessly integrates with the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based platforms, enabling centralized data storage, analysis, and easy access from multiple devices.

Read: Interface Wireless Telemetry System Review

Applications Using Interface Wireless Telemetry System Solutions

Aerospace: Wireless options are preferred for large projects like require careful movement and testing of aircraft, components and systems. Providing flexibility in real-time data without the cable is a huge benefit. See these WTS solutions for Aircraft Engine Hoist and Airplane Jacking System

Industrial Automation: Load cells with wireless telemetry are commonly used in industrial environments for weighing large objects, such as in material handling, manufacturing, and logistics. Check out IoT Lifting Heavy Objects.

Medical and Healthcare: Wireless medical telemetry systems are used for patient monitoring, such as in wearable health devices. In medical settings, wireless load cells are used in patient lifts and hospital beds to monitor patient weight and movement. Learn more in our Patient Hoyer Lift application.

Agriculture: The agriculture industry uses WTS for monitoring crop management programs and measuring the weight of produce, animal feed, or livestock. Check out this use case: WTS Equine Bridle Tension System App Note.

Energy: The energy industry utilizes wireless load cells and telemetry products for remote monitoring of oil wells, pipelines, and storage facilities. Check out Tank Weighing and Center of Gravity

Infrastructure: Civil engineers use WTS for assessing the health and integrity of structures like bridges and dams. Monitoring loads on structures like bridges and cranes to ensure safety and structural integrity. Check out Road Bridge Lift Monitoring.

Manufacturing: There are many examples of manufacturing WTS use cases. Wireless load cells are being used to monitor the weight of products as they move through the production line. This information can be used to ensure that products are meeting quality standards, and to identify any potential problems early on by fully utilizing the wireless telemetry capabilities.

Construction: In the construction industry, wireless load cells and telemetry systems monitor the load on beams and columns during construction to ensure that structures are safe and stable, and to detect any potential problems before they cause an accident. Check out Jib Crane Tension Monitoring.

Transportation: In the transportation industry, wireless load cells are being used to monitor the weight of cargo on trucks and trains to ensure that loads are not overloaded, and to comply with regulations. Read IoT Waste Management Container Weighing.

Automotive: The industry utilizes a number of machines and systems to test components used in the making of automobiles. Read how WTS is used in this brake testing application: WTS Brake Pedal Force Testing.

Entertainment: Protecting the artists, equipment and attendees is top of mind for all venues. Wireless systems are used to monitor environmental conditions, rigging, display mounts and more. Read Multi Stage Load Monitoring.

Integrating load cells with wireless telemetry systems provides a convenient and efficient way to monitor force or weight data remotely, allowing for real-time data analysis and enhancing the automation and safety of various processes.

If you are looking for a reliable and accurate wireless telemetry system, the Interface WTS is a great option. It is a powerful and versatile system that can be used in a wide variety of applications. and industry use cases.

The Future of Force Measurement

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In this post, Joel Strom, CEO at Interface, shared his vision for the company and force measurement predictions for 2020 and beyond. 

Engineering and manufacturing are continuously changing to keep up with the pace of fast-evolving technology. It feels like every time one of our customers releases a game-changing new product; they immediately go back to the drawing board to work on its next evolution. To enable our customers to meet the speed of innovation and compete in the expanding sensor marketplace, Interface must follow suit. That also means we are constantly looking at ways to improve the ingenuity and capability of our vast array of products and solutions.

Looking ahead to 2020 and the next five years, here are our predictions for the future of force measurement and how Interface is positioning ourselves as leaders in our industry.

Innovating for the Digital Age

For much of Interface’s 50-year history, we have developed analog load cells. This was always the way a load cell worked. In recent years, we have put a heavy focus on innovation and transforming our company for the digital age. The sensors we are building now allow our customers to transmit data wirelessly through WIFI and Bluetooth® technology. These products help to connect everything through the internet of things (IoT), giving our customers more accessibility in the way they collect and measure force data.

We are deliberately focusing on ways to provide our customers with more value from our entire suite of force measurement products, custom solutions, and services. Our goal is to connect everything we design, build and create ensuring the data our products gather can help make better decisions and automate processes greater efficiency and usability for our valued customers. Through the age of digital transformation, Interface is a partner to our customers in helping them do big things in the world.

Pushing the Limits in Force Measurement Technology

One of the biggest trends in force measurement is the demand for all-in-one tools and systems that provide more data points from a single product. Customers want their load cell and sensor technology to measure a combination of force, torque, vibration, position, speed and more.

We are addressing these requirements by investing in the next generation of our core products to improve the value to customers. As the most accurate and reliable load cell manufacturer, we want to push the limits on the accuracy, improve the temperature ranges of our products, and expand application uses and grow capacities. Using our ingenuity and industry experience, we also want to add more capability to our core products. Digitizing existing product lines is one way we are doing, as well as adding more sensors that can collect a wider range of data.

Exploring New Industries and Advanced Technology

One of the most exciting things about working in the force measurement industry is the fact that we are on the ground floor in developing new and innovative hardware. As we enter a new decade, we see expanding developments in space, robotics, and electric and autonomous vehicles. These are all products and inventions that require extremely accurate force measurement tools to create and test their innovations.

In order to stay on top of new technology, we are investing more in research and development than ever before. Imagining the possibilities, we are working closely with our customers, and in many cases partnering with them, to understand their evolving needs. Many of the products we have released in the last two years have been a direct response to customer requests and the application of imaginative thinking from our skilled leadership and engineering teams.

As we continue our journey in the 2nd 50 years of Interface, we are excited about the possibilities of force measurement and the new ways we can help our customers. We can’t wait to show you what we have on the horizon.

To stay up-to-date on new product announcements and to learn more about Interface and its commitment to accuracy, reliability, and innovation, please stay connected by subscribing to our blog and follow us on our social media channels: LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.  You can also watch a recent company video highlighting why Interface was chosen as Arizona’s 2019 Manufacturer of the Year.

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