Emerson Enhances Test and Measurement Flexibility with Entry-Level CompactDAQ Solutions
Global technology and engineering leaderEmersonhas expanded its industrial test and measurement footprint by introducing a new suite of entry-level data acquisition hardware and open-source software tools. Aimed at lowering the barrier to entry for high-fidelity physical measurements, the latest rollout features two compact Ethernet-based chassis alongside a highly accurate analog input module. This hardware expansion is complemented by a new public GitHub repository dedicated to extending the capabilities of NI FlexLogger software. Together, these releases target engineering teams looking to implement scalable, cost-effective validation systems without sacrificing processing power or field reliability.
Modern industrial testing demands seamless synchronization between physical sensors and digital analysis tools. To address small-to-mid-sized applications, the newly introduced cDAQ-9187 and cDAQ-9183 chassis offer ruggedized form factors that operate reliably in demanding thermal environments ranging from -40°C to 70°C. The cDAQ-9187 provides an eight-slot backplane layout, while the cDAQ-9183 offers a more footprint-conscious four-slot alternative. Both models leverage Time-Sensitive Networking protocols over a single Ethernet connection, ensuring precise clock synchronization and deterministic data delivery over long distances. This makes them highly suited for distributed sensor networks deployed across expansive factory floors or benchtop laboratory setups. The chassis maintain native compatibility with the extensive C Series I/O portfolio, allowing engineers to mix and match analog inputs, digital lines, counters, and encoders within a single node.
To work alongside these updated network interfaces, the NI-9204 analog input module has been introduced as a high-density, budget-conscious option for voltage measurement. The module supports up to 16 single-ended channels or 8 differential configurations, accommodating diverse wiring schemes through spring terminal or 37-pin D-Sub interfaces. Featuring 16-bit resolution and a maximum aggregate sampling rate of 250 kS/s, the module includes overvoltage and reverse-polarity protection to safeguard downstream hardware. An onboard programmable gain amplifier allows field technicians to dynamically scale individual measurement ranges from ±10 V down to ±0.2 V, ensuring optimal signal conditioning and signal-to-noise ratios across varied industrial transducer types.
On the software side, the release focuses heavily on configuration-based deployment and collaborative engineering. The launch of an official GitHub repository for NI FlexLogger plug-ins brings an open-source development model to predictive analytics software and sensor logging workflows. FlexLogger has long provided a no-code environment for quick sensor configuration, data visualization, and file saving. By opening up a dedicated repository for custom plug-ins, engineers can now modify, extend, and share software add-ons to integrate unique hardware, specialized calculation channels, or third-party automation components. This software flexibility significantly streamlines end-of-line product validation, enabling quality control teams to quickly catch manufacturing anomalies and analyze trend data before structural defects impact production yield.
For more details on compatible control components and system architectures, you can browse available configurations through theEmerson hardware portfolioor check specialized safety assets viaEmerson DeltaV SIS modules.
Written by Julian Vance, an industrial systems engineer with 13 years of experience specializing in test cell automation, distributed data acquisition architectures, and edge telemetry deployment.