Image Acquisitionand Proces

Image Acquisition 63
industry-standard components. The powerful graphics programming available in
LabVIEW (for DAQ, DMM, and FieldPoint components) was critical to the success
of the system. These components provided the required flexibility and minimized
expensive engineering time. Since 1992, the system has been evolving based on
customer demands and feedback.
3.8.4 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
The system was designed to dynamically configure its hardware and to control and
monitor all of the events in a specified test sequence, which the customer can design
and modify without the assistance of Microsys engineers. For the most part, each
system is based on a standard platform, which is tailored to meet the specific
customer requirements. During installation, the software is initially configured with
customer specifics, including hardware modules, data entry field names, and sensor
data and calibration information.
One of the unique features of SureFire is its integrated high-speed video image
and DAQ data control capability. The ability to configure and control various highspeed
video imaging and DAQ equipment from a single computer simplifies test
preparation and execution, reducing user error and improving test efficiency. Fewer
tests are performed erroneously, leading to less scrap and lower testing costs.
SureFire is database driven (either Microsoft Access or Oracle), therefore all
test configurations, hardware calibration information and test-result pointers are
stored for each test. This provides management with a tool for traceability.
For analysis, PowerPlay provides integrated video and DAQ displays to give
engineers the ability to easily correlate high-speed video images with sensor data
in a fashion similar to National Instruments DIAdem. Users can also compare and
evaluate multiple test results by displaying both video and sensor data from different
tests. PowerPlay will play back all open data windows in a time-synchronized fashion
so that engineers can compare and confirm visual clues with sensor data. Image
enhancements include linear and angular measurements, color correction, sharpen
and blur filters and edge detection and enhancement.
3.8.5 APPLICATIONS
Other applications for SureFire include aerospace and defense, testing products such
as ejection seats, landing shocks, missile launch (ground-based tests) and ordnance.
SureFire is flexible enough to meet many applications where there is a need to
integrate and control high-speed imaging and sensors with test control. PowerPlay
can be used as a stand-alone analysis tool to combine computer-generated images
with real test images to tweak a simulation model. PowerPlay can import and export
to data files such as DIAdem, CSV, ISO13499, TIFF, JPEG, BMP, AVI and GIF.
3.8.6 SUMMARY
SureFire performs common automotive safety tests through its modular hardware
and software design. Each test system is tailored to meet customer requirements for
safety interlock control and monitoring, auxiliary equipment control, test trigger,