In a week or two, I’ll start looking into integral sensors (stuff that needs to be placed/accounted for before the design is “finalized” (rev1))— stuff like limit switches, thermometers, ammeters, voltmeters, maybe a couple strain/distance sensors.
(many of these are only needed for the prototype, since I need to evaluate potential points of failure or get data for future design improvements)
Anyway, the requirements I know for sure now are:
(sensor) (interval or latency)
30+ thermometers 1.0s +- 1s
8 ammeters 100ms +- 50ms
4 voltmeters 1s +- 1s
10 limit switches <100ms, <50ms ideal
8 “rough”/RPM encoders ~ 500ms
4 “precise” encoders 100ms
2 2-axis angle sensor 100ms
(probably a few more that I forgot, but hey, that’s enough to start)
‘Course, that’s a metric shitton of data with equally ridiculous wiring/IO requirements. Some of that can’t be avoided, but I’m hoping to mux and cyclically poll the thermometers, ammeters, and voltmeters: either in the literal sense (muxer upstream of ADC) or the conceptual sense (digital sensors sharing the same bus and being addressed/selected). I think the latter solution might be a tad expensive, but I don't have much experience here.
Anyway, if anyone has experience with data acquisition on that scale, or ideas on how to implement it while keeping costs down, advice is greatly appreciated.