The Challenge:
Developing a digital calibration system for underwater acoustic transducers (hydrophones) that are used in underwater applications such as ocean bottom profiling, underwater telephony etc.
The Solution:
Replacing the imported calibration system having box instruments with a PXI based modular instruments system and utilizing the powerful LabVIEW tool to achieve high performance including automation of the complete calibration process.
System Overview:
The purpose of a Hydrophone Calibration System is to primarily calibrate and compare the Test Hydrophone(s) with the Standard Projector & Standard Receiver Hydrophones by employing Reciprocity, Comparison and Directivity principles. Hydrophone Calibration System employs special techniques taking into consideration various requirements of calibration principles, limitations of water medium and frequency range of operation (limited due to the dimensions of water tank of 8*8*8 m).
Most of the users of Hydrophones, import the Hydrophone Calibration System for their use. Maintaining such calibration systems is becoming tedious for the users as there is no local support present to handle any maintenance activity on the systems. Also, the features of such imported systems are fixed by the vendor and users are not able to add/remove any new elements on their own.
One such user approached us and asked us to see if an alternate solution is possible from our end for this Hydrophone Calibration System. We studied the available imported system at the user’s place and understood that it can be replaced with a PXI based Modular Instruments and customized tests can also be included in such systems using LabVIEW.
System Design:
We proposed our alternate solution around National Instruments PXI platform by including a Signal Generator, High Speed Oscilloscope, a Programmable Insulation Resistance Measurement Meter & Multiplexer Switch hardware. For developing the customized application, LabVIEW has been suggested due to the availability of most of the mathematical & signal processing functions needed for Hydrophone Calibration within LabVIEW platform.
Reasons for going with NI based solution:
- Modularity & Scalability of PXIe platform
- More number of channels
- Reusability/Integration of available Subsystems
- Turn Table
- LabVIEW platform
- More number of tests
- Local Support
Presence of NI alliance Partner locally:
One of the major needs of the user is to have customized test sequences & feature to add new test sequences, which became feasible due to the choice of LabVIEW as the platform to develop the Calibration Software. Also, the presence of Multiplexer switch module allowed us to have the system scalable upto 64 channels testing very quickly. If needed, by adding few more switches, the no of channels to be tested can be enhanced with very minimal changes in the application software.
Types of Tests included:
- Reciprocity Test
- Comparison Test
- Transmitting Voltage Response Test upto 64 channels
- Free Field Receiving Sensitivity Test upto 64 channels
- Directivity Test for multiple frequencies
- Directivity Test with External Trigger
- Directivity Test with External Trigger for multiple frequencies
- Insulation Resistance Measurement
Features of Hydrophone Calibration System:
- Capable of calibrating a maximum of 64 hydrophones at once.
- Integrated Insulation Resistance Measurement.
- Capable to generate CW burst with minimum burst duration of 0.5 ms.
- Capable of generating CW frequency of 2 kHz to 1 MHz.
- Pulse Repetitive Rate of 20 ms.
- Averaging of 1 to 20.
- Measurements, Amplification/Attenuation, frequency analysis and signal processing on the fly to estimate signal parameters to help further processing and analysis.
- Customized configuration and Automated Report Generation based on the tests conducted.
Interactive Graphical User Interface:
Conclusion:
The PXI based Hydrophone Calibration System enabled the user to replace the limited features imported system with a customized one having many new features that includes testing more no of channels, more types of tests. Reduction in test duration from few days to few hours and complete automation of reports generation resulted in reduction of human efforts required to conduct the hydrophone calibration activities and increase in the productivity of the user group.