Research & Development
GST is much more than a sensor and measurement system supplier because the company also undertakes extensive research and development. As such GST is distinct from the vast majority of its competitors in the market place, and is best placed to provide truly expert opinion on measurement system requirements and troubleshooting.
GST works very closely with the main manufacturers of its products (Sinocera, BAST and Salien) in the development of new sensing technologies and more capable measurement systems. The company also funds research at top European universities to provide the feedstock of ideas and prototype methods which can then be developed in partnership with its manufacturers to establish the future generations of products.
Examples of current R&D projects include:
•Ultra-Stable Vibration Sensors: A new generation of high sensitivity circuit board mounted acceleration sensors with extremely low transverse sensitivities. These devices are being designed specifically for the rapidly growing markets in environmental monitoring devices and global positioning systems.
•Acoustically-Induced Resonance: Acetylene-powered acoustic shockwave horns for the resonant cleaning of structures (conveyor systems, ductwork etc). These horns use adaptive sensing technology to tune ultrahigh intensity acoustic bursts so that they excite structural and deposit resonances. This technology is applicable to a wide range of industries, from cement manufacture to coal slurry transportation in power stations.
•Structural Integrity Assessment: Combined transmitter-receiver electromechanical impedance devices for the assessment of structural integrity. These devices are being developed to permit the rapid assessment of the tightness of mechanically secured interfaces like bolted joints on pressure vessels and pipe-work flanges.
•Powerless and Wireless Measurement Nodes: Self-recharging wireless measurement nodes which using energy scavenging methods to keep a small onboard battery permanently charged so that data can be transmitted via a PWM radio link over a range of up to 100m. These RFID-tagged miniature devices can be combined with conventional sensing technology (such as a miniature accelerometer) to enable measurement of vibration, pressure and other dynamic parameters in circumstances where no external power source is available.
•Measurement Strategy Interface: A revolutionary measurement system controller and interface combination which permits the end user, via a simple-to-use GUI, to define the measurement strategy to be used within a complex measurement system. In an automated multi-sensor measurement system with remote data acquisition and pre-processing nodes (be they communicating via hardwired or radio means), it is often very difficult to define the precise measurement strategy that best suits the application.
•Should remote nodes be configured to measure routinely at regular intervals of time and then to transmit data summaries to the central host, or should the central host poll each of the remote nodes and request a data summary?
•Exactly how much data pre-processing and summarisation should occur within the remote nodes, and hence what form should the routinely transmitted data take?
•If a data summary transmitted from a remote node to the host reveals that something is possibly unusual or untoward, then how should the measurement strategy be revised to take account of this situation?
•Should the remote monitoring interval be tightened?
•Should the transmitted data summary be expanded to include more detail and hence to permit greater analysis by the host?