Smart Module Commercial Development Research

Most sensor data collection systems are unique to a given application, sensors do not easily transcend across applications or platforms. Smart sensor development improved the ability to utilize common communications to a certain degree, where most used RS-232 or RS-485 type communications protocols, but differences are still found and no uniformity exists in the commercial markets. The Smart Module concept could be a device utilized to standardize communication links to interface dumb sensors or smart sensors to any type of collection system for network distribution. The purpose of this SBIR project is to research the status of sensors, processing, and communications links on the open commercial market and determine the need of the Smart Module to further enhance the In-situ measurements for multiple applications, processing, and the transfer of data to scientist and engineers for control and analysis. This SBIR will review current markets for need and application and define the best approach to satisfy current issues with a new commercial product capable of unifying sensor manufacturers and communications networks. It will also provide rudimentary test results with suggested modular firmware formats to show proof of concept