Test & measurement
And then there are fully fledged, cloud- integrated IoT platforms, which may be overkill if all you are doing is periodically measuring the load on a container as bulk material is decanted ahead of it being processed. This on-demand, session-based approach means the operator only takes a reading when they need it rather than being inundated with an ongoing live feed from their system. Much has been said about big-data
overload, so the value of getting just the data you need, when you need it most, cannot be overstated enough. While IoT platforms have their merits for accessing information remotely, in real-time and sharing it automatically with people across a business, sometimes all you need is a quick and easy way of taking a reading using a device you already have, like your smartphone or tablet. This is why Mantracourt developed
the B24 Bluetooth Strain Transmitter. Mantracourt chose Bluetooth 4.0 Low
Energy because it is much more efficient for portable, battery-powered, use - the transmitter can run for 10 months on a pair of single AA batteries. Secondly, it can easily be used with your existing devices - most phones and tablets already have Bluetooth built in. The B24 is a small module that comes
in an IP67-rated enclosure, or as a board-only option to be integrated as required. The transmitter is easily wired directly into the load cell using field terminals and works with sensors across a range of sensitivities, from a few grams all the way to a few hundred tonnes. The result is a versatile transmitter
that can be used anywhere there is a load cell, or strain bridge input, whether it is in automotive, industrial, agriculture or more. It has even been used on a sailing yacht to monitor strain in the rigging system. One key feature that sets the B24
apart from other Bluetooth transmitters, is the ability for multiple transmission. By tapping into the advertising data channels of Bluetooth Low Energy, it allows multiple transmitters to transmit to one device, and one transmitter to be viewed by multiple devices. This one-to- one, one-to-many, many-to-one and
many-to-many capability really opens up the access to data. However, the hardware technology is
only one half of the story. Being able to use your phone to take a reading is only valuable if the app offers the same kind of flexibility and customisation as a dedicated HMI or control system. To achieve this, Mantracourt has developed an app for both iOS and Android that features dashboards that can be customised to your own preferences. Users can create multiple projects,
each with their own dashboards and list of modules. These can be used to build powerful expressions to display just the information they need on various tiles. So, what implications does this have
for industry? These breakthroughs in Bluetooth technology and app customisation mean that engineers have more flexible options available to them, ranging from complete real-time IoT platforms, all the way through to manual measurement, with Bluetooth offering a cost-effective option in between - proving that strain measurement does not have to be an expensive undertaking.
Mantracourt Electronics
www.mantracourt.com
Measuring strain using low-cost
Bluetooth technology Instrumentation Monthly June 2021 43
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