UEI Embedded Hardware in Space!!

On September 11th, 1997, NASAs 'Mars Global Surveyor' spacecraft reached the Red Planet. 

Space exploration has always intrigued mankind. Ever since Galileo first saw the craters on the moon in 1609 we have wanted to find out more. Is there anybody out there? 

Yuri Gagarin made the first space flight 50 years ago. Since then humans have mastered low earth orbit. Since Gagarin's historic achievement, government agencies such as NASA have launched people into space for mainly scientific reasons. This is about to change. Experts say that by 2061, millions of people may well have gone to space, and thousands may be living there.

The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit, and has been continuously occupied for more than 10 years. Astronauts living at the Space Station are required to complete daily exercise quotas, as studies have shown that they can lose muscle mass, bone mass, and cardiovascular function after long-duration stays in microgravity. Although astronauts gradually recover their muscle tissue and most of their bone mass when they return to Earth, it is important that they are strong enough to perform emergency procedures during landing.

The COLBERT (Combined Operational Load-Bearing External Resistance Treadmill) is adapted from a regular treadmill available on Earth, with a few significant additions!
Without gravity to hold the runner to the surface of the treadmill, elastic straps fit around the shoulders and waist to keep the runner from shooting across the space station with the first step. There is also a structure to support the device that allows astronauts run on it without shaking the rest of the International Space Station, or disturbing delicate experiments taking place in the weightless environment.

NASA selected the UEIPAC Cube to perform an essential role in controlling the COLBERT treadmill in the Space Station exercise facility. Some of the functions monitored by the UEIPAC are characteristics of the astronaut’s gait and foot impact forces while exercising on the treadmill. This is determined by sensing data of various types from accelerometers and load cells in the treadmill and associated restraining equipment.

The fact that the UEIPAC hardware is a very compact, rugged design that makes efficient use of conductive cooling makes the unit ideally suited for space applications. 

7 Reasons to Choose United Electronic Industries for all your Data Acquisition and Control Requirements......

Founded in 1990, United Electronic Industries (UEI) is a leader in the PC/Ethernet data acquisition and control, Data Logger/Recorder and Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) markets. Their ‘Cube’ chassis offers incredible I/O flexibility, accommodating up to 6 I/O boards from a selection of over 25. Sarsen Technology has represented UEI in the UK for nearly 2 years.

There are so many reasons why you would benefit from choosing a UEI solution; these are just a handful….

1.       They get around….

UEI products are used in a huge variety of applications, including Simulator I/O, in-vehicle test (flight and ground), UAV/ULV/USV control, electronic production test, machine and vehicle health monitoring, temperature monitoring, wind power system control, vehicle frame stress testing, jet engine test and much more. Whether your application is on the ocean floor, on land or boat, in the air, or in space, UEI products have been there!

2.       Thinking outside the ‘Cube’

UEI have over 25 different available I/O layers, as well as a host of other boards and accessories, meaning they can be creative in finding innovative solutions for customers, responding to their needs with standard products and variations so they can complete their systems successfully, on time, and within budget. UEI offers both COTS and custom products to OEMs, end-users, and systems integrators worldwide.

3.       Green is the new Black

All Cube and RACKtangle™ chassis products and accessories are fully RoHS Compliant. This includes all UEI products that begin with: DNA, DNR, UEIPAC, UEISIM or UEILOGGER, including all chassis, I/O boards and accessories.

4.       Speaking your language

UEI supports all popular Windows, Vista, Linux and Real-time operating systems, programming languages, and application packages such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, and DASYLab.

5.       Location, Location, Location

United Electronic Industries is represented in nearly all of the US States, as well as across the globe, as far as Australia and Japan. We are all eager to talk to you, and help you put together an ideal solution to match your application.

6.       Bend Me, Shape Me, Any Way You Want Me

The UEI cube is not in any way bendy. In fact it’s very rugged! But it is uniquely flexible, with the ability to be used as an Ethernet I/O slave, standalone data logger, a standalone Linux-based PAC or a Modbus Slave. With I/O interfaces for analog I/O, digital I/O, counter/timer, ARINC-429, quadrature encoder, CAN-bus, serial I/O and more, you can precisely match the I/O configuration to your application.

7.       They’re in it for the Long Haul

All hardware manufactured by UEI is warranted for 2 years to the original purchaser and UEI guarantees the availability of all RACKtangle/Cube series products for a minimum of 10 years. 

If this hasn’t convinced you, give us a call or check out the UEI pages on our website for more information. http://www.sarsen.net/dept/united-electronic-industries_d0141.htm

Free Tickets for DSEi 2011

We have a number of free tickets for the Defence & Security Equipment International exhibition 13 - 16 September at ExCel in London. You will find Sarsen Technology on stand S4-104. After the 30th June the entrance fee is £30 and if you chose to pay at the door on the day it is £100. Please call us on 01672 511166 for the advance tickets.