Saturn System Writes Device Control Software For Hunt Technologies

By Author: Constance Martinez
Total Articles: 623
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Landis+Gyr Energy Management
Solutions (formally known as Hunt Technologies,
LLC,) design and manufacture remote monitoring
equipment for the power industry. A key
component of the system is the Substation
Processing Unit (Collector.) The Collector
receives a constant stream of non-stop
information from each endpoint. It also serves as
the control hub for sending commands to
endpoints individually, in defined groups or
across the entire network. The Landis+Gyr
Collector utilizes the power company grid to send
messages to and from endpoints that are installed
at a business or residence. The Collector also
manages the messages being sent to and from the
Landis + Gyr Command Center â„¢ product.
Using the power grid as transmission medium to
communicate with endpoints is not only
challenging, but yields very low throughput.
Because of this, it is very challenging to effectively
test the system software in a real-time
environment.
Designing the system to provide maximum
flexibility and modularity ...
... was imperative to
the success of the project
The Solution Saturn was contracted to
develop a simulation environment for the
Collector which would execute on a standard
Windows PC. Landis+Gyr engineers would use
this system to analyze signal processing
algorithms, DSP performance, and to verify
system software changes. Having an effective
simulator would also allow Landis+Gyr engineers
to greatly accelerate the simulated data acquisition
cycle.
The Result Saturn developed the Collector
simulator as two separate software components.
The first a Wind River VxWorksâ„¢ target
application developed using Wind River's
VxSimâ„¢ product, and the second component a
scalable DSP simulator tool written in C#.Net.
The two software components closely emulate the
production environment simulating the same
protocols as the original DSP hardware. This
architecture allows separate testing of the Wind
River VxWorks application, with live or simulated
DSP's, as well as testing of the DSP's with a live
or simulated Collector application. Landis+Gyr
engineers are using the new tool to reduce the
time and cost required for new development and
maintenance of the Collector system.
About Saturn Systems Saturn Systems is a
national provider of software engineering
solutions in the areas of device integration and
enterprise technologies through our Rural
Outsourcing business model.
Since 1990, Saturn Systems has created success
through innovative application of technical
expertise, a disciplined approach to project
management, and a command of emerging
technologies. Saturn Systems is a private
company headquartered in Duluth MN, USA.
For more information, visit our web site at
www.saturnsys.com. Outsource To America! www.saturnsys.com Fine products at Total Gym 1500