Summary:

Engineers require reliable, accurate, and easy-to-use data acquisition systems to meet this need. Data acquisition tools has evolved to better address the demands of the growing population of users who need data to inform their design decisions. A flexible real-time data acquisition and control system for use in the triggering and measurement of both analog and digital events. Built using the LabVIEW, this system provides precisely timed auditory and visual stimuli to a subject while recording analog data and timestamps. The system interface is windows-based and easy to use, providing a host of configurable options for end-user customization.

Solution:

Preterm baby requires surrounding exactly similar as in the womb to cope with the external environment. To provide the similar environment as in the womb infants have to be kept in a device known as Incubator. An infant incubator provides stable levels of temperature, relative humidity. Air temperature has to be maintained around 35ºC. The relative humidity should follow set values according to the incubation day number. The purpose of this project is to design and implement a closed loop control system to regulate the temperature and humidity inside a neonatal incubator.

A cDAQ (NI System) controller is used for implementing the hardware. The closed loop control system is a combination of sensors and actuators that operates synchronously to provide a stable thermal environment inside the incubator.

The air temperature is monitored by temperature sensors and is adjusted by controlling the current to the heater. The user can set the incubator to control the temperature of the air. If the temperature of the incubator increased above the threshold value then the alarm will beep and the fan will be on and it remains on till the temperature decreased to the threshold value. If the temperature of the incubator decreased below the threshold value then also the alarm will beep and now the bulb will be on and it remains on till the temperature increased to the threshold value.