Glossary · Sensors and measurement
Measurement data acquisition (DAQ)
Also known as: Data acquisition, DAQ system
German: Messdatenerfassung (DAQ)
In measurement technology, measurement data acquisition (DAQ) is the sampling of sensor signals, their conversion into digital values and their recording with time information, using dedicated hardware and software or the inputs of a control system.
- Sensors
In one sentence
Measurement data acquisition (DAQ) samples sensor signals, digitizes them and records them with time information for analysis.
Example
During commissioning of a press, a DAQ system records force, position and hydraulic pressure at 10 kHz to optimize the pressing cycle.
How it applies
- Engineering: Key parameters are sampling rate, resolution, number of channels, input ranges, isolation and synchronization between channels. The sampling rate must be high enough for the signal, and anti-aliasing filters prevent false low-frequency components.
- Commissioning: DAQ is used for tests, acceptance measurements and troubleshooting, often temporarily alongside the control system.
- Operation: Permanent DAQ feeds condition monitoring and quality records. Time synchronization between DAQ and control data is essential for correlating events.
- Documentation: Record measuring setup, sensors, calibration status, sampling rate and filters with each data set. Measurements without this context are hard to reproduce or use as evidence.
DAQ vs. control system inputs
A control system samples signals for control at its cycle time. A DAQ system is optimized for high sampling rates, synchronous channels and recording, which is why both often run side by side during tests.