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capable simulation is connected to the NCAP. Utilizing the
TEDS, the NCAP can provide the data to the Robot Operating
System (ROS) Core and thus, to the control system of the robot.
This allows study and optimization of sensors early in the design phase [9]. In a next phase, sensor prototypes can be tested
in a lab environment for validation and further optimization.
Finally, the sensor system can be tested in a field environment.
Ideally, most design iterations could be done in the simulation
phase and the transitions to the other phases can be done very
fast as no modifications of the higher-level software would be
needed.

[3] V. Viegas, M. Pereira, and P. Girao, "Brief tutorial on the IEEE
1451.1 standard-part 13 in a series of tutorials in instrumentation
and measurement," IEEE Instrum. Meas. Mag., vol. 11, no. 2, pp.
38-46, Apr. 2008.
[4] D. Wobschall, "Networked sensor monitoring using the universal
IEEE 1451 standard," IEEE Instrum. Meas. Mag., vol. 11, no. 2, pp.
18-22, Apr. 2008.
[5] T. Mitterer, H. Gietler, L. M. Faller, and H. Zangl, "Artificial
landmarks for trusted localization of autonomous vehicles based
on magnetic sensors," MDPI Sensors, 2019.
[6] M. Dunbar, "Plug-and-play sensors in wireless networks," IEEE
Instrum. Meas. Mag., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 19-23, Mar. 2001.

Conclusion

[7] E. Y. Song and K. B. Lee, "STWS: a unified web service for IEEE

In this paper, we demonstrate the potential use of electronic
datasheets based on IEEE 21451 TEDS in the design process
of wireless sensors. Starting the design process with an initial
datasheet allows this approach to automatically generate interfaces and implementations of software on the automation
side. With further development in the design cycle, changes
of the automation software ideally are only necessary for a
change of functionality but not for a change between simulation in the loop, prototype versions and productive sensors.
In order to provide interfacing to simulation environments,
extensions to the standard NCAP are needed. This may be
achieved by using an API that is similar to that used for other
devices to connect to the NCAP, e.g., using IEEE 1451.4 or
through the completion of templates provided and run by the
NCAP. Besides connecting to simulation environments to allow for simulation in the loop approaches, this approach can
also be used to connect to legacy devices or laboratory setups
in a unified and simple way.

References

1451 smart transducers," IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., vol. 57, no. 8,
pp. 1749-1756, Aug. 2008.
[8] A. Reina Nieves, N. Martinez Madrid, R. Seepold, J. Murgoitio
Larrauri, and B. Arejita Larrinaga, "A UPnP service to control and
manage IEEE 1451 transducers in control networks," IEEE Trans.
Instrum. Meas., vol. 61, pp. 791-800, 2012.
[9] L. M. Faller, C. Stetco, and H. Zangl, "Design of a novel gripper
system with 3D- and inkjet-printed multimodal sensors for
automated grasping of a forestry robot," in Proc. IEEE/RSJ Int.
Conf. Intelligent Robots and Sys., 2019.
[10] E. Rohmer, S. P. N. Singh, and M. Freese, "V-REP: a versatile and
scalable robot simulation framework,'' IEEE/RSJ Int. Conf. on
Intelligent Robots and Sys., 2013.

Tobias Mitterer (Tobias.Mitterer@aau.at) is a Ph.D. student in
the research group of Professor Hubert Zangl at the University
of Klagenfurt, Austria. Within the project "ZUSE-Electronic
Datasheets for the Digitalization of the System Design," his
research focuses on innovative methods for the development
and operation of wireless sensors.

[1] Standard for a Smart Transducer Interface for Sensors and
Actuators-Common Functions, Communication Protocols, and
Transducer Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) Format, IEEE STD
1451.0-2007.
[2] E. Y. Song, and K. Lee, "Understanding IEEE 1451-networked
smart transducer interface standard-what is a smart transducer?"
IEEE Instrum. Meas. Mag., vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 11-17, Apr. 2008.

Hubert Zangl (Hubert.Zangl@aau.at) is Professor for Sensors
and Actuators at the Institute of Smart System Technologies at
the University of Klagenfurt, Austria. With his research team
he addresses topics of robust sensor design and optimization,
nearfield sensing and tomography and autarkic wireless sensors for applications in as robotics and IoT.

IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine

April 2020

Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine 23-2

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