When Fonterra went to the world with an RFP to supply a Milk Sampling System (MSS) for their tanker fleet, TCS ticked all the boxes and was chosen to help meet the challenge.
With over 30 years’ experience in industrial automation and control, data communications, and traceability TCS now specialises in embedded microprocessor development with hardware and software design capabilities to tackle the toughest of applications.
The MSS system is based on the TCS ControlHolonix® technology and uses a distributed control and distributed I/O philosophy to integrate all the field devices into the complex control solution that is required to control, measure, communicate and record the entire collection process.
The hardware is designed for and meets MIL STD 810G for vibration, shock to 15G, temperatures ranging between -20°C and 85°C and humidity of up to 95%. The unit also has UL and EMC compliance to meet the latest requirements for the New Zealand environment.
The heart of the system consists of a state of the art Texas Instruments AM335x Cortex-A8 32-bit RISC processor running Microsoft’s latest Windows Embedded Compact operating system and the system can readily connect to CAN enabled devices via CAN bus.
The 10.4” LCD screen provides clear and concise information to the operator and the resistive touch and membrane keypads can be programmed to perform all functions required. This rugged display/control is housed in a purpose made die cast enclosure that is completely sealed against moisture.
The development structure used in the ControlHolonix® hardware allows TCS to develop solutions simply and cost effectively in C# and C++ which makes it possible to affordably generate powerful solutions for the harshest of environments.
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