LabVIEW RS-232/485 VI/Driver Coding for Bioreactors

I have a project that needs a continuous data acquisition, monitoring and storing solution to be build in LabView. It requires initially four simple RS232 and one RS485 driver to be written. There is some documentation available on the driver protocol but it may need work on figuring out the exact wiring and commands back and forth. I am using an industrial type RS232 to USB converter (FTDI chip) and two of the devices are able to talk to the computer. The other two I have not yet luck. This includes the RS485 and the issue maybe correct wiring as the instructions are skimpy (German). The devices are a motor, a temp controller, a Alicat mass flow meter and ph Electrodes.

This is for a 6 bioreactor process control, monitoring and display application. In addition ideally I would like to add features such as a webcam and notification via email and a display on an iPad using the LabView iPad App. Data is to be stored in a text/csv/xls file. I have some samples and older versions (15 years old though) and have done similar work before. I am looking for a simple, easy to understand and elegant solutions with all the features that are necessary, yet not all what is possible. External devices include a motor, a temp controller, a Alicat mass flow meter and ph Electrodes.

I would break the project into three stages:

1. RS Drivers and DAQ for simple display

2. Data display and storage per bioreactor

3. User Interface, messaging, integration of external data, visualization in iPad

Let me know what your rough time estimate is for each step and what cost. Initial Budget is for the RS-232/485 driver only.

I am using an industrial type RS232 to USB converter (FTDI chip) to pull the RS data into the computer:
https://www.serialgear.com/USB-8COMi-RM.html
https://www.serialgear.com/productdetails1.cfm?sku=USB-16COM-RM&cats=

Two of the devices RS-232 devices are able to talk to the computer through the USB adapter. The other two I have not yet luck. The latter includes the RS485 and the issue maybe correct wiring as the instructions are skimpy (German). The devices are a motor, a temp controller, a Alicat mass flow meter and pH Electrodes via an amplifier. This is for a 6 bioreactor process control, monitoring and display application.
https://app.box.com/s/yb3xfl6xcz0ouhntwu02bt04kgkzcquf

There are 6 bioreactors, each of them has an Alicat massflow meter, a pH meter, a stirrer (RPM meter), and a heater with temperature probe. All signals come through RS-232 or RS-485 to the above mentioned USB Adapter. The 2 USB Adapter are connected to the laptop that runs LabView (2014 64bit).

Initially it is required to write a VI/driver each for the massflow, pH, stirrer (RPM) and heater/temp, that will use the respective protocol (RS-232 or RS-485) to read and display all values and setting options, and make them available in LabView. It is required to use a transparent coding (graphical) rather than C or Python or other code for each VI.

To test and accept the VIs, however, VIs for all six reactors and all 4 parameters/RS inputs need to run in a simple test bench in parallel for all six reactors and acquire data and write to an excel file. Programming needs to be somewhat intelligent and minimizing the amount of code, i.e. recycle a VI just set different USB / RS port settings. I am open to suggestion on how to best / most effectively achieve this.

In addition, ideally I would like to add features such as a webcam and notification via email and a display on an iPad using the LabView iPad App. Data is to be stored in a text/csv/xls file.

I have some samples and older versions (15 years old though) and have done similar work before. I am looking for a simple, easy to understand and elegant solutions with all the features that are necessary, yet not all what is possible.

I would break the project into three stages:
1a. RS Drivers and DAQ for simple display
1b. Test Bench VI displaying all 4 RS inputs from all 6 reactors, ie a total of 24 parameters

2a. Fancy Data display and storage per bioreactor as single stand VI, using all 4 VI inputs
2b. Fancy Data Display for all 6 reactor in one VI, using all 4 RS inputs

3. User Interface, messaging, integration of external data, visualization in iPad

Let me know what your rough time estimate is for each step and what cost. Initial Budget is for the RS-232/485 driver only.

As I do have limited experience with RS-232 and RS-485 and the devices are in California, whereas you work remote, we may have to do trouble shooting on the cables and wiring. This implies that you are very familiar with the underlying electronics of RS-232 and RS-485 and how this would run through a USB converter into LabVIEW and how to write such driver, so you can guide trouble shooting. This is not for RS-232/485 beginner.

PHP Software Architecture

Project ID: #17045051

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