Siemens launches modular SCADAS ES acquisition system

Siemens has introduced Simcenter SCADAS ES, a modular data acquisition system that combines synchronised physical measurements with browser-based configuration and connected analysis workflows. The hardware is intended for laboratory, mobile and general field testing, with acquisition capacity that can expand from a small number of channels to thousands as measurement requirements change.

Announced on 15 October, the system extends Siemens’ next-generation SCADAS portfolio alongside the existing SCADAS RS hardware. Both use a common modular technology, although the RS variant is configured for rugged distributed testing under more demanding environmental conditions. SCADAS ES addresses applications in which measurement flexibility, shared access to test information and the ability to adapt hardware configurations are central requirements.

Physical engineering tests frequently require different types of transducers to operate together. An automotive development programme, for example, may combine accelerometers, microphones, strain gauges, temperature sensors and vehicle-network measurements. The resulting data must be captured with appropriate conditioning and timing if engineers are to establish how vibration, structural loading, acoustic behaviour and other physical quantities relate to one another.

Synchronisation is particularly important when comparing events measured at different locations or through separate signal paths. A delay between measurement channels can change the apparent relationship between excitation and response, affecting subsequent calculations of phase, frequency response or event timing. Consistent acquisition timing, appropriate sensor conditioning and well-documented measurement settings therefore contribute to the reliability of engineering analysis.

SCADAS ES uses a modular hardware architecture built around configurable power, networking, signal conditioning and processing units. The arrangement allows an acquisition system to be assembled for the required measurement disciplines and expanded as additional channels or capabilities become necessary. Siemens also supports distributed arrangements in which acquisition hardware can be positioned closer to measurement points rather than concentrating every signal connection at one location.

Placing acquisition equipment near the instrumentation can affect the practical design of a test installation. Long transducer cable runs may introduce routing difficulties or require additional consideration of interference, attenuation and installation constraints. Distributed acquisition can provide a different way to organise those connections, although the electrical behaviour of each sensor and its cabling must still be assessed against the measurement specification.

The system supports measurements across several physical domains using a common acquisition environment. Applications identified by Siemens include noise, vibration and harshness testing, durability assessment, road-load measurements and engineering work associated with electrification and vehicle energy management. Similar instrumentation requirements occur in aerospace, heavy machinery and energy equipment, where measurement campaigns can involve both controlled laboratory tests and operation under representative field conditions.

Hardware configuration and monitoring are handled through Simcenter SCADAS Go, an embedded software environment offering browser-based access from compatible devices. Multiple users can interact with the acquisition system, allowing teams responsible for instrumentation, measurement and analysis to examine a common test configuration. Siemens identifies the software as licence-free for its supported embedded functions, although use of separate analysis applications may involve different commercial arrangements.

Shared access can reduce the need to transfer equipment or configuration files between engineers preparing a test. One operator may review measurement channels while another checks the acquisition setup or examines incoming data. The ability to inspect signal quality during preparation and recording also allows potential problems to be identified before a test campaign is completed, when repeating a measurement may be costly or impractical.

Measurement validation remains dependent on the instruments and procedures used. Incorrect sensor calibration, poor mounting, unsuitable signal conditioning or an inadequate sampling configuration can still produce unreliable results despite the availability of synchronised acquisition. Browser access provides a means of examining the data and settings, but does not establish their accuracy independently of the physical measurement chain.

Recorded measurements can be used with Siemens’ Simcenter Testlab applications for engineering analysis and correlation with simulation models. The acquisition workflow also includes Simcenter Testlab Go, while Test Connect provides a means of exchanging data with third-party analysis software. This approach allows organisations with existing specialist applications to incorporate SCADAS ES into established processes rather than requiring every measurement to be analysed using a single software supplier’s tools.

Correlating physical test results with simulation is particularly dependent on traceable acquisition conditions. A measured structural response, for example, can only be compared meaningfully with a model when excitation, boundary conditions, instrumentation locations and relevant operating states are understood. Well-annotated, synchronised measurements provide a stronger basis for identifying discrepancies between predicted and observed behaviour.

Siemens also positions the acquired information as suitable for use in digital twin development and data-driven engineering. Such applications require consistent inputs, but the description of measurement data as AI-ready should not be interpreted as proof that it can be used immediately to train or validate every machine-learning model. The selection, preparation and representativeness of the data remain dependent on the intended application.

The manufacturer claims that the combined hardware and software workflow can reduce setup and validation time by up to 50%. That figure is a supplier-reported potential improvement, not an independently measured average across engineering disciplines. The actual saving will depend on the starting process, the number and type of measurement channels, the existing test infrastructure and the degree of configuration work required.

Siemens has not published a universal sampling rate, measurement accuracy or channel-count configuration applicable to every possible SCADAS ES installation. The modular construction means that specifications depend on the selected acquisition and signal-conditioning units. Pricing and delivery details are available through the company’s sales process rather than through a single published standard-system price.

Simcenter SCADAS ES is being introduced as a configurable acquisition platform supported by shared measurement and analysis tools. Its capabilities can be assessed through the available module specifications and their compatibility with the sensors, operating environments and software used in each test programme. The announcement establishes the new hardware and workflow, while individual measurement performance remains dependent on the configuration selected.