Data acquisition overview

Data acquisition (DAQ) is a critical process that involves collecting analog signals from sensors, converting them into digital data through Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADC), and transmitting them to computers for analysis, monitoring, or control, with key components including sensors, ADCs, multiplexers, and timing mechanisms. DAQ systems are essential in fields like industrial automation, healthcare, automotive testing, and environmental monitoring, where they enable real-time or batch data capture for decision-making and system optimization. Different types of DAQ systems, such as PC-based, standalone, distributed, and modular systems, cater to varied applications and environments, each with unique capabilities in terms of scalability, flexibility, and real-time data processing. The DAQ process encompasses sampling, quantization, and data transfer, with challenges including noise, data integrity, latency, and scalability. PubNub enhances DAQ by providing a platform for real-time, low-latency communication and data streaming, facilitating instant processing and analysis while offering global presence and an event-driven architecture to improve DAQ reliability and efficiency.