Chapter 4

TELEMETRY

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 Telemetry
• Telemetry is an automated communications
process by which measurements are made
and other data collected at remote or
inaccessible points and transmitted to
receiving equipment for monitoring.
• The word is derived from Greek roots: tele =
remote, and Merton = measure

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• Although the term commonly refers to wireless data transfer
mechanisms (e.g., using radio, ultrasonic, or infrared
systems), it also encompasses data transferred over other
media such as a telephone or computer network, optical link
or other wired communications like phase line carriers.
• Many modern telemetry systems take advantage of the low
cost and ubiquity of GSM networks by using SMS to receive
and transmit telemetry data.
• A telemeter is a device used to remotely measure any
quantity.
• It consists of a sensor, a transmission path, and a display,
recording, or control device. Telemeters are the physical
devices used in telemetry.
• Electronic devices are widely used in telemetry and can be
wireless or hard-wired, analog or digital. Other technologies
are also possible, such as mechanical, hydraulic and optical.
• SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) is a
system that operates with coded signals over communication
channels so as to provide control of remote equipment (using
typically one communication channel per remote station
• GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications,
originally Groupe Spécial Mobile), is a standard developed
by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute
(ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation (2G)
digital cellular networks used by mobile phones, first
deployed in Finland in July 1991
 Advantage of Telemetry Systems
• Mainly built around the purpose of remote monitoring and
control.
• Operate on a wide variety of communications platforms
but mostly use radio networks.
• Built up of many separate components that perform a
combined task.
• Interface easily to PLC and SCADA systems that require
remote signals.
• Also perform data logging for trending functions at the
User Interface.
• Easy to expand systems to incorporate additional stations
and devices.
• Not limited to functions of the initial design and can be
enhanced to perform a variety of tasks.
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• Telemetry applications support large numbers of
measurand.
• It is too costly and impractical to use separate
transmission channels for each measured quantity.
• The telemetry process involves grouping measurements
(such as pressure, speed, and temperature) into a
format that can be transmitted as a single data stream.
• Once received, the data stream is separated into the
original measurement’s components for analysis.
• A telemetry system is often viewed as two components,
the Airborne System and the Ground System.
• In actuality, either or both may be in the air or on the
ground.
• .

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.

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• transducers to convert physical variables to be measured into
electric signals that can be easily processed;
• conditioning circuits to amplify the low-level signal from the
transducer, limit its bandwidth, and adapt impedance levels;
• a signal-processing circuit that sometimes can be integrated in the
previous circuits;
• a subcarrier oscillator whose signal will be modulated by the
output of the different transducers once processed and adapted;
• a codifier circuit, which can be a digital encoder, an analog
modulator, or a digital modulator, that adapts the signal to the
characteristics of the transmission channel, which is a wire or an
antenna;
• a radio transmitter, in wireless telemetry, modulated by the
composite signal;
• an impedance line adapter, in case of wire transmission, to adapt
the characteristic impedance of the line to the output impedance of
the circuits connected to the adapter;
• for wireless communication, a transmitting antenna.
• Use FDM or TDM to transmit the sensor
information
• Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
is a networking technique in which multiple
data signals are combined for simultaneous
transmission via a shared communication
medium.
• FDM uses a carrier signal at a discrete
frequency for each data stream and then
combines many modulated signals

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Frequency Division Multiplexing
• Useful bandwidth of medium exceeds
required bandwidth of channel
• Each signal is modulated to a different
carrier frequency
• Carrier frequencies separated so signals
do not overlap (guard bands)
• e.g. broadcast radio
• Channel allocated even if no data

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Frequency Division Multiplexing
Diagram

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 FDM
System

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Time Division Multiplexing

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TDM System

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• Time division multiplexing (TDM) is a
communications process that transmits two
or more streaming digital signals over a
common channel.
• In TDM, incoming signals are divided into
equal fixed-length time slots
 Framing
• No flag or SYNC characters bracketing TDM
frames
• Must provide synchronizing mechanism
• Added digit framing
– One control bit added to each TDM frame
• Looks like another channel - “control channel”
– Identifiable bit pattern used on control channel
– e.g. alternating 01010101…unlikely on a data
channel
– Can compare incoming bit patterns on each
channel with sync pattern
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• Pulse stuffing, often referred to as bit
stuffing, is the practice of adding non-data
bits to a binary signal before that signal is
transmitted over a network.
• Pulse stuffing is often used as a means of
controlling synchronization in systems that
require both transmitter and receiver to
transmit at the same bit rate.
 Pulse Stuffing
• Problem - Synchronizing data sources
• Clocks in different sources drifting
• Data rates from different sources not related by
simple rational number
• Solution - Pulse Stuffing
– Outgoing data rate (excluding framing bits) higher
than sum of incoming rates
– Stuff extra dummy bits or pulses into each incoming
signal until it matches local clock
– Stuffed pulses inserted at fixed locations in frame and
removed at de multiplexer

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 TDM of Analog and Digital Sources
• .

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 Base-Band Telemetry
• .

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• Different configurations for base-band telemetry.
• In voltage-based-base band telemetry (a) the information
is transmitted as variations of a voltage signal.
• Current-based-base band telemetry (b) is based on
sending a current signal instead of a voltage signal to
neutralize the signal degradation due to the voltage divider
made up by the input impedance of the receiver (Zin) and
the impedance of the lines (ZL).
• In frequency-based base-band telemetry (c), the
information is transmitted as variations of frequency
which makes this system immune to noise and interference
that affect the amplitude of the transmitted signal.

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 Applications

Meteorology
• Telemetry has been used by weather balloons for
transmitting meteorological data since 1920.
Oil and gas industry
• Telemetry is used to transmit drilling mechanics and
formation evaluation information uphole, in real time,
as a well is drilled.
Space science
• Telemetry is used by manned or unmanned spacecraft
for data transmission. Distances of more than 10 billion
kilometres have been covered, e.g., by Voyager 1.
 Motor racing
• Telemetry is a key factor in modern motor racing, allowing race
engineers to interpret data collected during a test or race and use it
to properly tune the car for optimum performance. Systems used in
series such as Formula One have become advanced to the point
where the potential lap time of the car can be calculated, and this
time is what the driver is expected to me
Transportation
• In the transportation industry, telemetry provides meaningful
information about the driver’s performance by collecting data from
the vehicle, leading to better fuel efficiency through driver
feedback, which includes in-cab coaching.
Agriculture
• Most activities related to healthy crops and good yields depend on
timely availability of weather and soil data. Therefore, wireless
weather stations play a major role in disease prevention and
precision irrigation
 Water management
• Telemetry is important in water management, including water quality
and stream gauging functions. Major applications include AMR (
automatic meter reading), groundwater monitoring, leak detection in
distribution pipelines and equipment surveillance.
Defense, space and resource exploration
• Telemetry is used in complex systems such as missiles, spacecraft,
oil rigs, and chemical plants since it allows the automatic monitoring,
alerting, and record-keeping necessary for efficient and safe operation.
Space agencies such as ISRO, NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA),
and other agencies use telemetry and/or tele command systems to
collect data from spacecraft and satellites.
Rocketry
• In rocketry, telemetry equipment forms an integral part of the
rocket range assets used to monitor the position and health of a launch
vehicle to determine range safety flight termination criteria (Range
purpose is for public safety).
 Energy monitoring
• In factories, buildings and houses, energy consumption of systems such as HVAC are
monitored at multiple locations; related parameters (e.g., temperature) are sent via
wireless telemetry to a central location. The information is collected and processed,
enabling the most efficient use of energy. Such systems also facilitate
predictive maintenance.
Resource distribution
• Many resources need to be distributed over wide areas. Telemetry is useful in these
cases, since it allows the system to channel resources where they are needed;
examples of this are tank farms in gasoline refineries and chemical plants.
Medicine/Healthcare
• Telemetry is used for patients (biotelemetry) who are at risk of abnormal heart
activity, generally in a coronary care unit. Such patients are outfitted with
measuring, recording and transmitting devices. A data log can be useful in diagnosis
of the patient's condition by doctors. An alerting function can alert nurses if the
patient is suffering from an acute (or dangerous) condition.
• Systems are available in medical-surgical nursing for monitoring to rule out a heart
condition, or to monitor a response to antiarrhythmic medications such as
amiodarone.
• A new and emerging application for telemetry is in the field of neurophysiology, or
neurotelemetry.
Telemetry System Models

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 Telemetry System Model
CONTROL
SCADA SYSTEM ROOM
TELEMETRY NETWORK
Monitoring
&
Data Handling

Communications
Network BULK
WATER
SUPPLY
SEWAGE
& MONITORING
WASTE &
METERING CONTROL
STATUS POINTS STATIONS
&
ALARMS STATUS POINTS
&
ALARMS

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 Telemetry Radio Network Topology

Water,
Sanitation,
Electricity
Radio
Modem
Distant
Stations
RTU

SCADA
Remote
Metering
Radio
Radio
Repeater
Modem
Radio
Master Station Modem RTU

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 GSM Network Topology
Water,
Sanitation,
Electricity
GSM Modem

GSM Network
Dialup/SMS RTU

SCADA Remote
Metering
GSM Modem

GSM Modem
Master Station RTU

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 Old Generation Telemetry Systems
• Analogue Radio
– Large Distances with repeaters
– Slow communications – max 1200baud
– High maintenance on radios – routine tuning
– Prone to lightning on antennae installations
• Landline / Telephone Dial-Up
– Slow communications – max 56Kbps
– Dependant on Telkom lines
– Long dial-up wait
– Prone to lightning
• Cell Phone Dial-Up
– Long dial up wait
– Dependant on cell networks
– High cost of calls
• Cell Phone SMS
– Low data throughput
– Dependant on cell networks
– Long delay time in messages (latency)

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 New Generation Telemetry Systems
• Digital Radio Networks
– Cover large Distances with repeaters
– Higher Speed communications – up to 9600baud
– Support for Serial & Ethernet devices
– Low maintenance on radios – no routine tuning
– Licensed and License Free frequency options
– Client “owns” the network
– Low running costs
– Prone to lightning on antennae installations
• Cell Phone GPRS
– High speed data – up to 115Kbps
– Routers available with fall back network connections
– Dependent on cell networks
– High cost of data
– Low cost of deployment
– Client “leases” the network

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