Running head: REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE

Reducing budgets with the Fernando Acquisition Module: White paper Fernando Chavez Rochester Institute of Technology Graduate Writing Strategies Dr. Patricia Poteat March 23, 2014

REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the problem that engineering universities, schools and educational centers face with the need of buying highly expensive measurement equipment. The signal measuring equipment is required for educational purposes within engineering, especially electrical related, laboratory environments. This paper employs the magic of computers to offer a flexible and cost-effective measurement solution that would allow academies to substitute pricey measurement equipment and consequently enhance the use of their budget.

REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE Analysis According to Finch (2010), budget is defined as a business plan that covers a period of time and numerically describes the allocation of resources of a business. Organizations and businesses around the world are subject to budgets and academic

entities such as universities and schools are no exception to the rule. Budgets allow institutions to organize the best way possible their expenses and are a powerful tool in the resource allocation process. Another point worth highlighting is the fact that budgets are just necessary because there is never enough money to suffice the needs of all the departments and personnel involved in the resource allocation process. It is needless to say that if money was not an issue, a budget would not be part of the equation. Given that universities are restrained by monetary limitations, they have to think wisely before incurring in expenses and try their best to make decisions that provide them with financial flexibility for the future. As Finch (2010) states, when you buy new equipment for a business they are usually significant purchases in the context of the business itself and getting a good deal is important. It is therefore worth putting considerable effort into acquiring assets at a good price and achieving the best possible deal (p.107). The statement leads to the following question: Why would you pay top dollar for equipment when you can get the same results from a cheaper option? By proceeding to overpay for assets, we are definitely not achieving the best deal possible.

REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE

For universities, the supply and equipment expenses is one of the portions of the resource allocating process that varies the most on a yearly basis. All other parts of the budget, such as salaries, infrastructure maintenance, services fees and utilities present very little variation year in and year out. The variation that the supply and equipment rubric part of the budget presents provides the university with flexibility to evaluate options and possibly make money saving changes or as Finch (2010) would say, achieve the best possible deal. Oscilloscopes are the most valuable pieces of equipment one can find in a university laboratory. As defined by The Columbia encyclopedia (2013), oscilloscopes are electronic devices used to produce visual displays corresponding to electrical signals. In order for oscilloscopes to process the signals and the information they carry, a big amount of processing power is required. On top of the high demanding processing capabilities required, in order to clearly represent the signals being transmitted, a superior quality display is needed as well as high fidelity internal components that enable the interfacing of the display with all the controls and external ports without adding noise to the system. As one can

imagine, all the complicated circuitry that goes inside an oscilloscope drives its price up, thus making the oscilloscopes a very expensive piece of equipment. The following is a comparison table in terms of price and primary capabilities of the most basic oscilloscopes that can be found in the market.

REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE

Figure 1. Oscilloscope prices comparison table. Reprinted from Tektronik, n.d., http://www.tek.com/oscilloscope#all.Copyright 2014 by Tektronik. Reprinted with permission.

Retrieved

from

As we can see from the previous table, the monetary cost of oscilloscopes is by no means cheap with prices ranging from ten thousands dollars all the way up to hundred thousand. What if universities could find a cheaper option? One option that allowed them to accomplish the same results at a lower price by making use of everyday equipment they already possess within its inventory such as computers. Providing an answer to this question is where the Fernando Acquisition Module (FAM) comes into play. FAM makes use of data acquisition and sampling techniques to create a useful and versatile electronic system that drives down the costs for signal measurement and ultimately delivers high fidelity results.

REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE

Data acquisition and signal acquisition, involves sampling real world signals (analog) to generate data that can be processed by a computer or other electronic (digital). It consists in taking a set of physical signals, convert them into electrical voltages and digitize them so that they can be processed on a computer. As stated in the previous paragraph, the principle that enables data acquisition is signal sampling. The Penguin dictionary of physics (2009) defines sampling as a technique of measuring only some portions of a signal, the resultant set of discrete values being taken as representative of the whole. However, in order to acquire an accurate signal at the output of the sampling, the input signal must comply with the Nyquist theorem. According to Epilepsy A to Z: A concise encyclopedia (2009), The Nyquist theorem specifies that the highest measurable frequency is half the sampling rate. During analog-todigital conversion, for example, the highest frequency that can adequately be resolved for a 200 Hz signal is 100 Hz. Signals that are higher than the Nyquist frequency are subject to aliasing and appear as poorly characterized lower frequencies leading to a misrepresentati on of the signal. FAM takes the Nyquist theorem into account to assure that the signal being displayed is a true representation of the signal measured. The following diagram is a graphical representation of the main building blocks that comprise the FAM.

REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE

Figure 2. Parts of a DAQ System. Reprinted from National Intruments, n.d., Retrieved from http://www.ni.com/data-acquisition/what-is/.Copyright 2014 by National Instruments. Reprinted with permission.

FAM is formed by sensors in order to handle the conversion process of physical signals such as strength or temperature to electrical signals. The Data acquisition part of the system is in charge of the signal conditioning and the conversion of the conditioned signals from analog to digital. The digital signals are then processed and stored using a computer.
The modular approach of FAM provides the system with clear advantages over oscilloscopes.

The cost of the signal measuring system is greatly reduced by relieving the processing requirements to a regular computer. Computers are heavily used in universities and can be easily found on campus; therefore it should not be an issue to employ them for the data acquisition system. Another aspect that reduces the cost of FAM when compared to an oscilloscope is the fact that since the FAM is interfaced with a computer, the signals measured can be easily displayed on the computer monitor. Since the signals can be presented in a computer monitor, the need for expensive display necessary when using the oscilloscope is eliminated from the equation, therefore the price of the signal measurement system is ultimately reduced.

REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE

In terms of versatility, FAM also presents advantages over oscilloscopes. Since the signals are being processed on a computer, customized applications can be developed and used to automate different functions of FAM, as well as different user interfaces can be created to provide each user with a visual environment where they feel comfortable working. Physical versatility for users is also provided with FAM given that the system can be hooked up to a laptop. The mobility factor that limits the system if a desktop computer is used is now out of the picture and therefore FAM can be used in the field due to the portability provided by the laptop. Overall with FAM, universities can reduce the cost of signal measurement systems and users can find a total new world of applications that were not feasible with oscilloscopes.

REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE Conclusion

This paper has explored the problem that engineering universities, schools and

educational centers face with the need of buying highly expensive measurement equipment ,
and how an innovative way of measuring signals called Fernando Acquisition Module (FAM) can provide them with a cheaper option. Using signal sampling combined with data acquisition techniques and the processing power of computers; FAM presents universities and educational centers with an affordable and easy to implement solution. FAM helps educational institutions with their financial restrains by reducing the cost paid for laboratory measuring equipment so they can reallocate the funds into more needed issues.

REDUCING BUDGETS WITH THE FERNANDO ACQUISITION MODULE

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References

Finch, B. (2010). Effective Financial Management. London, GBR: Kogan Page Ltd. Nyquist theorem. (2009). In Epilepsy A to Z: A concise encyclopedia. Retrieved from CredoReference database Oscilloscope. (2013). In The Columbia encyclopedia. Retrieved from CredoReference database. Sampling. (2009). In The Penguin dictionary of physics. Retrieved from CredoReference database.