Data acquisition and control consists of acquiring, analyzing, and displaying data and then using outputs to control some part of the process or experiment. In today’s world it is almost impossible to perform any research without using computers to collect, analyze, and display the data. Automated laboratories, complex industrial processes, tests, and measurements are all part of everyday applications that utilize data acquisition and control systems. Even most home equipment, such as security systems, heating, and ventilation systems are programmable and require basic knowledge of computer interfacing and signal processing.

      Typical data acquisition and control systems are computer-based, and allow users to monitor and control various sensing devices such as thermocouples, pressure transducers, load cells, and many others.

      In a typical computer-based data acquisition and control system measurement and control functions are integrated into one, or multiple PC-based data acquisition boards. The data acquisition and control process is not just the acquisition of data, but rather, it includes, acquiring, controlling, and displaying the data.

      A data acquisition and control system can convert analog signals into a digital output form, which can then be manipulated by analysis software. Using analysis software, the captured analog data can be displayed, logged, charted, graphed, or stored in memory as needed.