WIDTH GAUGE SYSTEMS

Introduction

WSS has had a long and successful record for completing projects for European Electronic Systems (EES).  For a period of ten years WSS has been heavily involved in the design and development of the real-time software for the EES CCD2030 Stereoscopic Width Gauge product.  More recently we have contributed to the development of their new Intelligent Camera (IC) Width Gauge.

Background

The Width Gauge continuously measures the width of hot or cold rolled steel by analysing the video signal from two line scan cameras mounted above the steel mill rolling table.  The edges of the steel can be detected using signal processing techniques and then width of the steel can be calculated by using as series of geometric calculations.  For more information visit the EES web site here.

Our Contribution

WSS has been responsible for designing and developing much of the complicated real-time embedded control software that lies at the heart of the CCD2030 Stereoscopic Width Gauge.  The software was initially designed using Ward-Mellor methodology, and then implemented in C running on the OS-9 real-time operating system.  Device drivers for the bespoke camera interface electronics were written in 68030 assembler.

We were also responsible for the initial prototype design and development of the software for the IC Width Gauge and have been involved in its subsequent development to a production system.  The real-time embedded control software was written in C++ and ran under the POSIX.4 compliant LynxOS real-time operating system on a PC104 x86 processor card.

In Summary

Over our long association with EES we have completed many individual contracts and helped EES deliver many Width Gauge systems to their customers world-wide.