Publication · Conference Paper

An improved design for a Current Pulse Electrical Resistance Tomography System

WCIPT6 paper on a complete redesign of the UCT current pulse ERT system using open-source design tools, with an embedded Intel Atom PC, Freescale GB60 micro-controller, and wireless LAN enabling remote operation of multiple units.

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Authors
E. W. Randall, A. J. Wilkinson, T. M. Long, K. E. Duggin, K. H. Hauslaib
Publication / Event
6th World Congress on Industrial Process Tomography (WCIPT6), Beijing, China, 6 to 9 September 2010 · Session B3 (ERT-2)
Date
Pages · ISBN
pp. 700-717 · ISBN 978-0-85316-322-0

Summary

This paper documents a more compact and better-engineered implementation of the UCT current pulse ERT instrument. It covers the circuit modules, timing, multiplexing, amplifier chain, calibration logic, and embedded-PC architecture in enough detail for other engineers to replicate the system. The design uses open-source tools throughout (KiCad for the boards, wxWidgets for the application, EIDORS for off-line reconstruction) and acquires data at 400 dual frames per second with real-time 2D reconstruction at roughly 20 fps.

Context

I contributed to this work as part of the UCT Electrical Engineering workshop team, supporting Bill Randall's ongoing research programme on current pulse ERT. What I still value about the project is the combination of theory, instrumentation detail, and operational pragmatism. It is not just about whether something can be measured, but whether the system can be built, debugged, calibrated, and trusted.

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