Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
OpenDAQ is the brand of our Joint Venture (JV) company set up and owned by leading manufacturers of data acquisition systems (DAQs). Employees of the Joint Venture work on backbone standardization for the new generation of DAQs. It delivers designs and firmware source code for scalable DAQ ecosystems, both to parent companies and the wider community.
Have you ever dreamed of combining different data acquisition devices in one system seamlessly? openDAQ SDK is simple to use general purpose software development kit, built jointly by two of the largest test and measurement providers. openDAQ SDK will allow the users to discover, configure and receive data from any openDAQ compatible sensors, devices and instruments in their favorite programming environments like C++, C#, Python, Labview and others. It can be used on any host computer running Linux, Windows or Mac OS. Shareholders are already building their future platforms to be fully compliant, but this is just the start. OpenDAQ‘s compatibility lab invites interface programmers, DAQ & sensor manufacturers alongside system integrators to join the community.
OpenDAQ is licensed under an Apache 2.0 license. You can do what you like with the software, as long as you include the required notices. This permissive license contains a patent license from the contributors of the code.
CAN | CANNOT | MUST |
---|---|---|
Be used for commercial purposes | Be held liable | Include copyright |
Be freely modified | Use name, trademarks, or logos of contributors | Include full text of license |
Be freely distributed | State changes | |
Be placed under warranty | Include "NOTICE" file with attributions | |
Be used privately | Include copyright | |
Have contributors patent their own contributions | Include full text of license |
The full text of the license and further details can be found here.
OpenDAQ is about all core, non-differentiating elements of the test & measurement ecosystem; device backbones, embedded software elements and standardised communication interfaces. You can compare it with the LXI consortium (LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation), with the open EtherCAT standard or even component, sub-system or platform sharing in the automotive industry. The œopenDAQ Standard defines communications, operation & function. It draws extensively upon industry standards including PCIe, Ethernet, TSN, IEEE 1588v2 (PTP), IEEE 802.1AS-2020, OPC UA and many others. Our goals are to develop, support, and promote the OpenDAQ Standard. Shareholders actively participate in a growing community ensuring an ever-growing range of products work together seamlessly. Partners are enabled to focus on the highest data quality and productivity from sensor to result. Configuration, data analytics, and collaboration models driven by the standard are all simplified.
The openDAQ Reference Device has been developed to support evaluation of the openDAQ SDK with real vendor-neutral hardware. No additional vendor-specific hardware is required. The openDAQ reference device provides all stakeholders with high confidence in the SDK, demonstrably simplifying and improving the handling of any DAQ device. The Reference Device enables acquisition and transmission of analog and digital data with existing or newly developed software. The SDK is delivered with comprehensive examples & makes integration quick and easy. System integrators: After implementation, any vendor device supporting the openDAQ standard can be accessed, enabling you to address your application with the optimum solution irrespective of vendor or domain. DAQ or smart sensor vendors: The value demonstrated by evaluating openDAQ SDK and reference platform, will make joining the consortium the obvious next step. Universities: Get involved in using the openDAQ SDK by setting up your own project! The software is free and open-source for anybody to contribute.
The data sheet of the device can be found on docs.opendaq.com.
You can loan the openDAQ Reference Device at no cost, typically for a period of 4 weeks. The loan period is agreed at the time of request. If you would like to have a device, please contact us via opendaq@opendaq.com. Disclaimer: We reserve the right to adapt or change this concept depending on demand.
A joint development agreement is a less committed, more arm'™s length arrangement, whereas the joint venture will be a new company building its own culture, owning intellectual property, and employing people in its own name, representing a bigger commitment for the shareholders.
openDAQ is built by the shareholders. The SDK is now an Open Source project accessible for anyone to contribute. Anyone can use the standard interface to integrate your own devices or develop your own software. Additional partners are joining the consortium offering an ever growing stream of value to adopters, shareholders and strategic partners. The future of the consortium will be decided by us, the members.
The openDAQ SDK was released in June 2023 and made Open Source On GitHub at the end of October. https://github.com/openDAQ.
Shareholders leverage the new standard to develop new products more quickly, economically and with peerless quality. New products will be developed in compliance with the openDAQ SDK and interoperable out of the box, with an ever greater range of OpenDAQ-compliant hardware and software.
End users and integrators enjoy vertical interoperability never before seen in the test and measurement market. Customer investment is safer than ever. Ever greater challenges can be addressed. Users and integrators can continue to use the software packages that they are familiar with. New application software can be written according to the openDAQ SDK enabling interoperability with an ever growing range of devices.