Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
07:51
Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs
Published on: August 27, 2019
7.4K
SIGULS: Signal generator for user-specified laboratory signals.
Abelardo Pérez Paz1, Oliver Maximilian Zobel1, Daniel J Rixen1
1Chair of Applied Mechanics, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748 Garching, Germany.
Hardwarex
|February 27, 2026
Summary
This study introduces SIGULS (signal generator for user-specified laboratory signals), an affordable, open-source device for structural dynamics testing. It provides full control over excitation signals, offering a flexible alternative to costly commercial options.
Area of Science:
- Engineering
- Instrumentation
- Signal Processing
Background:
- Commercial excitation signal generators for structural dynamics testing are often expensive and lack flexibility.
- There is a need for cost-effective, user-controlled signal generation solutions in laboratory settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and characterize SIGULS, an open-source excitation signal generator.
- To evaluate the performance and utility of SIGULS compared to commercial alternatives in structural dynamics experiments.
Main Methods:
- Development of an open-source signal generator based on the ESP32-S3 microcontroller and AD5781 DAC.
- Design and implementation of user-specified laboratory signal generation capabilities.
- Conducting structural dynamics experiments to assess SIGULS performance against commercial devices.
Main Results:
- SIGULS offers full control over excitation signal shape.
- The device is affordable and operates independently of data acquisition systems.
- Experimental results demonstrate the performance and utility of SIGULS.
Conclusions:
- SIGULS presents a viable, cost-effective, and flexible alternative to commercial signal generators for structural dynamics testing.
- The open-source nature of SIGULS promotes accessibility and customization in laboratory signal generation.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Instrumentation Amplifier
An electrocardiography (ECG) machine is an essential piece of medical equipment used to monitor the electrical activity of the heart. It operates by detecting small electrical changes on the skin that result from the depolarization of the heart muscle during each heartbeat. However, these signals are in the microvolt range and can be easily overwhelmed by noise or interference.
To overcome this challenge, an ECG machine utilizes an instrumentation amplifier. This specialized amplifier is...
To overcome this challenge, an ECG machine utilizes an instrumentation amplifier. This specialized amplifier is...
01:30Classification of Signals
In signal processing, signals are classified based on various characteristics: continuous-time versus discrete-time, periodic versus aperiodic, analog versus digital, and causal versus noncausal. Each category highlights distinct properties crucial for understanding and manipulating signals.
A continuous-time signal holds a value at every instant in time, representing information seamlessly. In contrast, a discrete-time signal holds values only at specific moments, often denoted as x(n), where...
A continuous-time signal holds a value at every instant in time, representing information seamlessly. In contrast, a discrete-time signal holds values only at specific moments, often denoted as x(n), where...
01:22Basic Operations on Signals
Basic signal operations include time reversal, time scaling, time shifting, and amplitude transformations. These operations are fundamental in signal processing and analysis.
Time Reversal mirrors a continuous-time signal about the vertical axis at t=0. This is achieved by substituting t with −t. For example, if a signal x(t) is considered, the time-reversed signal is x(−t). This operation can be graphically represented, showing the mirrored signal.
Time Reversal mirrors a continuous-time signal about the vertical axis at t=0. This is achieved by substituting t with −t. For example, if a signal x(t) is considered, the time-reversed signal is x(−t). This operation can be graphically represented, showing the mirrored signal.
01:30Electronic Distance Measuring Instruments
Electronic Distance Measuring Instruments (EDMs) are essential tools in modern surveying, offering precise distance measurements by emitting electromagnetic signals and calculating the time required for these signals to travel to a target and return. Two primary types of signals are used in EDMs — light waves and microwaves — each suited to specific environmental and distance requirements. Light-wave-based EDMs utilize either infrared or laser light, providing high accuracy over short distances...