Predator Systems, Inc. (PSI) has developed a new product line of Smart Hydraulic Flowmeters. When combined with a microcontroller, this is the basis of a powerful flow analysis system that can sense the flow at one or more places in a hydraulic system and intelligently operate flow controlling valves based on various condi,tions including flow rate, pressure, and/or temperature of the fluid. The FLOWMASSTERS® Series of target type flowmeters have a built-in microcontroller which closely monitors the flow conditions and sends status readings to a display read-out (as shown below). With its 1 millisecond response time, the FLOWMASSTERS® Flowmeter is capable of monitoring changes in the flow conditions before noticable deterioration occurs. In addition, fluid temperature is also monitored by the flowmeter. Optionally, the flowmeter is also avialable with a built-in pressure transducer. Features of the Smart Flowmeter include:

• Wide flow range: 1 to 50 GPM
• Fast realtime response: 1 msec.
• Built-in sensors for monitoring flow and temperature
• Programmable characteristics
• Battery or AC powered
• Analog voltage output proportional to the flow or to the force on the target
• Digital output in standard serial RS-232C format

Predator Systems, Inc. designs and manufactures various hydraulic and pneumatic target-type flowmeters. Unlike other types of flowmeters, this flowmeter is largely unaffected by tepmperature and viscosity. These are truly mass sensing devices. Among the numerous advantages that PSI offer, here are some of the major points:

1.) We offer models that can accurately measure the flow even at high pressure.

2.) Manifolds have built-in sensors for monitoring pressure, temperature, force, flow, and voltage.

3.) Smart Manifold technology can be built into the manifold providing a microcontroller that monitors and interprets the sensors locally. The Smart Manifold can be programmed to send sensor data as an analog signal or digitally using a standard data transmission (i.e., RS-232C serial or ethernet). It can send the raw sensor data or sensor data that has been interpretted into the desired format. For example, the pressure transducer data can be sent in terms of the sensor voltage output or in term s of pressure (already converted to PSI).