Sign Driver For Highways Agency

NHDS produced, designed and manufactured a controller system known as a Sign Driver, for Serco Systems for supply to the Highways Agency. These units control the overhead variable message signs, seen throughout the UK motorway network. They act on signals received from the police traffic control centres. These variable message sign drivers are required to adhere to the most stringent of specifications in order to be accepted for use on the UK roads.

Radio System Digital Switching Matrix

Using the skills and knowledge gained over many years of working in the Radio Systems Control environment, one of the early products from NHDS was a digital switch matrix developed in conjunction with Fylde Microsystems for use with their Radio Trunking infrastructure. The basic switch was 256 ports providing an interface between analogue and digital PSTN (Land lines), radio base station channels and private circuits. The product carried full BABT type approval.

MOBITEX Software Libraries - Thorn EMI

NHDS were amongst the first companies in the UK to provide products that operated over the MOBITEX public data network, originally provided by RAM Mobile Data in the UK and now operated by Transcomm. Aside from producing products and systems for this network, NHDS were also contracted by Thorn EMI to produce embedded software libraries to allow their own range of products to communicate over the network.

Debris Monitor - XCEL Power Systems

Developed for XCEL Power Systems, NHDS recently completed the pre-production development of a particle analyser for measuring ferrous and non-ferrous debris aircraft engine oils. This was an unusual diversion into the complex field of mixed signal electronic design. Very low level analogue signals from transducers are tuned, amplified and measured to produce a meaningful representation of ferrous and non-ferrous particles held in suspension within engine oil, while flowing through a transducer attached to the engine.

Protocol Development - Philips

With a proven track record and well known for their abilities in developing and utilising communications protocols, NHDS are often consulted on protocol design - an example of this was the development of a communications protocol for Philips within their digital radio switch for use in their radio systems.

BT Redcare Monitoring System

The BT Redcare network is normally used for the security monitoring of domestic and business premises through the BT phone network. BT wished to develop the potential of their highly secure nationwide data network further and contracted NHDS to develop a power monitoring system that would be used by electricity distribution companies in the UK to monitor their HV (high voltage) feeders. Custom built monitoring units were installed in BT public phone kiosks which used the phone line to report to the electricity company control room, where a custom designed NHDS host system would receive, analyse and display the information. This system was initially designed for Yorkshire Electricity.

RDMAC Computer Aided Dispatching Application - Motorola Canada

RDMAC was a software application designed by NHDS in the early days of public data networks such as PakNet, MOBITEX, etc. It was designed as a low-cost job assignment and dispatch package that allowed small companies to manage their remote workforce simply and cost-effectively. Remote workers would be equipped with a two-way data display device such as the InfoTAC 2-way pager or a palm-top PC and would receive work assignments over the chosen data network. They could then accept or reject jobs and update the status of each job as it progressed, allowing the office to manage resources far more effectively.
 
Motorola in Canada were responsible for rolling out the DataTac mobile data network around the world and engaged NHDS to convert the RDMAC package to run on their new system as one of the first applications to run on that network. They then used the RDMAC application at exhibitions around the world to demonstrate the facilities of the network.

Diplomat Monitoring System

This personal protection system was designed by NHDS for a client requiring a secure means of monitoring VIP's at a distance. The person being monitored would be provided with a small handheld “panic” button which would communicate with a monitoring transceiver located nearby (in the house or vehicle of the client). This transceiver would then report to the central monitoring station using the MOBITEX public data network. Should the panic button be pressed or the device move out of range of the transceiver, the central station would be notified immediately. The central station was able to handle a large number of transceivers and to interrogate each of them on request.