Platform adaptation or new design
Choose between modifying a suitable existing platform and developing a new architecture. Review what can be reused, what changes and which evidence must be repeated.
Hardware
customization.
The measurement.
The complete field device.
Build the hardware specification around the measurement, installation and data path the project actually needs. Hitelecom assesses adaptations of existing device platforms and separately scoped new designs, covering selected sensing elements, electronics, power, communications and mechanical interfaces. The project defines the prototype, verification and production deliverables. Firmware, tooling, manufacturing and certification work are identified explicitly so a working prototype is not mistaken for a qualified production product.
RequirementsDefined operating conditionsMeasurements, interfaces and installation
PrototypeA verified design baselineAgree tests and acceptance conditions
HandoverContracted engineering filesSpecify production scope and ownership
Engineering focus
Engineering the device.
Beyond changing its enclosure.
Resolve electrical, sensing, mechanical and manufacturing constraints as one design. Select the level of customisation that fits the requirement, then verify the resulting assembly.
Sensing and measurement chain
Select the sensing principle, analogue or digital interface, signal conditioning and probe construction. Define range, accuracy conditions, response and calibration needs as a complete chain.
Power architecture
Scope battery, external supply or solar-assisted power with protection, charging and peripheral power domains where required. Evaluate peak loads and storage conditions as well as average consumption.
Communications and antennas
Assess the chosen radio or wired interface, regional deployment and antenna installation. Match the enclosure, cable routing and power supply to the communications design.
Mechanical and process interfaces
Define the envelope, mounting, access, connectors and cable entries. For process measurements, include wetted materials, pressure boundaries, probe insertion and thermal isolation.
Environmental verification
Translate exposure into specific test requirements for the assembled device. Temperature, ingress, corrosion, impact and EMC targets require suitable design and supporting evidence.
Prototype and production tests
Separate proof-of-function builds from design verification and production acceptance. Provide test points, programming access, fixtures and traceable limits within the agreed scope.
Supply and engineering handover
Review component availability, substitutions and revision control. Agree CAD and manufacturing files, bill of materials, tooling rights, test documentation and subsequent supply responsibilities.
Project planning
Clarify the conditions. Before selecting components.
A useful hardware brief names the required outcomes and the conditions under which they will be verified.
01↗
Define the use and constraints
Document monitored quantities, installation, power, environment and regional deployment requirements.
- Project inputs
- Measurements · Installation · Power · Target markets
02↗
Assess architecture and feasibility
Review component availability, interfaces, enclosure approach and development risks before confirming the design scope.
- Project inputs
- Sensor choice · Electronics · Connectivity · Mechanical interfaces
03↗
Agree verification and production scope
Separate engineering prototypes from qualification, certification, tooling and volume supply.
- Project inputs
- Prototype tests · External approvals · Production files · Supply terms
Applications
A hardware brief. For each physical requirement.
These examples describe potential engineering scopes, not off-the-shelf product options or completed customer installations. Each links a physical use case to required design inputs, proposed outputs and verification evidence. Feasibility and supplied specifications are established for the final configuration.
12 application areas / 36 project tasks
Illustrative environments, not evidence of customer installations. Project suitability is assessed against the agreed requirements.
01Temperature probes and recording devices3 +
Match the sensing assembly to the monitored surface, medium and handling conditions.
External and remote probes
+
Place the sensing element where the measurement is required while locating electronics appropriately.
- Required inputs
- Temperature duty, medium, cable route and mounting envelope.
- Scope & outputs
- Probe, connector and cable-assembly design within the selected architecture.
- Acceptance checks
- Compare response and readings under the agreed operating conditions.
- Engineering considerations
- Probe range and electronics ambient range must be stated separately.
Surface and pipe measurements
+
Evaluate a contact assembly for installations where the process boundary remains intact.
- Required inputs
- Surface material, temperature, access and permitted fixing method.
- Scope & outputs
- Contact geometry, mounting concept and cable strain relief.
- Acceptance checks
- Assess contact repeatability against the selected reference method.
- Engineering considerations
- Thermal contact and ambient influence affect the measurement result.
Compact recorders and local displays
+
Adapt the enclosure and user interface around the required handling workflow.
- Required inputs
- Dimensions, display content, service access and storage environment.
- Scope & outputs
- Mechanical layout and component/interface selection.
- Acceptance checks
- Check fit, readability and access on representative prototypes.
- Engineering considerations
- Logging, display behaviour and exports require the corresponding firmware scope.
02Tilt devices for racks, poles and structures3 +
Design a repeatable mechanical reference and an installation that can be inspected.
Rack and equipment mounting
+
Adapt fixing interfaces to the monitored structure and available installation space.
- Required inputs
- Surface geometry, orientation, access and permitted attachment.
- Scope & outputs
- Bracket or mounting interface with installation drawing.
- Acceptance checks
- Check fit, orientation repeatability and retention against agreed loads.
- Engineering considerations
- Attachment design does not establish structural adequacy of the monitored asset.
Outdoor pole and enclosure assemblies
+
Coordinate enclosure sealing, antenna placement and installation access.
- Required inputs
- Pole geometry, exposure, radio path and maintenance method.
- Scope & outputs
- Mounting, connector and enclosure assembly concept.
- Acceptance checks
- Verify assembled fit and the specified environmental tests.
- Engineering considerations
- A component enclosure rating does not automatically cover the complete installation.
Multi-axis measurement configurations
+
Select the sensing element and physical axis convention for the required duty.
- Required inputs
- Angular envelope, axis references and relevant performance conditions.
- Scope & outputs
- Sensor/interface selection and documented orientation.
- Acceptance checks
- Compare specified positions with the agreed reference arrangement.
- Engineering considerations
- Resolution, accuracy, drift and installed alignment are distinct properties.
03Vibration and machine-condition hardware3 +
Preserve the mechanical and electrical path between machine motion and recorded data.
Machine-mounted sensor assemblies
+
Develop an attachment suited to the monitored bearing housing or machine surface.
- Required inputs
- Mounting point, vibration band, mass and environmental constraints.
- Scope & outputs
- Sensor assembly, attachment and installation concept.
- Acceptance checks
- Assess response and repeatability using the specified fixture.
- Engineering considerations
- Mounting resonance and coupling can limit usable bandwidth.
Acquisition electronics
+
Scope sensor interfaces and data acquisition around the required signal bandwidth.
- Required inputs
- Sensor output, bandwidth, noise and processing-interface requirements.
- Scope & outputs
- Signal-chain architecture, PCB interfaces and component selection.
- Acceptance checks
- Measure noise and acquisition behaviour under defined test conditions.
- Engineering considerations
- Sampling capability alone does not establish end-to-end measurement accuracy.
Separated probe and terminal layouts
+
Place sensing and communication components according to access and exposure.
- Required inputs
- Cable length, routing, machine clearance and electronics location.
- Scope & outputs
- Probe/terminal arrangement with cable and connector selection.
- Acceptance checks
- Test cable effects, continuity and installation fit.
- Engineering considerations
- Cable construction, shielding and attachment are part of the verified assembly.
04Air-quality and gas instrument platforms3 +
Address the interaction between sensing exposure, enclosure design and electrical demand.
Multi-sensor indoor terminals
+
Arrange selected environmental, particle and gas modules around sampling and service needs.
- Required inputs
- Channel set, module dimensions, airflow and user-interface requirements.
- Scope & outputs
- Mechanical layout, sensing interfaces and power architecture.
- Acceptance checks
- Check module fit, airflow paths and channel operation on prototypes.
- Engineering considerations
- Cross-sensitivity and sensor-specific maintenance remain selection requirements.
Outdoor sampling enclosures
+
Separate protection of electronics from the exposure required by the sensor.
- Required inputs
- Rain, dust, airflow, inlet and maintenance conditions.
- Scope & outputs
- Enclosure, inlet and service-access concept.
- Acceptance checks
- Evaluate the assembled design under agreed exposure and response tests.
- Engineering considerations
- A sealed terminal does not imply a sealed air-sampling path.
Industrial gas sampling interfaces
+
Assess the instrument interface to the specified sampled gas and installation.
- Required inputs
- Gas composition, pressure, temperature, sampling method and area classification.
- Scope & outputs
- Materials, connection and sensor-interface design scope.
- Acceptance checks
- Verify the agreed mechanical, electrical and sampling conditions.
- Engineering considerations
- Hazardous-area and process approvals apply only to a documented final assembly.
05Pressure transmitters and process interfaces3 +
Treat the sensing element, pressure boundary and medium compatibility as one specification.
Selected process connections
+
Adapt the measurement connection to the specified process equipment.
- Required inputs
- Pressure duty, thread/flange reference and wetted materials.
- Scope & outputs
- Connection and sensing-assembly specification.
- Acceptance checks
- Verify dimensions and agreed pressure-test conditions.
- Engineering considerations
- Mechanical compatibility and permitted pressure must be established for the complete assembly.
Remote electronics placement
+
Assess separation between process sensing and the communication terminal.
- Required inputs
- Process heat, cable route, access and electronics ambient limits.
- Scope & outputs
- Probe/terminal arrangement and thermal separation concept.
- Acceptance checks
- Measure relevant temperatures and verify signal operation.
- Engineering considerations
- Measured-medium temperature must not be applied to the electronics enclosure.
Multi-parameter process terminals
+
Combine selected sensing interfaces within a defined installation envelope.
- Required inputs
- Variables, sensor interfaces, mounting and maintenance access.
- Scope & outputs
- Channel and connector architecture with mechanical layout.
- Acceptance checks
- Check channel operation and cross-interface behaviour on prototypes.
- Engineering considerations
- Shared electronics do not guarantee identical sensing locations or response times.
06Level, distance and water-leak hardware3 +
Choose the sensing geometry and installation interface before selecting the enclosure alone.
Non-contact measurement supports
+
Adapt the mounting arrangement around the sensing field and installation geometry.
- Required inputs
- Measurement path, obstructions, target and mounting dimensions.
- Scope & outputs
- Mounting concept and enclosure/interface layout.
- Acceptance checks
- Check mechanical fit and readings at agreed reference positions.
- Engineering considerations
- Beam geometry, target properties and environmental influence remain sensor-dependent.
Immersed or wetted probes
+
Specify the cable, sealing and material interfaces exposed to the medium.
- Required inputs
- Medium, depth/exposure conditions, cable route and service method.
- Scope & outputs
- Probe/cable assembly and sealing requirements.
- Acceptance checks
- Perform the specified leakage, ingress and functional checks.
- Engineering considerations
- Depth, duration and medium compatibility must accompany any immersion requirement.
Leak-detection accessories
+
Adapt point or cable detection interfaces to the monitored location.
- Required inputs
- Detection surface, liquid, connector and cable-routing constraints.
- Scope & outputs
- Probe/accessory interface and installation arrangement.
- Acceptance checks
- Exercise wet, dry, disconnected and recovery conditions.
- Engineering considerations
- Detection behaviour also depends on the selected sensing principle and firmware.
07Asset-tracking and mobile-device enclosures3 +
Balance antenna exposure, attachment and serviceability for the tracked asset.
Asset-specific attachment
+
Adapt the device fixing to containers, equipment or returnable transport assets.
- Required inputs
- Asset geometry, permitted fixings, impacts and access.
- Scope & outputs
- Mounting interface and mechanical retention concept.
- Acceptance checks
- Verify fit and agreed handling or retention tests.
- Engineering considerations
- The installation must not impair the asset or expose personnel to loose parts.
Positioning and radio integration
+
Arrange selected positioning and communications components within the physical design.
- Required inputs
- Target markets, antennas, enclosure materials and installation orientation.
- Scope & outputs
- RF layout and antenna integration scope.
- Acceptance checks
- Evaluate representative installed reception and radio operation.
- Engineering considerations
- No positioning accuracy or network coverage is implied without a defined test basis.
Service and energy access
+
Choose battery, charging or sealed service arrangements around the use pattern.
- Required inputs
- Service interval, supply option, handling and sealing requirements.
- Scope & outputs
- Power packaging and access design.
- Acceptance checks
- Check power peaks, charging where included and service reassembly.
- Engineering considerations
- Runtime and protection ratings depend on the final verified operating profile.
08Weather and agricultural field equipment3 +
Design modular sensing and installation interfaces for exposed monitoring locations.
Configurable sensor junctions
+
Bring selected outdoor probes into a maintainable terminal assembly.
- Required inputs
- Probe list, electrical interfaces, cables and supply demand.
- Scope & outputs
- Connector/channel architecture with identification and cable support.
- Acceptance checks
- Check each configured probe and connection on the prototype.
- Engineering considerations
- Sensor exposure and terminal protection require separate consideration.
Soil and growing-area probes
+
Adapt probe mechanics and cables to the monitored medium and installation.
- Required inputs
- Soil or substrate, insertion arrangement, cleaning and cable route.
- Scope & outputs
- Probe/interface and installation concept.
- Acceptance checks
- Verify fit, sealing requirements and representative measurement behaviour.
- Engineering considerations
- Soil contact and local variability are not solved by enclosure customisation.
Mast and service assemblies
+
Coordinate terminal mounting, accessories and access around the sensing positions.
- Required inputs
- Mast dimensions, sensor positions and maintenance access.
- Scope & outputs
- Bracket arrangement, cable routing and service layout.
- Acceptance checks
- Complete a representative assembly and service-access check.
- Engineering considerations
- Mast strength and site civil works need a separately defined engineering responsibility.
09Gateways and field-interface collectors3 +
Match electrical interfaces, isolation and antenna integration to the connected equipment.
Field I/O expansion
+
Add selected analogue, pulse or discrete interfaces to an assessed platform.
- Required inputs
- Signal type, voltage/current levels and channel requirements.
- Scope & outputs
- Interface circuitry and connector architecture.
- Acceptance checks
- Apply known inputs and relevant electrical boundary conditions.
- Engineering considerations
- Adding channels may change power, enclosure and EMC requirements.
Wired equipment interfaces
+
Scope serial or industrial data connections around the actual installation.
- Required inputs
- Protocol hardware, cable lengths, grounding and isolation needs.
- Scope & outputs
- Physical interface and protection design.
- Acceptance checks
- Verify electrical operation with representative connected equipment.
- Engineering considerations
- Protocol software and semantic mapping are separate, coordinated work items.
Radio and backhaul variants
+
Assess selected modem or radio hardware for the intended region and mounting.
- Required inputs
- Network technology, bands, antenna route and operator requirements.
- Scope & outputs
- Module, antenna and power-integration design scope.
- Acceptance checks
- Test representative connectivity and supply behaviour.
- Engineering considerations
- A module approval does not automatically certify the finished gateway.
10Solar and externally powered remote terminals3 +
Engineer the supply for measured loads, available energy and installation exposure.
Solar and storage integration
+
Size the hardware architecture around a stated site and duty profile.
- Required inputs
- Solar resource, sensor loads, communications peaks and autonomy objective.
- Scope & outputs
- Panel/storage/charging interface and protection specification.
- Acceptance checks
- Evaluate energy flow and operating limits under agreed conditions.
- Engineering considerations
- No unattended runtime is promised without a complete energy assessment.
Industrial DC supply interfaces
+
Adapt external power input and protection to the supplied site source.
- Required inputs
- Nominal supply, tolerances, transients, grounding and connectors.
- Scope & outputs
- Input-stage and power-domain design.
- Acceptance checks
- Test the agreed supply boundaries and recovery conditions.
- Engineering considerations
- Transient and EMC requirements must be included explicitly in verification.
Switched sensor power domains
+
Provide controlled supplies for probes with different operating needs.
- Required inputs
- Probe voltage/current, warm-up and switching requirements.
- Scope & outputs
- Power-domain architecture and hardware control interfaces.
- Acceptance checks
- Measure sequencing, peak demand and off-state leakage.
- Engineering considerations
- Firmware timing must be coordinated with the final power design.
11Equipment controllers and actuator interfaces3 +
Separate monitoring electronics from any proposed command or control function.
Monitoring retrofit boards
+
Adapt a sensing/data interface without changing the equipment control role.
- Required inputs
- Existing circuit, allowed connections and equipment documentation.
- Scope & outputs
- A defined monitoring interface and installation method.
- Acceptance checks
- Verify interaction with representative equipment operating states.
- Engineering considerations
- Modification must respect the equipment manufacturer and owner requirements.
Actuator interface assessment
+
Evaluate a selected output stage where a command function is expressly requested.
- Required inputs
- Load, supply, switching behaviour and isolation requirements.
- Scope & outputs
- Output-stage design and defined electrical limits.
- Acceptance checks
- Test representative loads and agreed fault conditions.
- Engineering considerations
- Safety-related actuation needs a separately assessed control architecture.
Equipment status accessories
+
Provide compatible connections for switches, feedback signals or service indicators.
- Required inputs
- Signal levels, connector access and normal/fault states.
- Scope & outputs
- Accessory/interface circuit and mechanical arrangement.
- Acceptance checks
- Exercise electrical states and connection faults.
- Engineering considerations
- A status indicator is not evidence that a process is safe or complete.
12OEM productisation and manufacturing transfer3 +
Turn an assessed design into a traceable configuration that can be built and tested.
Enclosure and branding adaptations
+
Scope label, colour, connector placement or mounting changes on an assessed platform.
- Required inputs
- Brand files, dimensional constraints and retained product functions.
- Scope & outputs
- A controlled mechanical and identification revision.
- Acceptance checks
- Check assembly fit, markings and any affected performance tests.
- Engineering considerations
- An apparently cosmetic change can still affect antennas, sealing or approvals.
Production test provisions
+
Design access for programming, calibration and agreed end-of-line checks.
- Required inputs
- Production flow, test limits, cycle needs and traceability requirements.
- Scope & outputs
- Test points, fixture interfaces and manufacturing test documentation.
- Acceptance checks
- Run representative units and defined fault cases through the proposed checks.
- Engineering considerations
- Test coverage and calibration responsibilities are explicitly allocated.
Design and supply handover
+
Document the parts, revisions and files required for the agreed production route.
- Required inputs
- Manufacturing route, approved components and ownership requirements.
- Scope & outputs
- Contracted CAD/manufacturing files, bill of materials and revision records.
- Acceptance checks
- Review release completeness and build a controlled pilot configuration.
- Engineering considerations
- Tooling, file ownership, substitutions and lifecycle support follow written terms.
Scope & specifications
Engineering scope. Defined by the project.
These items describe the development agreement, rather than universal product specifications.
| Service type | Custom device hardware design or agreed adaptation |
|---|---|
| Measurement requirements | Quantities, ranges, accuracy conditions and calibration needs |
| Electrical architecture | Power input, sensing interfaces, processor and external connections |
| Communication | Selected technology, regional requirements and integration scope |
| Mechanical scope | Enclosure, mounting, connectors and installation constraints |
| Prototype stage | Quantities, build scope and functional acceptance tests |
| Qualification | Agreed environmental, EMC or other verification; external assessment identified separately |
| Certification | Target market and applicable standards reviewed; no certificate implied before evidence |
| Engineering deliverables | Design files, bill of materials, assembly and test documents as contracted |
| Production and rights | Tooling, manufacturing, source files, ownership and support agreed in writing |
Integration & handover
From feasibility review. To a documented baseline.
Define the design evidence and the next production decision at each stage.
Requirements and feasibility
Review constraints, interfaces and technical risks before confirming the development scope.
Design and prototype
Develop the agreed design and evaluate prototypes against the documented acceptance conditions.
Handover or production transition
Deliver the contracted engineering files and test information. Agree any subsequent qualification, tooling or manufacturing work separately.
FAQ
Answers for
your project.
Resolve the technical scope, interfaces and acceptance conditions before committing to a deployment.
What can be customised on an existing Hitelecom platform?
Start with the required sensing channels, interfaces, power, antenna, enclosure and mounting changes. An assessment identifies the reusable baseline, changes to electronics or mechanics, and verification that the modification affects.
When is a new hardware design preferable to an adaptation?
A new design may be appropriate when the measurement chain, interfaces, power or mechanical constraints cannot be met by a suitable baseline. Architecture, development effort and production requirements are reviewed before choosing the route.
How should measurement accuracy be specified?
State the measured quantity, working range, reference conditions, allowable error and response requirements. Consider the sensing element, signal chain, probe, installation and calibration together; digital resolution is not the same as installed accuracy.
Can electronics be used at the probe measurement temperature?
Not automatically. Probe/medium temperature and electronics ambient limits are separate. Cable, seals, mounting and thermal isolation must also suit the installation, and the supplied assembly defines the applicable limits.
Can an outdoor or immersion protection rating be requested?
Yes, as an engineering requirement with defined exposure and test conditions. The complete assembled device, connectors and cable entries must support the claimed rating; an enclosure component rating alone is insufficient.
Can the design use cellular, NB-IoT or LoRa connectivity?
The chosen technology is assessed against the intended market, available network, antenna arrangement and power budget. Exact bands, module versions, firmware and receiving path are specified. LoRa does not automatically mean LoRaWAN.
Does a pre-certified radio module approve the finished product?
No blanket approval is implied. Finished-product integration, antennas, power, enclosure and target jurisdiction can introduce additional assessment requirements. Applicable tests and certification responsibilities are agreed for the final configuration.
Are hazardous-area designs and certificates included?
Only an explicitly assessed scope can address the required market, area classification and protection concept. The product must not be represented as approved until suitable documentation covers the exact supplied configuration and installation conditions.
Does a functional prototype mean the product is production-ready?
A prototype demonstrates the agreed functions. Production release can also require design verification, supply review, manufacturing tests, tooling, qualification and approval evidence. These are distinct milestones with separate acceptance criteria.
Are firmware, cloud and application development included?
They are included only where stated in the project scope. Hardware interfaces must be coordinated with firmware behaviour and the receiving platform, but the engineering deliverables and responsibilities remain explicit.
Who receives the CAD files, bill of materials and tooling?
File delivery, access rights, design ownership, tooling ownership and permitted reuse are defined in the agreement. Third-party components and intellectual property remain subject to their licences and commercial conditions.
Why is there no standard datasheet, price or development lead time?
This is a project-specific service. The requirements, prototype quantities, verification, tooling, approvals and production route determine the quotation and schedule. A product datasheet follows a defined design and supported specification.
Discuss your project
Define your requirements.
Build the right scope.
Share the device functions, installation conditions and intended markets. Include interface requirements, estimated quantities and any existing design materials for feasibility review.
sales@hitelecom.cn ↗