R. E. Coker and Associates, Inc. understands machine motion control and communication. Controlling a machine oftentimes means controlling motion along three or more axis: X, Y, Z and maybe Theta (motion of an optional dispensing, drilling or picking head). Data acquisition applications receive data packets from a machine, that are parsed into data elements and subsequently displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI).

Usually, a motion control application uses a series of commands to control the machine in question. The program contains a series of relative and absolute X-Y-Z-Theta motions that are communicated to the machine. The program tells the machine the sequence to do a particular operation. The X direction tells the machine to move left and right. The Y direction tells the machine to move toward or away from the viewer. The Z direction tells the head to move away from or towards the sample. The theta direction will swivel the head a certain number of degrees. Safety, is also, a major concern with these types of applications. The program must be programmed to respond to a stop button for example.

Data acquisition applications usually involve the processing of serial, USB or TCP/IP data, displaying that data in a graphical user interface and then executing a process based on those inputs. R.E. Coker and Associates has been involved in the design of data acquisition applications for security systems, military electronics testing and scientific instrumentation.