The AK Protocol is a text-based ASCII communication protocol created by Emerson Process Management (Rosemount Analytical) to control and monitor industrial gas analyzers. Since then, it has been adopted by other manufacturers such as M&C TechGroup, being widely used in industrial environments and analysis laboratories.
Its main function is to allow communication between a PC (or control system) and instruments via RS-232 or TCP/IP, using a standardized, reliable, and easily integrable message structure.
📡 Typical Applications of the AK Protocol
The AK protocol is widely used in:
- Industrial gas analyzers (O₂, CO, NOx, etc.)
- Continuous environmental monitoring systems (CEMS)
- Laboratory automation systems
- Production lines with data collection via serial or network
- Test benches for validation and calibration of analysis instruments
🔧 How does the AK protocol work?
The AK protocol follows a master-slave structure and uses messages in ASCII format delimited by control characters:
- STX (Start of Text – 0x02)
- Message (e.g., command or query)
- ETX (End of Text – 0x03)
Example of a command:
<STX>@001,GET_TEMP;<ETX>
Responses follow the same pattern and may contain numerical data, strings, or status messages. The protocol also implements integrity verification (checksum) in some variants.
🧰 Common Commands of the AK Protocol
| Function | Example command |
|---|---|
| Temperature reading | @001,GET_TEMP; |
| Setpoint definition | @002,SET_SP,500.0; |
| Control activation | @003,CTRL_ON; |
| Status reading | @001,GET_STATUS; |
These commands are sent by a master software (such as SCADA, LabVIEW, TestStand, or a custom application in C# or Python), and the responses return via serial or TCP/IP socket.
🛠️ How AJOLLY Testing uses the AK protocol
At AJOLLY Testing, we integrate the AK protocol into test and validation systems that require:
- Control of industrial analyzers with standardized commands
- Real-time measurement data acquisition
- Simulation of AK devices for test bench validation and repair processes
- Interfaces in LabVIEW, C# and Python with RS-232 and Ethernet compatibility
- Integration with MES and databases for complete traceability
⚙️ Advantages of the AK Protocol
✅ ASCII-based, easy to implement and debug
✅ Robust communication with integrity verification
✅ Ideal for demanding industrial environments
✅ Support for multiple devices with logical addressing
✅ Compatible with embedded applications and test automation
What is the AK Protocol? Standard communication for industrial analyzers via RS-232 or TCP/IP Test, Measurement, Control, Quality, and SupervisionThe AK protocol facilitates reliable communication with industrial instruments, bringing standardization, flexibility, and robustness to production testing and monitoring systems.