LabVIEW 2009 Introduces Distributed Intelligence and Digital Prototyping  

National Instruments today announced LabVIEW 2009, the latest version of the graphical system design software platform for control, test and embedded system development. With this version of LabVIEW, you can use virtualization technology to reduce system cost and size, deploy distributed custom measurements across vast physical hardware systems with the new NI wireless sensor network (WSN) platform and streamline algorithm design and deployment to embedded systems with real-time math. LabVIEW 2009 also makes it possible to create digital prototypes with integrated SolidWorks mechatronics tools.

Enhance performance with multicore technology

Virtualization technology makes it possible to run multiple OSs side by side on the same multicore processing hardware to build more efficient systems. New NI Real-Time Hypervisor software combines the power of the LabVIEW Real-Time Module with general-purpose OS capabilities to reduce system cost and size. Using this software, you can run Windows XP and LabVIEW Real-Time side by side on a single controller, partitioning the processor cores and I/O devices among the two OSs to achieve control and human machine interface (HMI) from a single system. The Real-Time Hypervisor works with dual- and quad-core NI PXI controllers as well as the NI 3110 industrial controller

FPGA features and wireless capabilities

LabVIEW 2009 brings the benefits of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) software use to deterministic distributed I/O. With FPGA computations running in the megahertz ranges, you can achieve ultra-fast control, perform signal processing and interface with digital protocols.

Additionally, technology advances have made it possible to deploy WSNs to perform distributed measurements across vast physical systems. Enhancing the wireless sensors with custom software logic traditionally has required knowledge of complex, low-level embedded programming. The new LabVIEW Wireless Sensor Network Module Pioneer gives engineers and scientists the ability to program individual NI WSN measurement nodes with the ease of use of graphical programming.

Save time and resources with digital prototyping

NI collaborated with SolidWorks, a leader in mechanical design, on a mechatronics tool that helps mechanical and control engineers work together to lower the cost and risk of machine design. The seamless integration of LabVIEW 2009 and SolidWorks 3D CAD software delivers a design environment that is ideal for digital prototyping, helping you to design, optimize, validate and visualize the real-world performance of machines and motion systems before building physical prototypes. The digital prototype demonstrates not only the look but also the movements and operation of a future machine.

Real-time math

LabVIEW features built-in math libraries that contain more than 1,000 functions ranging from low-level, point-by-point signal processing to high-level, configuration-based implementations, all of which easily can be deployed to real-time embedded devices. With the MathScript Module, LabVIEW 2009 further expands access to real-time math, which is the implementation and deployment of mathematical algorithms to deterministic operating systems. The module also helps you incorporate existing files using interactive user interfaces and real-world I/O and easily deploy them to real-time hardware for faster system prototyping.

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Filed Under: Factory automation, Medical, Wireless, Data acquisition + DAQ modules, Mechatronics, Software, Test + measurement • test equipment

 

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