National Instruments has released LabVIEW 2009, the latest version of the graphical system design software platform for control, test and embedded system development.
LabVIEW 2009 simplifies the development challenges of parallel hardware architectures with new virtualisation technology that takes advantage of multicore systems as well as by offering new compiler improvements and IP that enhance field-programmable gate array (FPGA) design.
The company is adopting an annual release cycle for LabVIEW, with version names based on the year of release. This annual release cycle aims to solidify the schedule, stability and feature scope of each new release to provide an easy upgrade process for customers.
The latest version of LabVIEW makes it possible to deploy code to wireless sensor networks to help engineers and scientists build smarter industrial measurement and monitoring systems and features new solutions for testing multiple wireless standards such as WLAN, WiMAX, GPS and MIMO systems on a single hardware platform. In addition, LabVIEW 2009 simplifies realtime math by streamlining mathematical algorithm design and deployment to realtime hardware.
Parallel system design
Virtualisation technology makes it possible to run multiple operating systems 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 overall system cost and size. Using this software, engineers and scientists can run Windows XP and LabVIEW Real-Time side by side on the same controller, partitioning the processor cores among the two operating systems for more efficient use of system resources. The Real-Time Hypervisor works with dual- and quad-core NI PXI controllers as well as the NI Industrial Controller.
While virtualisation provides a new way to design parallel systems, LabVIEW 2009 also delivers enhancements for existing parallel design technology including multicore programming and FPGA development. LabVIEW 2009 features a new parallel for-loop structure, which automatically divides iterations of loops across multiple processors to increase the execution speed of the process. LabVIEW also further simplifies FPGA programming by offering early compile feedback and critical path highlighting to make early estimates on FPGA resource usage and better debug timing violations. Additionally, new streamlined FPGA IP delivers higher-throughput math and signal processing performance.
Smart wireless sensor networks
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) make it possible to deploy distributed measurements across vast physical hardware systems. With WSNs, engineers and scientists can analyse more effectively everything from rain forests and river deltas to the health and safety of buildings and bridges. LabVIEW provides the ability to configure the new NI WSN platform with a drag-and-drop programming environment for performing analysis as well as extracting and presenting measurement data. Using the new LabVIEW Wireless Sensor Network Module Pioneer, users can program the individual NI WSN measurement nodes to extend node battery life, increase acquisition performance and create custom sensor interfaces.
Testing wireless devices and standards
With software-defined instrumentation using LabVIEW, users can implement the same measurement platform to acquire and analyse any modulation scheme or protocol standard rather than using dedicated box instruments for specific protocols. The new NI WLAN Measurement Suite for LabVIEW guarantees compliance with IEEE 802.11 a/b/g standards and performs measurements quickly. In addition to the WLAN Measurement Suite, the WiMAX, GPS and MIMO solutions for LabVIEW provide the ability to test more wireless standards with NI modular instruments.
Deploying realtime math
LabVIEW features built-in math libraries that contain more than 1000 functions ranging from low-level, point-by-point signal processing to high-level, configuration-based implementations, all of which can be deployed to realtime embedded devices. With the LabVIEW MathScript RT Module, LabVIEW 2009 further expands access to realtime math, which is the implementation and deployment of mathematical algorithms to deterministic operating systems, for engineers and scientists using text-based math tools. The module also provides users with the ability to incorporate their own existing .m files using interactive user interfaces and real-world I/O, and deploy them to realtime hardware for fast system prototyping.
For more information contact National Instruments, 0800 203 199, sales@natinst.co.za, www.ni.com/southafrica
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