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Apr 14, 2017 Tutorial number 1 on labview: Getting Started with LabVIEW: We are going to start a new series of tutorials on LabVIEW.We will start from very beginner level and by the end of this series you will be an expert of LabVIEW. (2) in any application, including the above, reliability of operation of the software products can be impaired by adverse factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in electrical power supply, computer hardware malfunctions, computer operating system software fitness, fitness of compilers and development software used to. Mar 13, 2017 LabVIEW offers more flexibility when compared to the industry standard laboratory instruments because LabVIEW is software based. The data controls can be easily managed when LabVIEW is utilized. Firstly, we will understand what LabView is, and then we will discuss the advantages of using this software tool, and go through the basic workflow of. LabVIEW Tutorial. Note: This tutorial was created using LabVIEW version 5.1. Other versions may differ in what features and options are available. LabVIEW is a program used to automate testing and data gathering. It is basically a graphical programming language in which the user can set up the program to manipulate and store data. LabVIEW is a graphical programming language used by professional scientists and engineers as well as students, hobbyists and makers. LabVIEW was designed to enable domain experts to build power systems quickly without getting bogged down in subsystem minutia.
Tutorial 2: Programming Arduino with LabVIEW: In our last tutorial we have seen how to get started with LabVIEW. We answered what is LabVIEW? How its program looks like and How to make our first program in LabVIEW? Today’s tutorial is about the interfacing of LabVIEW and Arduino. We will explore about
- What Arduino is?
- Why interfacing of Arduino is necessary with LabVIEW?
- Necessary softwares required for interfacing of LabVIEW and Arduino?
- How to make a program in LabView, upload it to Arduino and control it through user interface?
What Arduino is?
Arduino is open source hardware board with many open source libraries to interface it’s on board microcontroller with many other external components like LED , motors, LCD, keypad, Bluetooth module, GSM module and many other things one want to interface with Arduino board. Arduino is basically make from a microcontroller but Arduino have all external socket to connect with other devices and it also have built in programmer which is used to program Arduino from computer. So Arduino is a complete board which includes all things to connect with external peripheral and easy to program through computer. There are many Arduino borads are available. But in this article I will give you brief review of Arduino UNO R3 which is very popular board among engineering students.
Arduino is the one of the most excellent electronic platform of the 21st century; it has accompanied the entire micro controller system into a small and handy device. It is an open source hardware and anyone can used it due to its friendly and easiness and can be used to create complex project by simple programming algorithms. It is not only to use design and develop but also can test the prototyped and hardware infinite times. The hardware consist of different microcontroller depending on the model that you are using with other electronic components which can be programmed using its own software the Arduino IDE to do almost any task starting from a simple LED glowing to building an Mars Rover and Drone Systems. The human friendly nature of the Arduino language makes it easier for everyone who wants to build different prototypes and hardware for its own interest as well as for some industrial purposes. Additionally, it possesses a simplified version of C++ which makes it easier to build programs at your own.
Arduino is intended for the people who want to play, run and build the complex hardware’s without knowing very much of the programming skills and algorithmic knowledge. It’s the best open source platform currently available in the market and has created another revolution and usage after its huge demand in the public. Since it is open source hardware; so most of the programs and softwares are available on the internet. The development cost of Arduino it extremely small as compared with the other tech giant’s microcontrollers.
Its software files include the basic programs for a beginner in its source code libraries. A user can use them to make its project versatile and can further edit the program for improving its capabilities and it also possess strong online helping community platforms.
Following are the main features of Arduino UNO which we will use in our tutorials:
- 14 digital IO (6 can be PWM outputs)
- 32KB program memory
- 6 Analog Inputs (10 bit resolution)
- Interfacing port
Fig. 1: Arduino UNO Board
Why interfacing of Arduino is necessary with LabVIEW?
Ardunio is open source hardware board and it is very easy to perform complicated tasks with it. It not only has many built in features but also supports external devices. But it requires writing different lines of code which could be cumbersome. Here comes in the LabVIEW to rescue you. LabView uses graphical language and do not require writing lines of code. Instead we use graphical diagram to perform particular task. You can have a look at tutorial 1 for more details.
Interfacing of LabVIEW and Arduino combines both the simplicity of Aduino hardware board and the graphical language of LabVIEW. Now we do not need to write lines of code and also we do not need the other complex hardware boards.
Necessary softwares required for interfacing of LabVIEW and Arduino?
Here is the list of software you are required to install for interfacing of Arduino and LabVIEW. All software are free and easily available.
- Visual Package Manger (You might already have it if you installed LabVIEW. If not download.)
- LabVIEW Interface for Arduino(Present in Visual Package Manger. Download and install it)
After installation test your installation using sample program at the “finish” dialogue box.
How to make a program Arduino with LabVIEW
In our program we will control an LED on real time hardware using a Push Button in LabVIEW.
- Start the LabVIEW.
- Creat Blank VI as in Tutorial 1.
- Go to “Block Diagram” Panel
- Right Click on white space. Go to “Arduino” and select “init”.
- Bring Cursor to anywhere in “Block Diagram” panel and place the “Init”.
- First input is “VISA resource”. It is the serial port you are using for interfacing of Adruino. You can find it in “device manager” of your computer under “ports (COM & LPT)….” Make sure Arduino board is connected with computer otherwise it won’t be shown. In my case it is COM4.
- Bring cursor on first input of “Init” until it shows “VISA resource”. Right click on it. Go to “create” and select “constant”. As it will be a constant value of Port which will be always used for serial communication.
- Click on arrow it will show available option. In my case its “COM4”. Select appropriate one after checking from device manger as mentioned above otherwise it won’t work.
- Second input is “Baud Rate”. Create it as constant as done for “VISA resource”. Right click on “Baud Rate” then “create” and then “constant”.
- Third input is “Board Type”, fourth is “Bytes per packet” and fifth is “Connection type” make them also constant.
- Click on white space on “Block Diagram” and follow “Arduino → Low Level → and select Set Digital Pin”
- Place “Set Digital Pin” on “Block Diagram” and join “Arduino resource” of both blocks. Create “digital I/O pin” as constant. And write 13 in it. It will be pin we will control. Make second input “Pin Mode” as constant and select output from drop down. It means pin will work as output pin. Join “error in” with “error out” of other block. If any error occurs in previous block, it will travel to next block. We will elaborate its purpose at end of article.
- This completes what we do in setup loop of Arduino program.
- Click on white space on “Block Diagram” and follow “Arduino → Low Level → and select Digital Write”. Place “Digital Writ ” on “Block Diagram”.
- Now next as we do in program; we place DigitalWrite function in void loop, we will do same here.
- Click on white space on “Block Diagram” and follow “Structure → select While loop”.
- Draw a rectangle on “Block Diagram” and click on red color round icon “loop condition”Create a constant by right clicking on it. I will show a “STOP” icon on diagram.
- Bring “Arduino Resources, Error Out and Pin 13” on rectangle.
- Connect “Resources with Resource”, “Error with Error” and “Digital IO with Pin13”.
- For creating “value” input go to Front Panel. Right click “silver → Boolean → Push Button” and Place it in Front Panel. It will also be shown in “Block Diagram” automatically.
- Bring the Boolean in while loop and find “Boolean to (0,1)” as follows.
- Place “Boolean to (0, 1)” in “Block Diagram” and connect as shown.
- Find “Close Block” as Follows.
- Connect Close Block as Follows.
- Now Start Ardunio IDE.
- Click “File” then “Open” and Follow as shown. Go through all these folders from “Computer” onward and open LIFA_BASE Arduino file.
- Upload the program opened using Arrow button on top of Arduino IDE.
- Once uploading done close the Arduino IDE. It’s very important to close it because both LabVIEW and Arduino are using COM4. If not closed LabVIEW will not be able to communicate and it will crash.
- Now go to Front Panel in LabVIEW and run the program.
- Once both the Tx and Rx lights are ON; on Arduino board press Boolean button on Front Panel. You will observe LED on board connected with pin 13 is ON when we press push button on LabVIEW once. Pressing Again send 0 so LED will be OFF.
Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench is a complete system design platform and development environment for a visual programming language for National Instruments. It offers a graphical programming approach that helps you visualize all the aspect of your application such as hardware configuration, debugging and measurement data, etc… read more
16 LabVIEW Alternatives & Similar Software
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1. ATEasy
ATEasy is an easy to use but professional level of text executive and rapid app development framework for functional test, data acquisition, ATE, process control and much more. The software development studio of ATEasy contains a dedicated software development environment and many integrated solutions in the shape of customizable test executive for sequencing, execution, debugging and fault analysis of tests as well. The comprehensive simulation capabilities of ATEasy accelerate the test program for both deployment and development purpose. The user interface generation area of ATEasy contains the basis elements like event programming, form editor, menus, and controls as well. One of the best things about the open architecture of ATEasy support external software and hardware interfaces like C header files, DLL, NET, ActiveX, Function Panel Drivers, Serial and much more. The integrated application builder of this program will allow you to generate royalty-free runtime executable files and libraries as well.
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2. DASYLab
DASYLab is basically a data acquisition system laboratory system that offers real-time acquisition, analysis, control and the system to create the custom graphical user interface. As compared to the most of the GUI programming tools that need a week of training to get a perfect hand, this program has a very short user learning curve. Many programs and tools can be customized in a few minutes rather than days or weeks. The advanced acquisition and control tasks by means of this program can easily be solved with this program without the requirement of additional programming at all. The users only need to insert the appropriate module blocked into the worksheet and connect them by virtual wires with some mouse clicks. The main highlighted features and functions of the DASYLab are creating complex programs quickly without programming requirement, real-time data acquisition, standard real-time displays, a complete library of computational functions, state machine function for complex state-based scenarios, availability of more than five hundred channels on multiple devices, etc.
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3. R&S QuickStep Test Executive
R&S QuickStep Test Executive is real-time test executive software designed to enhance the test development efficiency and minimizes the efforts of the engineers and program testers. The main advantage of using R&S QuickStep Test Executive is that it meets the demanding performance requirements of production tests and delivers the greater amount of flexibility for test automation and research and development and in the verification process as well. The key facts that make R&S QuickStep Test Executive best among its competitors are its performance optimized design support for low overhears test execution. Then comes the intrinsic parallelism for efficient use of the test system resources. Then comes the role specific graphical user interfaces along with excellent usability for maximum testing and controlling. The main highlighted features of the R&S QuickStep Test Executive are its graphical test procedure definition, automatic generation of source code templates for new test functions, availability of MS Visual Studio based test function development with leading programming languages, etc.
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4. Agilent VEE
Agilent VEE is easy to use, user-friendly and simple graphical language environment that offers easiest and understandable way to measurement and analysis system that replaces the traditional testing and controlling tools. The main advantages of using this program are that it offers the complete and advanced scientific outcomes for both labs and business. Agilent VEE is not a standalone program at all rather it contains the family of multiple products that are designed to meet all requirements of the users. Multithreading and multi-core programming are the two basic elements that make Agilent VEE best above all. The greater ease of use is the next advantage that you will get by using this program. It offers the more sample programs for the latest Keysight instruments like Keysight 33500 arbitrary and function waveform generators and much more. It widely supports for latest industry standards as well like integrated LXI support and integrated database support as well.
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5. CodeWarrior
CodeWarrior is the name of an advanced level of embedded program development studio and is a complete integrated development environment that offers a visual and automated solution for all means. This program offers the visual and automated framework to accelerate development of the most complex embedded programs. As CodeWarrior contains an integrated development environment, so it gives a high quality and full-featured development environment. It also comes as a complete integrated development environment designed for each stage of the development process from board bring up via embedded application development. Then comes its state of the art debugging technology that is, in fact, the simplicity of intuitive development environments and robust run control raise hardware board bring up and C++ and C embedded application development to a new level. The unique features of the CodeWarrior are classic IDE system, unlimited assembler, and support of GNU compiler, integrated flash programmer, profiler availability, code coverage and much more.
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6. Octopus Deploy
Octopus Deploy is, in fact, an automated release management tool for the modern day developers and developers and operations teams for managing all development and programming process. This program will take you over where your continuous integration server requirement and allowing you to automate even the most complicated program deployment and much more. Make it the part of your development process, and it starts taking care of your development, quality assurance and acceptance testing and production deployment process. It allows its developers to deploy each and everything from deployment to production. It ensures releases have been tested first, schedule deployments for later. For each release, it supports for repeatable and reliable deployments. The way this program model the deployment process ensures that deployments are as consistent as possible between environments so that when developers are ready to go into production, they will be confident that it will just work.
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7. CloudTest Lite
CloudTest Lite is a testing tool for the developers and seasoned tester that is used for testing web apps and websites instantly. With it, the developers and webmasters can easily test the performance of their website and can also monitor the users’ information in real time mode as well. This standalone software means a lot of professional developers and programmers as with it they can optimize their entire load testing requirements. CloudTest Lite is a scalable, easy to use, super-fast, and affordable load testing tools making performance optimization more transparent and efficient than it is ever. If you want to get the real user experience from the multiple locations, then CloudTest Lite is specially designed for the people like you. It is going to give you a lot. With the usage of this program, you will be able to get complete testing flexibility from development to production and much more.
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8. Test Automation Platform Developer’s System
Test Automation Platform Developer’s System is basically a test sequencer program with timing analyzer, result viewer, and great amount of other useful tools for testing and automation development. This special program is basically used for controlling the execution of tests and much more. With this program the users can easily discover the defects immediately upon making a change when a test immediately requires changing at the moment. By this feature, this program offers a common platform for the automation engineers as well. The powerful key features and specifications of this program are fast execution and test flow visualization system, graphical user interface to construct and optimize the test plans from start to end, scalable modular software architecture, integration of MS Visual Studio along with .NET programming, visualizing the overall test plan and execution timing, easily visualizing test plan results, viewing multiple data sets to instantly comparing results across multiple test runs and much more.
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9. TestStand Test Executive
TestStand Test Executive is an industry proven test management program that assists the engineer’s test and validates the building and deployment process making it automated and faster than before. The main advantage of using this program is that it contains a ready to use and test sequence engine that offers great support for multiple test code languages, getting flexible result reporting, and of course multithreaded and parallel testing. For every engineer who is building a new automated system or updating the existing test system, it is highly vital to understand the cost of the total testing. After that, the testing process starts. TestStand Test Executive is a program offering solutions to the engineers. The main reason for choosing this test software is that it contained a lot of features and functions and designed to be highly extensible. The users can get the training and certification in this software as well as many institutes is offering the training.
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10. TestEZ Development Suite
TestEZ Development Suite is a single pack of multiple programs that contain all those programs highly required for getting a complete, efficient and cost-effective solution for test development and execution purpose. First of all, it features an easy to use the operating system and then a software coding tool like Code Assist. The availability of additional support tools is also part of this program for getting picture probing, archive management and also test documentation. One of the best features of TestEZ Development Suite is that it instantly configured to any bus controlled rack and stack, windows based, test stations by means of a simple and easy to use setup program. For the new users, it contains extensive help so that they can get detail information about how to this program. Multiple tools part of this software toolkit is tested executive, archive file manager, code assist, and probe assist.
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11. SigBase
This testing and controlling program widely support the simulation, automatic test resource allocation of most than one thousand and five hundred test strategies. SigBase is an ITAR controlled product that has replaced ATLS as the test language as a means for test systems supplied to the military for testing their hardware and equipment. It is basically an advanced IEEE 1641 complaint signal based test environment supporting the visual organization and execution of many kinds of strategies from basic signal components and test signal frameworks for all kind of reasons. It contains a unique level of capabilities like scanning, analyzing, managing, capturing and reporting the real-time spectrum automatically and unattended in a way that no other similar program is capable of doing so. The technology behind SigBase is also capable in offering the front end RF analysis for a host of those third party systems that rely on real-time spectral data. This is what makes SigBase special from others.
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12. PAWS Developer’s Studio for ATLAS
This simple to use program offers its users with the advanced and powerful solution of compiling, debugging and stimulating the operation of the ATLAS test programs from the Windows operating systems. If you want to get the visual development capabilities for the ATLAS TPS development then PAWS Developer’s Studio for ATLAS is a program specifically designed for you. With this, you will get the full support for the widely used ATLAS language subsets. The toolkit of this program is also capable in modifying the ATLAS language subset to meet the specific ATE configuration. The output of PAWS Developer’s Studio for ATLAS is all set for execution purpose on the connected Debugging RTS/PAWS Run Time System or can be translated to run the specific, unique and existing runtime system as well. It contains the tools like ATLAS Compiler, Developer’s Editor, Review Editor, Test Station Utilities, Device Database Processor, Switch Database Processor, etc.
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13. ActivATE Test Management Software
ActivATE Test Management Software is a newly launched testing and debugging software that allows the engineers and programmers to easily create and run the powerful test programs in automated test systems for the semiconductor devices. It is designed for the leading engineers for the other engineers so that they can get solved the automated test complications with elegant simplicity. The unique feature of this powerful and highly efficient program is that it contains an integrated development environment, an advanced device manager, and test sequencer. With this, the tests engineers can on the create and deploy the test programs deploying standard production languages. It is also a great means for delivering new products faster than before and can be used for running three dozen programs at once and independently to detect defects, streamlining the operations and reducing the cost of the test too. Overall, ActivATE Test Management Software is one of the best products for checking the performance of the semiconductors of all types.
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14. DIOEasy
DIOEasy is an advanced digital I/O vector development program for the test engineers using which they can enjoy the functions like developing, debugging, and executing digital test vectors for the Marvin Test Solutions products. It support for importing and converting VCD, WGL, and VCD file formats as well. It offers the test engineers with an easy to use and efficient tool for developing and debugging. It offers two methods for creating and editing digital test vectors such as graphical user interface environment and scripting environment. Digital in and out systems are very complicated in nature and typically need a substantial amount of programming effort to define data vectors. If the engineers need to simplify the vector development process, then Marvin Test Solution is offering the Windows-based DIOEasy system that offers the engineers with an easy to use interface. The integration of menus and toolbars offer quick access to the vector editing and viewing tools.
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15. ICEasy
ICEasy is an add-on module that accommodates the programming of Marvin Test Solutions Dynamic Digital boards for multiple tests like semiconductor and other hardware and programs too. This program cannot be used as a standalone program at all. The users of ICEasy first need to have ATEasy version nine installed on their device, and after that, they can start working with this program. In a single pack, ICEasy contains a lot of features and functions. This comprehensive and accomplished suite of multiple program and tools are designed for the semiconductor test applications. The streamlined features of the ICEasy are it contains a library of device test development tools for creating both tests programs and characterizing devices. The file import tool of ICEasy lets its users import and convert the WGL, STIL, VDC, and ATP files to any of Marvin Test Solutions digital instrument file format. It also contains digital waveform editing and display tools that facilitate the development and debugging of digital test vectors, editing tools, etc.
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16. ATS -Engineering
ATS -Engineering is the studio of test executive and development programs that contains the several other tools in the shape of integrated customizable test executive and development environment for execution, sequencing, analyzing and controlling purposes. The main programs being offered by ATS -Engineering in the single pack are ATEasy, DIOEasy, DtifEasy Series, WaveEasy, CalEasy Series, and ICEasy. All these are designed to offer the services like semiconductor test, reliability services, failure analysis services, turnkey solutions, and much more. Most of the programs mentioned above widely support for the automated calibration and verification of Marvin Test Solutions instruments. These also include the driver support for standards instruments highly required for calibration and verification purpose. It also supports the creation of customized calibration certificates, automatic generation of calibration log, multiple operation modes verification of both single and combined calibration and verification and much more.
More About LabVIEW
Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench is a complete system design platform and development environment for a visual programming language for National Instruments. It offers a graphical programming approach that helps you visualize all the aspect of your application such as hardware configuration, debugging and measurement data, etc. This visualization makes it much simpler to integrate measurement hardware from any vendor, represent complex logic on the diagram, build data analysis algorithm and design own custom engineering user-interface. LabVIEW is a feature-rich solution and comes with almost all the major tools and features that help you test your application more correctly. It is a commercial solution, and you can install it on Mac, Windows and Linux operating systems.