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What is modular measurement technology?

Modular measurement technology refers to a concept in which measurement instruments and systems consist of various individual modules or components that can be flexibly combined to meet specific measurement requirements. These modules can include signal processing units, data loggers, interfaces, control units, software, and other components. The modular approach has several advantages. It offers a high degree of flexibility in the configuration of measuring systems since users can select the required modules according to the requirements of their application. Moreover, it enables easy scalability, as additional modules can be added or removed to adapt the performance of the system or respond to new requirements. As defective or obsolete modules can be easily replaced so that the entire system does not have to be replaced, the modular design also simplifies maintenance and upgrades.

The software also plays a decisive role in modular measurement technology systems. Typically, it includes software modules such as drivers, APIs (application programming interfaces), and development environments such as LabVIEW, which enable the configuration, control, and data acquisition of the hardware modules. This enables the seamless integration of hardware and drivers and provides functions for the analysis, synchronization, visualization, and processing of measurement data.

Modular measurement technology is used in a variety of areas, including industrial automation, research and development, quality assurance, and environmental monitoring. It is a customized solution for a wide range of measurement applications and helps to improve efficiency and accuracy.

What are the advantages of modular measurement technology?

The modular approach offers several advantages. One key factor is the high level of flexibility. By combining or exchanging different modules, users can adapt the measurement configuration to changing application requirements or new technologies. In addition, modular systems are scalable because they can be expanded or downsized as required by adding or removing modules. Modular solutions are also cost-effective, as you can purchase only the modules you need instead of buying separate measurement devices for each measurement task and they can be used across teams.

Which modules are included in modular measurement technology?

Modular measurement technology comprises a wide range of modules that can be used alone or in combination to meet the requirements of different measurement applications. Below are some of the typical modules used in NI (National Instruments) systems:

Measurement modules: They record and process analog and digital signals from sensors and other sources, offering a variety of input and output channels for different measurements.
Signal processing modules: These modules offer functions for analyzing and processing signals, including filtering, FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation), and other signal-processing algorithms.
Interface modules: They enable communication between the measurement system and other devices or computers via various interfaces such as USB, Ethernet, or PCIe.
Control and automation modules: These modules allow actuators and other devices to be controlled based on the measured data. They also offer functions for automating test and measurement processes.
Software modules: NI offers a variety of software modules, including drivers, APIs (application programming interfaces), and development environments such as LabVIEW, to facilitate the integration and programming of NI hardware.

In addition, the NI ecosystem includes numerous other modules and accessory parts for specific applications and industries.

What distinguishes the modular measurement technology of NI (National Instruments)?

NI (National Instruments) NI products and solutions define a new standard for test automation and user-specified measurement systems. Thanks to the individual customization options, they offer advantages in numerous tests that occur daily in production, research, and development. The most important advantages are:

Flexibility: NI modules enable measurement systems to be adapted and expanded as required to meet changing requirements.
Integration: NI products are integrated into leading development platforms such as LabVIEW, which facilitates the development of measurement and automation systems. This enables the seamless integration of hardware and software, shortening development times and increasing efficiency.
Modularity: The modular design allows users to add or remove specific functions without having to replace the entire system, thus saving time and money when maintaining and updating measurement systems.
Reliability: NI products are produced from high-quality materials and manufactured according to strict quality standards, ensuring reliable and accurate performance. This is particularly important in demanding environments where precise measurements are required.
Support: NI (National Instruments) provides comprehensive technical support and training for users of its products to ensure that they get the most out of their measurement technology. As the exclusive training partner in Germany, dataTec offers online seminars and hands-on training on the NI portfolio for beginners and professionals in both English and German. This helps interested parties expand their knowledge and exchange technical information on applications and problem solutions. Have a look at the NI training program.

Where are PXI systems used?

PXI systems combine high performance with cost-effective channel density and are particularly suitable for areas such as validation processes, automated production testing, aerospace, automotive development, embedded systems and machine monitoring. PXI systems have been on the market since 1998 and have developed into an open industry standard that ensures interoperability and that the high mechanical, electronic and software requirements of the PXI architecture are met.

What is the difference between PXI and PXIe?

PXI (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) and PXIe (PXI Express) are two of the most important and widely used standards in modern measurement technology, developed by NI (National Instruments) and now freely accessible and manufacturer-independent. The main differences between the two systems lie in the transmission speed and bandwidth. PXIe offers faster data transfer rates and higher bandwidth compared to PXI, resulting in improved performance features such as higher channel count, faster signal processing, and greater flexibility. PXIe uses PCIe (PCI Express) as its communication protocol, while PXI is based on PCI. PXIe also allows for the integration of hybrid systems, which can combine PXI and PXIe modules.

What are PXI controllers?

PXI controllers are either embedded or remote controllers. Embedded controllers contain everything you need to run a PXI system without an external PC. Remote controllers can be used to control a PXI system via desktops, laptops or server computers. PXI controllers have standard functions such as integrated CPU, hard disk, RAM, Ethernet, video, keyboard, mouse, USB and serial interfaces as well as additional I/O for peripheral devices. PXI controllers not only have high CPU performance, but also high I/O throughput, numerous peripheral I/O ports and up to 32 GB RAM. PXI controllers are designed to meet the demanding requirements of modular test, measurement and control systems. They feature the latest rugged processor options and can operate over a wide temperature range and in environments with high shock and vibration.

What are the main advantages of NI PXI controllers?

New NI PXI controllers are equipped with powerful mobile processors shortly after they are released by computer manufacturers such as Dell or HP. Since NI has been distributing PXI controllers and PXI embedded controllers for more than 20 years, the company has established close cooperative relationships with major processor manufacturers such as Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). As an associate member of the Intel Intelligent Systems Alliance, NI has access to the latest Intel product roadmaps and examples.

In addition to computing power, I/O bandwidth plays an important role in the design of instruments. As modern test and measurement systems become more complex, there is an increasing need for data exchange between the instrument and the system controller. NI PXI controllers fulfill this need and can provide up to 24 GB/s of system bandwidth to the PXIe chassis backplane. The high bandwidth achieved by PXI controllers and systems makes it easy to implement compute-intensive applications that require high throughput, such as next-generation design and prototyping for wireless communications, RF recording and playback, and noise mapping.

NI PXI controllers can also be connected to independent instruments or peripherals. The controllers have up to two Thunderbolt 3, two USB 3.0, four USB 2.0, two Gigabit Ethernet, GPIB, serial and two display ports for dual display support and parallel ports.

How do NI PXI controllers ensure reliability and performance?

NI (National Instruments) conducts extensive thermal, mechanical and electrical testing to ensure that PXI controllers provide optimal performance over the entire operating range and that the CPU does not degrade its processing power when used in extreme environments. Overall reliability can be further improved by choosing a solid-state hard disk instead of the standard rotating hard disk. In addition, real-time operating systems and LabVIEW Real-Time Module software increase the reliability of the controllers.

PXI controllers with a Windows operating system cannot guarantee that a specific task will be completed in a specific time because the operating system shares the processor with other system processes running in parallel. When LabVIEW Real-Time is running under a real-time capable operating system, the entire processor is dedicated to running your specific application, ensuring reliable behavior.

NI works closely with leading processor manufacturers so that NI PXI controllers benefit from leading high-performance technologies:

Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) provides the ability to remotely monitor, maintain and update systems. With this feature, administrators can boot systems from remote media, track hardware and software resources, and perform remote troubleshooting and recovery. Administrators can also use this feature to manage automated test or control systems that require high uptime.
PXI controller test, measurement and control applications can remotely collect data and monitor application status. If an application or system error occurs, the system provides the ability to remotely diagnose the problem and access debug screens. The problem can therefore be resolved more quickly.

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