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.

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 the field of modular measurement technology, there are several manufacturers that have advanced and high-quality systems. Of these, NI (National Instruments)is one of the leading ones. The choice of a particular system depends on the specific requirements of the application, the budget, and other factors. We will be happy to advise you on the right system for your measuring task.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The LabVIEW+ Suite is a bundle of LabVIEW and additional NI software, including TestStand, DIAdem, FlexLogger and InstrumentStudio. The Suite contains special tools for the automation of measurements, analyses and tests and enables an optimized workflow that in some cases can save users considerable time.

LabVIEW is the industry-leading development environment for automated test systems. TestStand is used in validation laboratories and in production to automate and sequence tests. DIAdem saves hundreds of hours of manual data analysis and report generation through automation. FlexLogger and InstrumentStudio enable faster and more interactive measurement and device configuration.

With LabVIEW+ you can configure, visualize and automate measurements, analyze data and exchange protocols. This increases test coverage and shortens development time. In addition, measurements and test steps can be integrated into comprehensive test sequences. In this way, the demanding requirements for test coverage can be met despite increasingly tight NPI schedules. LabVIEW+ can also be used to set up large data logging systems with user-defined functions and to share collected data for increased lab productivity.

The LabVIEW+ Suite offers a number of benefits that make it a powerful tool for a wide range of engineering applications, particularly in the fields of metrology and automation. 

• Hardware integration: LabVIEW+ enables easy integration and control of various NI hardware (e.g. DAQ cards and PXI systems) as well as third-party hardware. 
• Productivity and efficiency: The use of modules and reusable libraries makes it possible to work more efficiently and speed up the development process. LabVIEW+ also supports the automation of test and measurement tasks, which increases accuracy and reduces operating errors. 
• Data analysis and visualization: Powerful data analysis tools allow measurement data to be processed and displayed quickly. The Suite also offers comprehensive options for creating reports and visualizing data in order to collect and communicate findings. 
• Scalability and flexibility: LabVIEW+ users can create customized user interfaces that are tailored to their specific requirements. The Suite is suitable for projects of any size - from small laboratory applications to large-scale industrial applications. 
• Community and support: A large and active user community provides support, shares knowledge and develops extensions. 
• Integration with other systems and software: LabVIEW+ can be integrated with various software and hardware systems, including other programming languages and operating systems. The Suite offers APIs and interfaces for communication with external systems and databases. 
• Collaboration: LabVIEW+ provides features to support collaboration in development teams, including version control and code review tools. 
• NI seminars: dataTec is the only Authorized Training Partner in Germany and offers you high-quality training courses with the dataTec Academy.

Yes, LabVIEW+ offers interactive Git integration into the development environment. This integration allows developers to utilize version control features directly within LabVIEW, greatly improving project efficiency and collaboration in projects.

Yes, the use of OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) in LabVIEW involves additional costs. OPC UA is a standardized communication protocol for data exchange in industrial automation, and its implementation in LabVIEW requires the use of specific modules or toolkits, which are usually subject to a charge. NI offers the LabVIEW OPC UA Toolkit, which enables developers to create and use OPC UA servers and clients directly in LabVIEW applications. This toolkit must be purchased separately and is not included in the standard LabVIEW development environment. You can purchase this toolkit from dataTec and receive expert advice on selection and integration.

Yes, DIAdem offers a command line interface (CLI), which makes it possible to control the program via the command line. This can be particularly useful for executing automated tasks, starting scripts or using certain functions of DIAdem without the need for a graphical user interface (GUI).

The zoom functionality has been available since LabVIEW version 2023 Q3. This function allows users to zoom in and out of the block diagram and front panel views, which is particularly useful when working with large and complex VIs (Virtual Instruments).