Editorial archive;
News - Apps developed for NI hardware and LabVIEW 17/04/2012
National Instruments has introduced NI LabVIEW software- and NI hardware-compatible mobile apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices, with the aim of helping engineers to integrate the latest mobile technology into their applications.
Full Story...
Features - PXI-based test platform cuts costs 31/01/2012
Woody Beckford, Rob Whitehouse & Dan Weinberg of Analog Devices explain how the use of PXI and LabVIEW has allowed the company to test its MEMS devices at a fraction of the cost, weight, power consumption, and footprint of its previous ATE system.
Full Story...
Features - FPGA-powered frame grabber and motion drive help create custom solutions 24/10/2011
National Instruments has introduced two new additions to its NI reconfigurable I/O (RIO) technology, including a reconfigurable Camera Link frame grabber for embedded vision applications and a motion module for use with the NI CompactRIO platform.
Full Story...
News - FPGA-powered frame grabber and motion drive help create custom solutions 24/10/2011
National Instruments has introduced two new additions to its NI reconfigurable I/O (RIO) technology, including a reconfigurable Camera Link frame grabber for embedded vision applications and a motion module for use with the NI CompactRIO platform.
Full Story...
Products - FPGA-powered frame grabber and motion drive help create custom solutions 24/10/2011
National Instruments has introduced two new additions to its NI reconfigurable I/O (RIO) technology, including a reconfigurable Camera Link frame grabber for embedded vision applications and a motion module for use with the NI CompactRIO platform.
Full Story...
News - LabVIEW 2011 promises new levels of productivity 18/08/2011
National Instruments recently introduced NI LabVIEW 2011, the 25th-anniversary version of its system design software, developed to accelerate the productivity of engineers and scientists who develop and deploy measurement and control systems.
Full Story...
News - Single-slot chassis version of Compact DAQ 09/08/2011
National Instruments has introduced a new single-slot CompactDAQ chassis which support wireless, USB and Ethernet buses, offering the portability of a data logger with the performance and flexibility of modular measurements.
Full Story...
News - Introduction of high throughput PXI frame grabber 28/06/2011
National Instruments has announced the introduction of the NI PXIe-1435 high-performance Camera Link frame grabber, which enables users to integrate high-speed and high-resolution imaging into PXI systems.
Full Story...
News - New venue for UK NIDay 2011 21/06/2011
NI Days 2011 UK event will take place at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London on 9th November.
Full Story...
Features - The Hyper-Secured PLC…and other curious combinations 08/02/2011
To make life easier for automation engineers, and less costly for OEMs and end user companies to build control systems, clever companies are taking what used to be two separate products and putting them together in one unit.
Full Story...
News - New models added to PXI Express Chassis 20/12/2010
National Instruments has added two new PXI Express chassis that are said to deliver added value and performance to automated test and control applications. They have been priced in line with similar PXI chassis.
Full Story...
Products - Introducing LabVIEW 2010: graphical development for engineers & scientists 08/11/2010
With simplified hardware configuration, an improved compiler that generates optimised machine code, and features designed by the LabVIEW Community, first-time users and long-time experts will be more productive with LabVIEW 2010.
Read more...
Full Story...
News - NI thinks big with Vitrociset collaboration 23/09/2010
National Instruments has joined forces with Vitrociset to target “big physics” applications such as particle accelerators and fusion devices. Vitrociset will integrate NI commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software into its service packages to offer a product portfolio to organisations delivering sophisticated physics projects.
Full Story...
News - Techno website to provide LabVIEW drivers 31/08/2010
Techno Linear Motion Systems is offering free LabVIEW drivers on its website that are compatible with a variety of Techno controllers and machines. The drivers allow direct control through LabVIEW of the Techno motion controller for pick and place, dispensing, assembly, testing, drilling, routing, welding, inspection and general automation.
Full Story...
News - National Instruments announces Developer Day details 20/08/2010
National Instruments has unveiled details of its LabVIEW Developer Days to be held throughout the UK and Ireland in September. Eight events will offer introductory and advanced technical sessions designed to help engineers and scientists improve product skills, knowledge and productivity.
Full Story...
News - LabVIEW 2010 cuts code execution time with compiler 02/08/2010
National Instruments has unveiled LabVIEW 2010, speeding up code execution with an optimised compiler. The company also expanded the platform with an add-on developer program.
Full Story...
Features - Integrating Vision and Robotics 23/07/2010
On this Italian production line for cosmetic powder cases, the challenge was to program two robots to pick up face powder brushes from random piles and then accurately place them in an eight-slot shuttle. The robots work side by side, each with its own image acquisition system, and each picking up four brushes.
Full Story...
News - NI embarks on summer education push 29/06/2010
National Instruments UK and Ireland is rolling out a series of LabVIEW webcasts as part of its summer-long education drive. The summer school for engineers and scientists encompasses 12 interactive webcasts and runs from August 3 to 26.
Full Story...
News - NI joins the battlefield for Deadliest Warrior 03/06/2010
A TV show is using National Instruments products to quickly determine battle outcomes of contests between warriors such as pirates and knights. The “Deadliest Warrior” programme implements LabVIEW and CompactDAQ software and hardware to conduct impact tests and measure and analyse the biometrics of injury.
Full Story...
Features - Optimising Cold Rolling Mills in Europe 12/05/2010
Many outdated cold steel rolling mills exist in Europe, some of which were built more than 40 years ago and are no longer competitive because they are technologically lagging behind. Replacing these manufacturing lines is not an option, since it would costs billions of Euros. Therefore, the old production facilities need to be optimised and updated.
Full Story...
News - Roboticists saved from integration workload 12/03/2010
To highlight and enhance their mutual areas of interest, Maxon Precision Motors (Fall River, MA) and National Instruments (Austin, TX) have announced a strategic partnership. Both Maxon, maker of electric motor technology and motion control products, and National Instruments look to provide designers with state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions for developing new robotic products and applications.
Full Story...
News - NI UK and Ireland offers grants for SMEs 10/03/2010
National Instruments UK and Ireland is encouraging micro, small and medium sized enterprises in embedded development, announcing a grant programme. The grants, of anything up to £25,000, will cover software, support and training.
Full Story...
Features - Advantages of FPGAs 05/03/2010
FPGA design tools are increasingly available, allowing embedded control system designers to more quickly create and adapt FPGA hardware.
Full Story...
Features - The Need for Green Engineering 17/12/2009
Ian Bell MEng MIE, market development manager, Industrial Embedded, National Instruments argues the case for innovation in engineering to improve technologies, products and processes that can provide environmental benefits.
Full Story...
Features - Driving Plant Optimisation with Advanced Process Control 14/12/2009
Once largely limited to petro and chemical plants, APC use has grown. Economic more than technical issues are key motives.
Full Story...
Features - Tutorial: Working with "semi-wireless" instrumentation 21/10/2009
Will all wireless instrumentation really be completely wireless? Many devices are not suited to battery powering, so is removing just the data cable enough? What are your options for semi-wireless devices?
Full Story...
News - LabView 2009 introduced to UK market 17/09/2009
Last week National Instruments introduced its latest version of the LabView software platform to the UK market. New features on LabView 2009 are aimed at a market operating in a challenging economic climate where projects have to be completed with fewer resources and in less time.
Full Story...
News - National Instruments Expands Wireless and Ethernet Data Acquisition Platform 15/07/2009
National Instruments announced six new wireless and Ethernet data acquisition modules and two specially protected enclosures for remote monitoring and control in harsh environments. The new modules combine high-voltage digital I/O and IEEE 802.11b/g (Wi-Fi) or Ethernet communication to remotely monitor and control actuators such as pumps, valves and relays.
Full Story...
News - Internet network group grows 50%; interoperability test event planned in March 10/02/2009
Texas Instruments, National Instruments, Landis+Gyr join others in promoting use of Internet Protocol (IP) for sensor-equipped smart objects. The IP for Smart Objects (IPSO) Alliance has grown its membership by more than 50 per cent since its formation by 25 founding companies in September 2008, adding Texas Instruments, National Instruments, Landis+Gyr/Cellnet and 10 other new members.
Full Story...
News - Instrument-Class I/O for FPGA hardware 13/11/2008
Four years ago, National Instruments introduced its first product to use FPGA (field-programmable gate array) technology, the CompactRIO. FPGA technology gives flexibility with low-level hardware customisation and onboard processing.
Full Story...
Features - Why is lack of interoperability in wireless a concern in industrial applications? 17/10/2008
Syed Tauseef Ahmad, Frost and Sullivan’s research analyst for Industrial Automation and Process Control, Europe argues that suppliers need to offer wireless products that communicate with each other for the market to take off.
Full Story...
White papers - Graphical System Design for Machine Control by National Instruments 20/08/2008
The traditional process for designing embedded machine control systems typically involves multiple stages of development that each requires specialised electronic design automation (EDA) tools such as state-diagram and flowcharting tools, SPICE circuit simulation, board layout and routing, control design tools, finite element analysis (FEA), C and VHDL languages, multiple target-specific compilers, and human-machine interface (HMI) tools.
Full Story...
Features - NI sheds light on machine control challenge 15/07/2008
Sylvania Lighting, artificial light source manufacturer, has installed a new production machine to manufacture a smaller type of lamp.
Full Story...
News - New mechatronics videos on Cetv 07/04/2008
Because mechatronics involves motion, video can be the best medium for learning about mechatronics solutions. Control Engineering’s educational video portal, CEtv, is the place to find videos from users, designers and automation suppliers. Visit www.controleng.com/cetv to see the following videos, new as of March 2008, or use the links provided in the article.
Full Story...
Features - Machine vision applications 01/10/2007
Originally used for inspection, modern digital cameras have combined with high speed communications, increased processing power, and highly articulate robots to extend vision applications into areas that were previously thought impossible. Here are five examples of new technology that would have been impossible five years ago.
Full Story...
Features - A high-level programming tool for complex systems 01/10/2007
Statecharts are commonly used to design state machines that model the behaviour of real-time and embedded systems. They depict event occurrences and responses and are used for designing digital machine controllers and system-protection applications.
Full Story...