LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineer Workbench) is an open-source graphical programming environment that has been widely adopted in research labs, academia and industry. It’s a powerful, versatile instrumentation and analysis software system that can be used for automation and measurement. G programming, a graphical programming language is used to create the graphical block diagrams that convert into machine code. Sciotex offers a complete-service, 100% US-based engineering company when you are looking for a LabVIEW Consultant programer.
LabVIEW programs can be called virtual instruments (VIs) because they look and operate like physical instruments such as oscilloscopes. LabVIEW allows data collection and analysis to be made easier by offering many display options. The desktop computer can be used as a measurement device by combining data collection, analysis, and display in a flexible programming environment. LabVIEW includes a wide range of functions and VIs that allow you to acquire, analyze, display, store, and display data. It also provides tools to assist with troubleshooting your code.
The three components of all test, measurement, and control applications can be broken down into three major parts. Virtual instrumentation allows you to acquire, analyze, and present data. LabVIEW can collect data from devices such as GPIB and Serial, Ethernet, PXI Instruments (DAQ), PCI Extensions for Instrumentation(PXI), Image Acquisitions (IMAQ), Motion Control (RT), PXI (through OPC Server), PLC (through OPC Server), PDA (and Modular Instruments).
LabVIEW is able to communicate with hardware, including vision, data acquisition, motion control, and GPIB. LabVIEW has features that allow you to connect your application with the Web via the LabVIEW Web Server, and software standards like ActiveX and TCP/IP networking. LabVIEW allows you to create report generation, test and measurement, data acquisitions and instrument control applications. LabVIEW is a 32-bit compiler that can be used to create standalone executables or shared libraries such as DLLs.
LabVIEW Express technology converts common automation and measurement tasks into intuitive, higher-level VIs for new programmers. Express technology has enabled thousands of non-programmers to quickly and easily build automated systems using LabVIEW.
LabVIEW is a programming language that provides the same performance, flexibility, and compatibility as traditional languages such as C or BASIC for experienced programmers. LabVIEW’s full-featured programming language includes the same constructs as traditional languages such as variables and data types. It also supports looping, sequencing, and error handling. LabVIEW allows programmers to reuse legacy code as DLLs and shared libraries, and then integrate it with other software that uses ActiveX, TCP, and other standard technologies.
LabVIEW’s Advantages
LabVIEW offers the following advantages:
Graphical user interface: Designers use the drag-and drop user interface library to interactively customize the hundreds of user objects in the controls palette.
Drag-and-drop functions: Use the functions palette to quickly create applications.
Modular and hierarchical design: Use modular LabVIEW VIs as either subVIs or by themselves to run modular LabVIEW VIs. You can easily scale and modularize programs based on the application.
Multiple high-level development tools: Create faster with application-specific tools like the LabVIEW Statechart Module (LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module), LabVIEW FPGA Module (LabVIEW FPGA Module) and LabVIEW Control Design Module (LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module).
Professional Development Tools: Manage large applications and tightly integrated project management tools. They also integrate graphical debugging tools and standard source code integration.
Multi-platform: Most computer systems run the Microsoft Windows operating software. LabVIEW can also be used on Sun Solaris, Linux and Mac OS. LabVIEW apps can be used across multiple platforms.