See what LabVIEW is and how this software works!

Have you heard about LabVIEW? The automation process in organizations and the use of software are notions that make total sense when we think of ways to apply and implement the use of LabVIEW.

In the most modern industries, which are already automated or are in this process, the use of sensors is indispensable for the acquisition of data in real-time. These sensors can be temperature, humidity, pressure, distance, and various other types.

The sensors must be interconnected to computers so that some software is able to process the captured data.

One of the software that can be used to integrate components and do signal processing is LabVIEW.

In order for you to understand even more about the operation and application of LabVIEW, in this article we have separated topics full of content. Check it out!

• What is LabVIEW?
• What is LabVIEW for?
• LabVIEW Structure
• Execution Structures
• Do you understand what is LabVIEW?

So, if you want to know what LabVIEW is, where it's been being applied, understand some of its structure, and know what the next generation of this software is, read on!

What is LabVIEW?

LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench) is a software created by National Instruments that facilitates the virtual interaction of hardware, enabling data analysis and signal processing more efficiently.

Therefore, there is greater control of the desired systems, carrying out necessary tests and measurements, thus enabling a better experience for the user. This can be noted mainly in its newest version, LabVIEW 2018.

The platform uses G (graphical programming) language, which allows the user to implement various structures in the block diagram and offers more than 3000 functions and tools. This language makes programming more visual and makes assembly and understanding easier.

LabVIEW NXG

The new generation of LabVIEW is LabVIEW NXG. It enables the creation of interfaces that can be used in various devices and browsers, to improve the visualization of the data captured and processed.

You can create tests and simulations that are more efficient, more automated and customized.

In addition, it has automatic identification of the instruments, and you can then customize your circuit in a more practical way, just by dragging and dropping the components, enabling faster measurements.

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What is LabVIEW for?

In this development environment, simulations of electrical circuits, simulation of mathematical functions and statistical analysis of data are done.

In addition, it allows the processing of signals in real-time, through the integration of physical hardware in the virtual environment.

In the industry, LabVIEW can be used to monitor power generation conditions and improve equipment uptime.

LabVIEW 2018 is best suited for intelligent machine designs and industrial equipment. However, it is also widely used in engineering education and can combine software with microcontrollers, such as arduino, in some projects.

The LabVIEW NXG is suggested for the development of production test systems, measurements of physical systems with sensors, verification of electronic designs and also projects of wireless communication systems.

LabVIEW Structure

The programs generated by LabVIEW are called VI's (Virtual Instrument), a name was given precisely because the virtual icons are very similar to the physical instruments. Each VI created has a block diagram and a front panel.

Front Panel

It is on the front panel that the user interacts with the program, which shows the indicators and controls (such as graphs, rulers, buttons, ...) that have been selected by the programmer.

Each control represents an input, and each indicator, an output, the input data processing being done from the circuit mounted on the block diagram, so as to be shown by the indicator on the front panel.

Control PaletteControl

The palette offers a range of controls and indicators divided into categories to facilitate your search. However, each type of data requires a model that matches it.

The data that are most used in VI's are numeric, string and boolean:

• Numeric: numeric data represent any set of numbers (natural, integer, real, ...). Numeric controls may have increment and decrement buttons so that the user can change the values. 
• String: The string data is basically a string. String flags are used to display some messages in text boxes. Controls allow the user to enter the information requested by the program, such as their name or occupation.
• Booleans: data that allows only two states, such as ON / OFF or True / False, for example. Keys and LEDs are examples of Boolean controls and indicators.

It is often necessary to group data together for some purpose. In this case, Arrays and Clusters are used. Arrays are used to combine data of the same type, since Clusters combine different types of data.

Block diagram

After selecting the controls and indicators that will be used in the front panel, you can create the code in G language in the block diagram.

The objects that appear in the block diagram are the nodes, which can represent functions, execution structures or subVI's. They have inputs and/or outputs to make connections between them and perform the desired operations.

So, to assemble your project, just know what components you need, position them correctly and execute the connections according to the requirements of each node.

Function Palette

To assemble the circuit in the block diagram, the functions, constants and VI's are found in the function palette. It is divided into categories to facilitate the search since it offers a lot of options.

Functions do not appear as windows, they are just icons that perform operations within the block diagram. They pick up the input data, process it according to its function, and the new data comes out.

SubVI

A subVI is an interesting component because you can create a VI that performs a certain operation, and use it in another VI to complement the new circuit.

Thus, a new icon will be created from the construction of a panel of connectors, which can be called as a subroutine.

Execution Structures

You can mount part of your circuit within the execution structures to determine when and how they will run, functioning as loops in programming.

Thus, the execution can be repeated several times, or according to some condition presented, because everything depends on the type of structure chosen. The most used are the While and For loops, in addition to the Case structures.

Do you understand what is LabVIEW?

Softwares like LabVIEW are being used within the industry to optimize data capture and processing processes in a market that demands faster and faster agility every day.

Therefore, even during graduation, it is important to know the tools that are helping companies, to become well-informed and skilled professionals.

Enjoyed it? Comment on what you found of this software and what it can do!

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