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Getting Started with the LabVIEW
Version 2012
The LabVIEW Robotics Module is a software package that allows you to develop and deploy a robotics
application using LabVIEW, other National Instruments software, and device drivers.
This document discusses how to develop a robotics project in LabVIEW and deploy the application to
a hardware target, such as a real-time controller. Use this manual to access information about robotics
programming concepts and to complete exercises to teach you how to set up hardware controllers and
build and deploy applications. This document provides references to the LabVIEW Help and other
National Instruments documents for more information as you create the robotics application.
Contents
Overview of the LabVIEW Robotics Module......................................................................................1
Accessing LabVIEW Robotics Software......................................................................................2
Components of a LabVIEW Robotics System......................................................................................2
Host Computer..............................................................................................................................3
Real-Time Controller....................................................................................................................4
Sensors and Actuators...................................................................................................................5
Configuring Software and Hardware for a Robotics System................................................................5
Installing Software and Device Drivers on the Host Computer...................................................5
Configuring an RT Target.............................................................................................................6
Creating a Robotics Project..................................................................................................................6
Creating a Starter Kit Project Using the Robotics Project Wizard...............................................7
Exploring the Project in the Project Explorer Window................................................................8
Exploring VIs that Control the Starter Kit Robot.........................................................................9
Configuring Target Properties.....................................................................................................12
Overview of Robotics Application Architectures.......................................................................13
Deploying and Downloading VIs to a Target.....................................................................................13
Building a Robotics Application that Runs at Startup........................................................................14
Creating a Build Specification....................................................................................................14
Building and Running a Startup Application..............................................................................15
Where to Go from Here......................................................................................................................16
Related Documentation...............................................................................................................16
Related National Instruments Software......................................................................................17
Overview of the LabVIEW Robotics Module
The Robotics Module extends the LabVIEW graphical development environment with additional
functionality for robotics development, control, and application. The LabVIEW Robotics platform
provides a standard hardware and software development solution for designing your robotic control
system. The Robotics Module plugs into the LabVIEW development environment and delivers an
extensive robotics library with built-in connectivity to robotic sensors and actuator, foundational
Robotics Module
™
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Summary of Contents for National Instruments LabVIEW Robotics Module
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Page 1: Table Of Contents
™ Version 2012 The LabVIEW Robotics Module is a software package that allows you to develop and deploy a robotics application using LabVIEW, other National Instruments software, and device drivers. This document discusses how to develop a robotics project in LabVIEW and deploy the application to a hardware target, such as a real-time controller. -
Page 2: Accessing Labview Robotics Software
A robotics system consists of software and hardware components. In a system designed with the LabVIEW Robotics Module, the software components include National Instruments software, such as the projects and VIs you create in LabVIEW. The hardware components of a robotics system might include the following: •... -
Page 3: Host Computer
( ), which can include references to files in the project, configuration information, build .lvproj information, and deployment information. Figure 2 shows the parts of a typical LabVIEW project. © National Instruments Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module... -
Page 4: Real-Time Controller
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Other NI real-time controllers, such as PXI products, contain only a real-time processor. You also can use certain third-party hardware, such as ARM microcontrollers, to run LabVIEW programs. Use the Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module ni.com... -
Page 5: Sensors And Actuators
VI on the target. I/O Modules National Instruments offers a variety of I/O modules that directly connect to sensors and actuators. On the Starter Kit robot, built-in I/O connects the FPGA to the sensor and actuators. You typically write an FPGA VI to access I/O, and then use an RT VI to read from and write to the I/O in the FPGA VI. -
Page 6: Configuring An Rt Target
If you use a CompactRIO or non-Starter Kit Single-Board RIO, you also can use this wizard. However, if you use any other type of target, use the National Instruments Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) to detect, configure, and test an RT target. MAX provides access to National Instruments devices and systems, so you can use MAX to communicate with networked RT targets located on the same subnet as the host computer. -
Page 7: Creating A Starter Kit Project Using The Robotics Project Wizard
Complete the following steps to create a project for the Starter Kit robot using the Robotics Project Wizard. Note If you purchased only the LabVIEW Robotics Module rather than the Robotics Starter Kit or Robotics Software Bundle, you can use the Robotics Module with only the LabVIEW Development System to develop programs that include VIs and drivers on the Robotics palette. -
Page 8: Exploring The Project In The Project Explorer Window
VIs and libraries that you add to a hardware target appear under the target to indicate that you can run the VI on that target. Figure 4 shows a project similar to the file you Robotics Project.lvproj created with the Robotics Project Wizard. Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module ni.com... -
Page 9: Exploring Vis That Control The Starter Kit Robot
Ultrasonic Sensor.vi Test Ultrasonic Sensor.vi an RT VI that runs on the Single-Board RIO. Select Window»Show Block Diagram to display the block diagram of the VI, as shown in Figure 5. © National Instruments Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module... - Page 10 FPGA target, you typically must write an FPGA VI that runs on the real-time controller and accesses I/O. Figure 6 shows the block diagram for a simple RT VI that communicates with an FPGA VI to perform the same task as the Test Ultrasonic Sensor VI. Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module ni.com...
- Page 11 VI. Select Window»Show Front Panel to display the front panel of the VI, as shown in Figure 7. Figure 7. Front Panel of the Test Ultrasonic Sensor VI © National Instruments Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module...
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Page 12: Configuring Target Properties
You must deploy the target before the settings take effect. Deploying a target refers to applying settings defined in the project to a target. Note Deploying a target overwrites the current target settings with the latest settings specified in the target Properties dialog box. Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module ni.com... -
Page 13: Overview Of Robotics Application Architectures
Refer to the Robotics Module»Creating Robotics Applications»Deploying, Downloading, and Running VIs and Applications topic on the Contents tab of the LabVIEW Help to access information about compiling, downloading, and running FPGA VIs. © National Instruments Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module... -
Page 14: Building A Robotics Application That Runs At Startup
VI into the Startup VIs list, as shown in Figure 9. VIs in the Startup VIs list execute when you launch the application. Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module ni.com... -
Page 15: Building And Running A Startup Application
RT target. When you set a build specification as the startup application, LabVIEW displays the build specification with a green border around the specification icon in the Project Explorer window. © National Instruments Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module... -
Page 16: Where To Go From Here
Unset as startup and then Deploy from the shortcut menu. Where to Go from Here Refer to the following resources for additional information about the LabVIEW Robotics Module. Robotics Module Examples Use the NI Example Finder, available in LabVIEW by selecting Help»Find Examples, to browse or search for example VIs. -
Page 17: Related National Instruments Software
National Instruments works with major sensor vendors to provide a library of ready-to-use drivers. Refer to the National Instruments Web site at and enter the info code to find and ni.com/info ex3mbp download sensor drivers. - Page 18 LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI, ni.com, the National Instruments corporate logo, and the Eagle logo are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Refer to the Trademark Information section at ni.com/trademarks for other National Instruments trademarks. Other product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.
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