About LabVIEW and Vernier LabPro
LabVIEW was first released in 1986 by National Instruments. It was originally for Macintosh only, but now has versions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Sun SPARCC stations, HP 9000/700 workstations, and HP-UX. LabVIEW is popular in industry and research. Since many companies use LabVIEW, students who have been exposed to LabVIEW in a physics course may have an edge on some job searches. Special features of LabVIEW include
- G language, graphical programming, data flow programming
- Cross-platform compatibility. We routinely move VIs from on type of computer to another (Macintosh, Windows, Linux)
- Great debugging tools
- Modularity and hierarchy, quick feedback (no compile/run cycle)
- The ability to create executables (with extra software)
- The ability to publish measurements on the internet easily.
- It provides a way to create data collection and control apps for Linux
- It is fun way to program.
To learn more about LabVIEW go to: http://volt.ni.com/niwc/common.jsp?page=labview_overview
Vernier Software & Technology has always encouraged instructors and students to do their own programming using our lab interfaces and sensors. We started experimenting with LabVIEW in 1999, with sample programs (called virtual instruments, or VIs) for ULI and Serial Box Interface. In 2001, we introduced our first VIs for LabPro. Since then we have improved these samples and added new ones. We feel that LabVIEW is a great way for people to quickly develop LabPro programs projects, or just for programming experience. We now have a full-time LabVIEW programmer and we use LabVIEW for some of our own projects. In the summer of 2003, we started working extensively with LabVIEW 7 Express.
Here is a summary of the materials that are available on our web site, which are related to LabVIEW. You can get to all of this by going to www.vernier.com/labview. For most of the programs, we offer both the LabVIEW source code and also an application. All of the. sample programs are available for a free download. We actually have separate downloads for Macintosh, Windows, and Linux version of the source code and the application as three different applications that can be run on Macintosh, Windows, and Linux.
A word about the applications: They were built in LabVIEW 6.1 using an add-on called Application Builder. If you own Application Builder, you can create applications with LabVIEW, which can be run on a computer that does not have LabVIEW on it. However, you do need to have the LabVIEW 6.1 Runtime Engine installed on the computer. The LabVIEW 6.1 Runtime Engine can be downloaded (free) from either the National Instruments web site or the Vernier S&T web site. There are separate versions for Macintosh, Windows, and Linux. Note this is not the same as LabVIEW 7.0 Runtime Engine.
Simple LabVIEW 5.1 VIs
These are very simple VIs, which will collect data or control the analog or
digital output lines of a LabPro. Since they are simple, they are relatively
easy to understand and can be a good place to start your LabVIEW programming.
They were written with LabVIEW 5.1, so they can be loaded into older versions
of LabVIEW, if that is all you have. There are 14 main VIs and many sub VIs.
Some of the VIs in this collection include:
Real Time (RT) Analog
Non Real Time (NRT) Analog
Non Real Time (NRTF) Fast Analog
Photogates
Motion
Rotary Motion Sensor and Analog
Digital Output and the Digital Control Unit (DCU)
Analog Out
Analog Data Collection
Collects analog data from up to four sensors at various data rates from very
slow to very fast. The data are graphed. A data table is displayed and the data
can be exported as a file. This VI uses the state machine programming
architecture.
Function Generator
One of the more recent improvements made to our LabPro interface is the ability
to generate analog output signals. With this LabVIEW code you can turn your
computer and LabPro into a fun and useful function generator. This program will
work only with LabPro and requires LabPro operating system 6.22 or higher (available, free, on our web site.).
Rotary and Analog
One thing that Logger Pro 2.x does not do when used with LabPro that is
sometimes useful is to monitor an analog signal and plot it vs. the position
read by a Rotary Motion Sensor. (FYI, Logger Pro 3.1, due in April 2003, will
solve this problem.) With this application, you can take that data. Among other
things, it can be used to study diffraction by moving a light sensor connected
to the Rotary Motion Sensor across the diffraction pattern.
Drop Counter
This program is for using our new Drop Counter. It is used mainly in chemistry.
It counts drops and measures pH in titration experiments.
Photogate Timing
Does timing with one or two photogates connected to the LabPro digital inputs.
A data table is displayed and the data can be exported as a file.
Other Resources on the Vernier Software & Technology web site.
Vernier WebCam:
Check out the Webcam located in our classroom at Vernier Software & Technology in Portland, Oregon. You will need the LabVIEW 6.1 Runtime Engine on your computer to view and control this demo. With a click on the panel, you can take control of this hardware from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. You can control the brightness of the small lamp (connected to the analog output line of LabPro) and see the resulting change in brightness measured by a Light Sensor. You can rotate the camera using a DCU connected to the LabPro. This project is just one example of the neat things you can do with LabPro and the Remote Panels feature of LabVIEW. Go to www.vernier.com/webcam for more information.
The LabPro Technical Reference Manual at: http://www.vernier.com/mbl/labpro.html, is a booklet of about 100 pages with all the details of how Vernier LabPro operates. It is an essential reference for serious LabPro programming.