About LabVIEW and Vernier LabPro
National Instruments first released LabVIEW software in 1986. 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. Therefore, students who have been exposed to LabVIEW in a physics course may have an edge on some job searches. Special features of LabVIEW software 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.
- The ability to create data collection and control apps for Linux
- A 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 updated and simplified those samples while continually adding to our list of examples. We feel that LabVIEW is a great way for people to create custom data collection programs, for students to learn how to design and develop data collection or control projects and for teachers to introduce programming.
We now have a full-time LabVIEW programmer and we use LabVIEW software for some of our production and product development 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.
LabPro Toolkit 6.1 / 7.0 Create simple to advanced custom LabPro programs using this palette of VIs as your building blocks. Documented examples get you started and detail the correct series of commands within the context of a program. New express VIs make programming quick and easy.
Learning
LabVIEW 7.0 Learning the basics of LabVIEW programming, in conjunction with
collecting real data, enhances the learning experience and makes it easy to see
the possibilities of creating your own custom programs.
Requires the LabPro Toolkit to run.
Analog
Data Collection 6.1 / 7.0 Collect, save, analyze and compare data from
analog probes. Introduces the state machine programming architecture.
Requires the LabPro Toolkit to run.
Function Generator
6.1 / 7.0 Generate analog output signals to turn your LabPro into a fun and
useful function generator.
Requires the LabPro Toolkit to run.
NI ELVIS 7.0 Vernier sensors, NI ELVIS, Vernier Proto Board Connectors, and our example LabVIEW programs make custom experiments easy.
Simple LabVIEW 5.1 VIs 5.1 Simple, easy to follow VIs written using LabVIEW 5.1 software. Learn the basics of programming the LabPro.
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 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. Go to http://www.vernier.com/mbl/labpro.html