News and New Products

Module enables graphical embedded programming

By Warren Webb -- EDN, 6/13/2005

National Instruments recently announced an embedded-development module for its popular LabView software that extends graphical programming to any 32-bit embedded processor (Picture). With the module, designers can describe algorithms and program their applications using LabView’s graphical data-flow language. In addition, LabView’s graphical front-panel controls and indicators help engineers quickly and interactively experiment and debug their embedded code.

The LabView embedded-development module includes more than 400 analysis functions for signal processing, linear algebra, curve fitting, statistics and calculus. The module also features a structure for integrating I/O drivers and board-support packages to take advantage of specific processors. Designers can develop their applications using the LabView graphical environment and then automatically generate C code to integrate with their chosen processor tool chains.

James Truchard, PhD, chief executive officer and co-founder of National Instruments, says “The evolution of LabView beyond the PC will open embedded-system design to an entirely new class of developer—a more mainstream population of scientists and engineers.” Prices for the module start at $9995.

National Instruments, www.ni.com/embedded.