Aerospace, Military, and Government

Industry Resources

Creating a Synthetic Instrument with Virtual Instrumentation Technology

Recently, the US Department of Defense has articulated their desire for more flexible, software based test systems through an initiative called Synthetic Instrumentation. This paper will define both virtual and synthetic instrumentation, and provide an example of building an RF synthetic instrumentation system with virtual instrumentation technologies.

ATML - The Standard for Interfacing Test System Components Using XML

Led by the Naval Air Systems Command and ATE industry members, ATML is a cooperative effort to define a collection of XML schemas to represent test information, such as test programs, test asset interoperability, and unit under test (UUT) test data (including test results and diagnostics procedures).

Using LabVIEW in Projects Requiring CMMI® Compliance

CMMI certification is becoming a requirement for companies in a number of industries, including military/aerospace. This document discusses CMMI and defines how you can use National Instruments LabVIEW within CMMI frameworks.

Understanding LVDS for Digital Test Systems

The low-power and high-noise immunity aspect of LVDS, along with the abundance of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) LVDS components, has led many military and aerospace applications to select LVDS as a robust, long-term solution for high-speed data transmission.

Aerospace Structural Dynamics Test System

Dr. Lee Peterson shares his research on the structural mechanics of large precision spacecraft at the Structural Dynamics and Control Laboratory (SDCL) at the Center for Aerospace Structures and the complex measurement, control, and analysis application constructed with National Instruments LabVIEW.

Hardware-in-the-Loop Test System

An open, adaptable platform is essential to the long-term success of your hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test investment. With support for multivendor I/O and the power of National Instruments LabVIEW FPGA, your NI HIL test system can always to adapt to the latest technologies while providing the most cost-effective solution.

Customer Solutions

Designing a Military Vehicle Turret Drive Test Stand with LabVIEW

Challenge: Creating an automated end-of-line test stand software package to control operation, acquire test data, and generate pass/fail reports during the design and production phases of military vehicle turret drive assemblies.

Solution: Developing a LabVIEW-based password-controlled application capable of executing a controls-based sequenced testing structure, while employing data acquisition techniques against military standards limit checking, along with a final report generation.

Rugged Line Replacement Unit Field Testers based on NI CompactRIO

Challenge: Building a rugged, yet portable, automated tester that soldiers can easily transport and deploy in harsh environmental conditions to ensure their line replaceable units (LRUs) are combat ready.

Solution: Create a compact and portable custom tester utilizing CompactRIO and the LabVIEW FPGA Module for high channel count, analog input, and digital I/O to control I2C and serial communications.

Controlling Sandia National Laboratories Thermal Test Complex Using National Instruments LabVIEW and NI TestStand

Challenge: Developing a control system to manage the complex array of equipment needed to conduct controlled fire experiments, including fuelling and igniting JP-8 jet propellant, methanol, hydrogen, and methane fires, powering and controlling high-energy heat lamp arrays, and governing high-volume air flow in three test facilities.

Solution: Building programmable automation controllers (PACs) with embedded control software for facility subsystems using National Instruments LabVIEW and NI TestStand software and National Instruments FieldPoint hardware.

NASA Uses NI LabVIEW to Save Time, Reduce Costs in Automated Testing of Microshutters

Challenge: Developing a flexible test application that can actuate tens of thousands of micron-sized shutter elements (microshutters) for millions of cycles while logging data, acquiring high-resolution images, and monitoring and controlling the test environment.

Solution: Using a National Instruments application based on LabVIEW so the user can configure and run custom shutter actuation tests while monitoring and controlling the test environment.

Related Products

LabVIEW

For more than 20 years, NI LabVIEW graphical development has revolutionized the development of scalable test, measurement, and control applications. Regardless of experience, engineers and scientists can rapidly and cost-effectively interface with measurement and control hardware, analyze data, share results, and distribute systems.

LabWindows/CVI

National Instruments LabWindows™/CVI is a proven ANSI C integrated development environment that provides engineers with a comprehensive set of programming tools for instrument control, data acquisition, analysis, and user interface development.

TestStand

Develop your automated test and validation systems faster with NI TestStand, a powerful ready-to-run test management environment. You can use NI TestStand to develop, manage, and execute test sequences written in any programming language as well as to facilitate integration with enterprise systems.

PXI Modular Instrumentation

PXI is the open, PC-based platform for test, measurement, and control. PXI provides the industry's highest bandwidth and lowest latency with modular I/O for high-resolution DC to 6 GHz RF. With more than 1,200 products from more than 70 vendors, PXI is the platform of choice for thousands of companies worldwide.

Instrument Control

National Instruments offers an extensive assortment of instrument control hardware and software tools to help save you time and money throughout the life of your instrument control system. You can rely on bus hardware for GPIB, USB, Ethernet, and serial and software tools including National Instruments LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and instrument drivers that offer improved performance, high reliability, and increased productivity.