Explore the Graphical System Design Achievement Awards

Academic/Research
Educators, researchers, and students discuss the challenges of connecting theory to the real world in this category.
Winner: Developing an Ultrastable Atomic Force Microscope Based on FPGA Control
Finalist: Levitating Objects in a Controlled 2D B-Field with NI LabVIEW and CompactRIO

Aerospace/Defense
Applications in this category discuss test, measurement, and control systems designed for government, aerospace, and defense purposes.
Winner: Developing an Infrared Detector Control System with NI LabVIEW and CompactRIO
Finalist: Twenty-First Century Flight Test Engineering Education Using NI LabVIEW Software and PXI Hardware

Automotive
Engineering applications submitted in this category include measurement, monitoring, and control systems for the design and test of automotive components.
Winner: NI Tools Keep Ford at the Forefront of Innovation Green Engineering Award Recipient
Finalist: Designing a Turbocharger Test System with NI LabVIEW Software and PXI Hardware

Biotechnology/Life Sciences
One of the most popular categories year after year, these applications describe the challenges of creating cutting-edge, biotechnological devices and procedures.
Winner: Developing a Novel, Portable Intelligent Greenhouse Using Graphical System Design
Finalist: Developing and Managing a Stimulation Environment for a Functional MRI Using NI LabVIEW, PXI, SCXI, and NI CompactDAQ Systems

Communications/Wireless
Engineers and designers in this category generate in-phase/quadrature (I/Q), intermediate frequency (IF), and radio frequency (RF) signals to create communications and wireless applications, ranging from simple radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and keyless entry systems to cell phones and cognitive radios.
Winner: Developing an Explosive Detection System Using Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance, NI LabVIEW, and PXI Hardware
Finalist: NI PXI Brings Record and Playback Capability to Car Radio and GPS System Testing

Embedded Design
Applications in this category discuss the challenges of optimizing embedded systems. This may include reducing the size and/or cost of embedded designs as well as increasing reliability and performance.
Winner: Using Graphical System Design to Help Premature Infants Learn to Oral Feed Humanitarian Award Recipient
Finalist: Creating an Innovative Medical Instrument Using NI Products

Industrial Measurements and Control
Applications in this category discuss how companies effectively integrate electronics into their machines and plants. Examples include high-speed control, precision motion, analog measurements, and human machine interfaces (HMIs).
Winner: Developing a Supercritical Steam Test Facility with NI Software and Hardware
Finalist: Precision Servo-Hydraulic Control Using NI LabVIEW FPGA and PXI Hardware

Mechatronics/Robotics/Control
This category features applications that describe a system-level approach to designing electromechanical systems that merge mechanical, electrical, control system, and embedded software design.
Winner: Controlling a Dual-Robot System to Provide Upper Limb Therapeutic Exercise to Stroke Patients Editor's Choice Award Recipient
Finalist: Developing a Real-Time MAV Flight Control System Test Bed Using NI LabVIEW and PXI Multicore Award Recipient

Production Automated Test Equipment (ATE)
Papers in this category exhibit innovation in test system design with virtual instrumentation by demonstrating the combination of open PC technologies and modular instrumentation with industry-leading test system software.
Winner: Enhancing Human Health through Smarter Medical Device Test
Finalist: Functional Testing of Battery Management Systems for Hybrid Electric Vehicles Using the NI PXI Platform

Prototype/Validation Test
Applications in this category describe solutions that utilize measurements and integrate the information back into the design process to reduce the need for physical prototypes and help validate designs.
Winner: Development of an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Simulation Based on NI PXI and CompactRIO
Finalist: Creating and Validating a Long-Term Test System for Artificial Hearts with NI LabVIEW