VeriStand is real-time testing software for configuring and deploying hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems. Engineers in automotive, aerospace, and industrial machinery use VeriStand to integrate simulation models, log test data, and automate embedded software validation without custom programming.
Build and deploy real-time test systems through configuration, not code.
VeriStand enables configuration and deployment of complete HIL test systems that connect simulation models to real-time NI hardware. It manages the real-time execution engine, I/O channel mapping, data logging, and stimulus generation so teams can focus on test design rather than infrastructure. VeriStand is compatible with NI PXI and CompactRIO targets running NI Linux Real-Time.
Validate embedded software before physical hardware exists.
VeriStand enables embedded software validation before hardware is available. It imports compiled models from MathWorks® Simulink® software, NI LabVIEW, or FMI-compliant tools and runs them against test sequences on a Microsoft Windows desktop. The same system definition scales from MIL to SIL to HIL without reconfiguration.
The following diagram shows how NI VeriStand can be used to create a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) system alongside NI products and third-party solutions.
Learn about the capabilities in VeriStand that enable embedded software validation.
The System Explorer defines the complete test system: real-time targets, NI PXI and CompactRIO hardware, vehicle and avionics communication buses (CAN, LIN, FlexRay, ARINC 429, and more.), along with alarms, calculated channels, and procedures. The VeriStand configuration-based workflow means most setup requires no programming.
VeriStand integrates compiled simulation models from MathWorks® Simulink® software (using the VeriStand Model Framework or Simulink Coder), LabVIEW, functional mock-up units (FMUs using the FMI standard), and custom C/C++ code. Model signals map directly to hardware I/O channels, and the real-time execution engine runs multiple models simultaneously.
01
/
02
The LabVIEW+ Suite for HIL includes VeriStand, LabVIEW, LabVIEW FPGA, LabVIEW Real-Time, and more to meet the needs of engineers doing embedded software test and simulation.
Feature | NI VeriStand | Turnkey HIL Platforms | Simulation-Coupled RT Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
Model Integration Flexibility | 100+ environments via FMI, plus native Simulink, LabVIEW, Python, and C/C++ support. Run multiple models simultaneously. | Supports major modeling tools but import workflows often require vendor-specific compilation steps or toolchains. | Deep integration with one primary modeling environment. Other model formats require additional conversion or middleware. |
Hardware Openness | Runs on open NI PXI and CompactRIO hardware. Ability to mix and match I/O modules across measurement types and communication buses. | Proprietary hardware required. I/O expansion and signal conditioning tied to vendor catalog and pricing. | Typically requires vendor-specific I/O boards and real-time targets. Limited flexibility to integrate third-party hardware. |
Extensibility/Plug-In Development | Open plug-in architecture. Ability to build plug-ins in NI LabVIEW to add hardware support, measurement types, and custom protocols. Large community plug-in library available. | Limited extensibility. Customization typically requires vendor professional services or proprietary scripting environments. | Extensible through the coupled modeling environment. Hardware-level customization often constrained to vendor-provided options. |
Test Automation Integration | Native integration with NI TestStand, plus Python, .NET, ASAM XIL, and C/C++ APIs. Fits into CI/CD pipelines for continuous validation. | Proprietary automation tools included. Standard API support varies. Integration with external test executives may require middleware. | Automation primarily through the coupled modeling environment’s scripting. Third-party test executive integration is limited. |
MIL/SIL/HIL Scalability | Same system definition scales from desktop MIL/SIL through full HIL deployment without reconfiguration. | Strong HIL capabilities but MIL/SIL workflows often require separate tools or environments from the same vendor. | Seamless simulation-to-real-time path within the coupled environment. Scaling beyond that ecosystem requires additional integration effort. |
Ecosystem Independence | Open architecture. Models, hardware, and automation tools are interchangeable. Configurations stored in standard file formats. | Vertically integrated ecosystem. Hardware, software, and services sourced from a single vendor. Migration costs are high. | Tightly coupled to one modeling tool’s ecosystem. Changing modeling environments may require rearchitecting the entire test system. |
Your system must meet the following requirements to use VeriStand.
Automate complex test sequences directly on the real-time target.
The VeriStand Stimulus Profile Editor creates automated, multistep test scenarios that execute deterministically on the real-time engine. It injects faults into sensor and actuator channels, override signals, sweep setpoints, and trigger data logging—all without writing code.
Connect VeriStand to existing test automation and enterprise workflows.
VeriStand can be integrated with NI TestStand for automated test sequence execution and reporting. This integration enables Python, .NET, or ASAM XIL APIs for external control and scripting. VeriStand fits into CI/CD pipelines for continuous embedded software validation across development teams.
01
/
03
