Instrument software

National Instruments has announced LabVIEW 8.6, the latest version of the graphical system design software platform for control, test and embedded system development.

This version delivers new tools to help engineers and scientists take advantage of the benefits of multicore processors, field-programmable gate arrays and wireless communication.

Engineers now have a single platform to increase test and control system throughput. Expanding on the built-in multithreading technology of the LabVIEW platform, the latest version offers supercomputing performance through multicore-optimised features which can help engineers process increasing quantities of measurement data to meet control applications and increase test system throughput.

This version includes more than 1200 optimised analysis functions that offer faster, enhanced maths and signal processing on multicore systems for control and test applications.

Vision applications can also benefit from multicore systems by using image processing functions included in the Vision Development Module.

Engineers can use the FPGA module and FPGA-based commercial off-the-shelf hardware such as CompactRIO to customise measurement and control systems for applications such as semiconductor validation and advanced machine control.