NI Connect, a virtual experience led by automated test equipment and virtual instrumentation software producer NI, recently unveiled several new product advancements related to multiple aspects of the production process, from testing and validation to R&D and design.
Until recently, NI’s PXI chassis configurations varied in size from four to 18 slots. The company recently announced its first two-slot PXI chassis that provides a smaller, more cost-effective package. Source: National Instruments Corp.The common thread for these advancements? Each leverages a software-connected approach to translate test data into insights for making informed engineering decisions. That approach is a hallmark of NI’s philosophy for keeping pace with rapid advancement in technology: a “digital thread of data,” as company CEO Eric Starkloff describes it, that enables customers to optimize each step of the product lifecycle.
Recently announced product advancements include:
- SystemLink: A streamlined software interface designed for increased efficiency, SystemLink manages and simplifies test scheduling, resource utilization, system health and maintenance through a unified view of test operations in design validation and production environments. Latest enhancements include new UI customization options, simplified product navigation and expanded asset health monitoring capabilities. The result, according to NI, is test insight acceleration, more efficient use of assets and reduced cost of test.
- LabVIEW 2021: The newest version of the company’s open-source software platform for building test and measurement systems, LabVIEW 2021 features interoperability with Python and MathWorks MATLAB software, improved support for version control using Git and usability enhancements. NI stated that these updates make it easier for engineers to connect disparate systems and hardware to accelerate innovation, especially in the design and validation environments.
- PXI Hardware: The company’s modular hardware is designed for flexible connections with existing systems and workflows. NI stated that its PXI solution enables a software-connected workflow to achieve better results, delivering openness, software options, modularity and I/O coverage for customers seeking to develop adaptive and scalable systems. New for 2021 is NI’s first two-slot PXI chassis that provides a smaller, more cost-effective package.
The company also announced two new products with specific industry aims, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and wireless technologies, respectively.
ADAS: In collaboration with Seagate, NI has launched what it says is a first-of-its-kind in-vehicle ADAS record offering powered by Seagate’s Lyve Mobile edge storage and data transfer service. The offering is designed to enable OEMs and suppliers to pivot their road data storage strategy from self-managed to storage as a service, or STaaS, with corresponding reduced costs and increased efficiency.
Wireless: Ettus USRP X410 is an open-source software-defined radio (SDR) platform designed to support research and prototyping for the next generation of wireless technologies, 5G and 6G. NI stated that the high-performance platform will allow engineers to achieve faster time to prototype and acceleration of wireless innovation.
Those interested in learning more can register to attend NI Connect for further information about these product advancements, as well as the latest trends in test and data analytics.
