CompactRIO system simplifies advanced control

National Instruments has released the NI CompactRIO programmable automation controller (PAC).

The NI cRIO-9073 system hardware combines an embedded real-time processor and a user-programmable FPGA chip.

When engineers program with the Labview 8.6 graphical system design platform and the FPGA within National Instruments PACs, it allows them to quickly implement custom analogue and digital control, acquisition loops and high-speed signal processing algorithms for advanced control applications.

The cRIO-9073 supports the scan mode programming features in the new Labview Real-Time Module 8.6, which simplifies the programming of this FPGA-based CompactRIO system.

Engineers can use the new scan mode features to choose between accessing each I/O module within the CompactRIO system directly in Labview real-time; or using FPGA programming in the Labview FPGA module for maximum flexibility and performance.

These scan mode features allow engineers to use new test panels and I/O forcing functionality for quick start-up, to perform advanced debugging and to monitor system performance.

For applications requiring custom and ultra high-speed control and signal processing, engineers can use the Labview FPGA module to quickly program the FPGA within the CompactRIO system.

The Labview FPGA module features hundreds of graphical functions for implementing control, custom timing and signal processing algorithms on all NI FPGA hardware.

The cRIO-9073 integrates a 266 MHz industrial real-time processor with a reconfigurable 2M gate FPGA and features eight slots for NI C Series I/O modules.

Engineers can choose from more than 60 NI and third-party C Series I/O modules to connect with a variety of analogue, digital, communications and motion I/O for interfacing with industrial sensors and actuators.

The CompactRIO system offers a -20 to +55C operating range and a 19 to 30 VDC power supply input range.

It also includes 64 MB of DRAM for embedded operations and 128 MB of non-volatile storage for data logging.

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