Real-Time Labview Platform

Technical documentation

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Real-Time LabVIEW Platform/ Technical documentation

This description is only intended for the use of trained specialists

and electrically skilled persons.
It is essential that the documentation and the following notes and
explanations are followed when installing and commissioning the
components. It is the duty of the technical personnel to use the
documentation published at the respective time of each installation
and commissioning.
The responsible staff must ensure that the application or use of the
products described satisfy all the requirements for safety, including all
the relevant laws, regulations, guidelines and standards.

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Real-Time LabVIEW Platform/ Technical documentation

1. Real-Time LabVIEW Platform (µTECH-LVRT):

µTECH-LVRT: is a dedicated hardware running a real-time operating system using LabVIEW Real-
Time Module (LabVIEW software not included). It leverages the full potential of latest generation
Intel CPUs and Intel FPGAs (Ex Altera), LabVIEW software including Real-Time Module, and
MICROTECH LAB Real-Time target machines with FPGA-based I/Os allowing concurrent execution
of your real-time application created from LabVIEW models on multiple cores, target machines,
and FPGAs.
With LabVIEW Real-Time, applications are developed using the same intuitive graphical
programming approach as LabVIEW on the desktop. At runtime, your application is sent over
Ethernet to run with absolute reliability on the µTECH-LVRT platform. While your application is
running, it is possible to continue interacting with the front panel and block diagram to debug the
application with controls, indicators, execution highlighting, probes, and breakpoints. Applications
can also be configured to run headless, without user interaction, when your real-time system
starts-up. You also have the option to access your application from any Web browser via an
embedded Web server.
Highlights:
 Multicore real time processor for high computation power and FPGA based high speed I/Os.
 Dedicated electric motor and power converters control feature
 Up to 16 fast analog input (16 bits) and up to 8 fast analog output (16 bits).
 Up to 20 fast digital I/Os (dSPACE-compatible).
 Up to 12 PWM outputs (dSPACE-compatible) and PWMs inputs for HIL applications (dSPACE-
compatible).
 UP to two quadrature encoders (dSPACE-compatible).

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2. Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP):

Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) is a test and development methodology used to accelerate the
design process by using model-based design to test a control strategy on physical hardware
early in the design process.

No software coding is necessary – using a model-based design approach,

researchers/students/engineers can quickly create the model graphically using Simulink, or
state diagram using Stateflow, and build an executable directly from the host PC. In
minutes, the algorithm can be tested in µTECH-LRT hardware.
µTECH-LRT systems built from the ground up to provide a wide range of I/O types with
sufficient flexibility and capability to cover a wide range of applications. In addition, µTECH-LRT
IOs are fully compatible with other µTECH Lab motor control units (DSP, ARM, FPGA…) and
dSPACE products (DS1103, DS1104…).

Development Computer with µTRCH-LRT Multi Physical system

Matlab, Simulik, Matleb core Hardware with under test with
coder, Simulink coder… I/Os Interfaces sensor and actuator
interfaces

Ethernet
I/Os

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3. Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL):
Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing is a test methodology that can be used throughout the
development of real-time embedded controllers to reduce development time and improve
the effectiveness of testing.

Hardware-in-the-loop testing provides a way of simulating power sources, power

converters, power networks, sensors, actuators and mechanical components in a way that
connects all the I/O of the real-time embedded controllers being tested, long before the
final system is integrated. It does this by using representative real-time responses, electrical
stimuli and functional use cases.
The part of the simulation that represents the environment, sensors and associated
hardware is called the plant model.
The parts of the simulation that represent other controllers are called controller models.

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4. Technical Details:
Dedicated
Components CPU RAM Storage ADC DAC PWM Digital IO Display Scope Software Interface
HIL interface

Intel Xeon,
16 CH DIO, PWM,
4 Core, 4Go 32Go 8CH 16 bits 12CH 20 Pins
16bits Encoder
µTECH-LRT 3.0Ghz (Extendable (Extendable (Extendable (Extendable Compatible Future Future LabVIEW Ethernet
(Extendable (Compatible
(Extendable to 64Go) to 2To) to 32CH) to 60CH) dSPACE
to 32CH) dSPACE)
to 24 Cores)

5. Comparison of µTECH-LVRT with other products:

dSPACE dSPACE RT-LAB NI µTECH-RT
Components dSPACE DS1104 µTECH-SLRT µTECH-LRT
DS1103 MICROLABBOX OP5600 CompactRIO Universal
Intel Xeon, 4 Intel Xeon, 4 Intel Xeon, 4
Intel Xeon
PowerPC 1Core PowerPC QorIQ P5020 2 ARM 2 core, Core, 3.0Ghz Core, 3.0Ghz Core, 3.0Ghz
CPU 12-cores,
250Mhz 1Core 1Ghz Core 2Ghz 667Mhz (Extendable to 24 (Extendable to (Extendable to
3.2GHz
Cores) 24 Cores) 24 Cores)
4Go
4Go (Extendable 4Go (Extendable
RAM 32Mo 32Mo 2x512Mo 6 DRAM 2Go (Extendable to
to 64Go to 64Go)
64Go)
32Go 32Go
32Go (Extendable
Storage 32Mo 32Mo 128Mo 250Go 16Go (Extendable to (Extendable to
to 2To)
2To) 2To)

16 CH 16bits 16 CH 16bits 16 CH 16bits

4 CH 12bit 4CH 20 CH 8 CH 14bit 24CH Optional Optional
ADC (Extendable to (Extendable to (Extendable to
16bit 16Bits 16bit modules modules
32CH) 32CH) 32CH)

8CH 16 bits 8CH 16 bits 8CH 16 bits

Optional Optional
DAC 8CH 12bits 8CH 16 bits 16CH 16 bits (Extendable to (Extendable to (Extendable to
modules modules
32CH ) 32CH) 32CH)

48 CH 12CH 12CH
Optional Optional 12CH (Extendable
PWM 10CH 10CH Multiplexed (Extendable to (Extendable to
modules modules to 60CH)
with digital IO 60CH) 60CH)

48 Pins
20 Pins 20 Pins 20 Pins
Multiplexed Optional Optional
Digital IO 20 Pins 20 Pins Compatible Compatible Compatible
with PWM modules modules
dSPACE dSPACE dSPACE
channels

DIO, PWM, DIO, PWM, DIO, PWM,

Dedicated HIL Encoder Encoder Encoder
- - - - -
interface (Compatible (Compatible (Compatible
dSPACE) dSPACE) dSPACE)
No
Display No supported No supported Supported No supported HD Monitor Future HD Monitor
supported
9 Multi-color 9 Multi-color
Scope 0 0 0 0 0 Future
scopes scopes
Simulink/
Software Simulink Simulink Simulink Simulink LabVIEW Simulink LabVIEW
LabVIEW

ISA or ETH
Interface PCI Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet
(Microbox)

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6. Panel variant:

8 channel 16 HIL Connector

bits DAC Hardware in loop
For analog applications
(From Slave connector Power
control and
on DS1104) switch
monitoring

16 channel 16 bits 2 Channel 12 PWM Channel + 20 pin Digital Ethernet

ADC Quadrature Digital Inputs/Outputs connection for
Encoder for Inputs/Outputs for (as Master host and
For Analog signals Motor/Generator power converter connector on network
measurement and speed and position control (as Slave DS1104) communication
data acquisition measurement connector on
DS1104)

Figure 1: µTECH-LVRT Front Panel

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7. Analog inputs module:

The µTECH-LVRT contains 16-bit fast analog/digital
converter (ADC) with 16 parallel analog inputs
channels.
Hardware:
The analog inputs are single-ended bipolar inputs with
the following Characteristics:

 Inputs voltage: -10V to 10V

 Input impedance: 1M ohm.
 The analog input connectors are female BNC
connectors. Their shells are connected to GND.
Figure 2: µTECH-LVRT Analog inputs

LabVIEW model:

 Inputs :
 Dialog setting: ADC channel number (0 to 15).
 Outputs: ADC channel digital value.
 Scale: Scaling between the analog input
voltage and the output of the block.

Input Voltage Range LabVIEW Output

-10V …+10V -1 …+1 (double)
Figure 3: µTECH-LVRT ADC VI

8. Analog outputs module:

The µTECH-LVRT provides a 16bits fast digital/analog
converter (DAC) with eight parallel outputs channels.

Hardware:
The analog outputs are single-ended bipolar outputs with
the following characteristics:

 Output voltage: -10V to 10V, Output current: 5 mA

 Output impedance: 0 ohm.
 The analog outputs connectors are female BNC
connectors. Their shells are connected to GND.
Figure4: µTECH-LVRT Analog outputs

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LabVIEW model:

 Inputs: DAC Channel digital value.

 Dialog setting: DAC Channel number (0 to 15).
 Outputs:
 Scale: Scaling between the input of the
block and the output voltage.

LabVIEW Input Output Voltage Range

-1 …+1 (double) -10V …+10V Figure5: µTECH-LVRT DAC VI

9. Quadrature Encoder:
The µTECH-LVRT provides a digital incremental encoder interface with input channels for two
incremental encoders.
Hardware:
The incremental encoder interface supports two digital encoder channels (Ch1 …Ch2)
providing single-ended TTL and differential RS422 signals.
 Input impedance: 1k ohm.
 Input voltage: 2V-5V

Figure 6: µTECH-LVRT Encoder Figure 7: Quadrature encoder connector

LabVIEW model:

 Inputs
 Dialog setting: -Incremental Encoder channel number (0 to 1).
-Encoder Pulse number by Revolution.
 Outputs: -Shaft Position (rad).
-Shaft Speed (rad/S).
 Scale: -Scaling between the encoder position input and the output of the block.
Input position Range LabVIEW Output
1 Revolution (Encoder pulse number) 2π (double)

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- Scaling between the encoder speed input and the output of the block
Input speed Range LabVIEW Output
-6000RPM; +6000RPM -200π rad/S; +200 π rad/S (double)

Figure 8 : µTECH-LVRT Encoder Figure 9 : Quadrature encoder interface :

a) RS422 b) TTL
10. PWM:
µTECH-LVRT provides 12 PWM channels output for rapid control prototype application for
Power converter control.
Hardware:
The PWM connector is a 37-pin female, Sub-D connector located on the front of the
connector panel.

Figure 10: µTECH-LVRT PWM Figure11: PWMs interface connector

LabVIEW model:

 PWM Initialization block:

 Inputs
 Dialog setting:-PWM Frequency (Hz).
-PWM Channel Enable (1 to 6).
-PWM Channel Polarity (1 to 6).
-PWM Channel Symmetric mode (1 to 6).
 Outputs: PWM Period (to PWM run block). 9

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Figure 12 : µTECH-LVRT PWM Init VI

 PWM Running block :

 Inputs : -PWM Channel Duty cycle
-PWM Period (from PWM Setting block).
 Dialog setting: -PWM Channel number.
 Outputs
 Scale: Scaling between the input of the block and the PWM
output duty cycle.

LabVIEW Input Output PWM Duty

0 …+1 (double) 0 …100%

Figure 13: µTECH-LVRT PWM VI

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11. Hardware in loop:

µTECH-LVRT provides 12 PWM channels input for Hardware in Loop application.
Hardware:
The HIL connector is a 37-pin male, Sub-D connector located on the front of the connector
panel.

Figure 14: µTECH-LVRT Hardware in loop Figure 15: Hardware in Loop interface connector

LabVIEW Model:

 Inputs :
 Dialog setting: -PWM Channel number.
 Outputs: -PWM Period
-PWM Duty cycle.
 Scale: Scaling between the input PWM duty
cycle and the block output.

Input PWM Duty LabVIEW Output

0 …100% 0…1
Figure 16: µTECH-LVRT HIL VI

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12. Digital Inputs/Outputs:

The µTECH-LVRT contains a bit I/O unit with 20 digital I/O pins called IO0 ...IO19.Each bit can
be configured for input or output (programmable by software).
Hardware:
The digital I/O connector is a 37-pin male, Sub-D connector located on the front of the
connector panel.
The bit I/O has 3.3V output/input levels with the following Characteristics:
 Input voltage : 0-5V
 Output voltage : 0-3.3V
 Output current : 10mA.

Figure17: µTECH-LVRT Digital Figure18: Digital Inputs/Outputs

inputs/outputs interface connector

LabVIEW Model:

 Digital IO Initialization block:

 Inputs :
 Dialog setting: DIO Channel direction.
 Outputs :
 Scale :

Figure 19: Digital Inputs/Outputs Initialization

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 Digital Inputs block:

 Inputs:
 Dialog setting:
 Outputs: DIO Input state
 Scale: Figure 20: Digital Inputs

 Digital Outputs block :

 Inputs: DIO Output state
 Dialog setting:
 Outputs:
 Scale: Figure21: Digital Outputs

13. LabVIEW Application Example on Real-Time:

In order to create a LabVIEW real-time application, we need to open LabVIEW, create
a new project as depicted below.

Step1: Under project, choose New from

the drop down menu and then choose
Targets and Devices… as depicted
bellow.

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Step2: A window will pop up asking the user

to discover an existing device (provided it is
turned on and connected though Ethernet)
as it is shown below.

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Step3: LabVIEW RT finds MicrotechLAB-

LVRT, we select it and click OK. Afterwards,
we connect to it as it is shown .

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Step4: Once connected we will be able to

create our first VI as it is shown in the
following.

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Step5: We then create a timed loop.

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Step6: We double click on the box on the top

left box, a window will pop up to choose the
period

Step7: The following is an application using

the PWM block.

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14. Example of PWM generation:

Figure22: PWM generation

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