Abstract
In recent years, an advanced motion control software for rapid development has been introduced by National Instruments, accompanied by innovative and improved FPGA-based hardware platforms. Compared to the well-known standard NI DAQ PCI/USB board solutions, this new approach offers robust stability in a deterministic real-time environment combined with the highest possible performance and re-configurability of the FPGA core. The NI Compact RIO (cRIO) Real Time Controller utilises two distinctive interface modes of functionality: Scan and FPGA modes. This paper presents an application of a motion control flexible workbench based on the FPGA module, and analyses the advantages and disadvantages in comparison to another approach - the LabVIEW NI SoftMotion module run in scan interface mode. The workbench replicates real industrial applications and is very useful for experimentation with Brushless DC/ Permanent Magnet Synchronous motors and drives, and feedback devices.
Highlights
Remote laboratories for motion control, part of the growing field of computerised laboratories, emerge as a valuable tool for performing real time experiments with usually expensive or unique laboratory equipment in a safe way
Its performance and functionality are compared with another two solutions based on the combinations of the National Instruments (NI) SoftMotion module/Compact RIO (cRIO) controller and the LabVIEW for Windows/ NI USB data-acquisition board
It is important to mention that the NI cRIO-9076 highperformance controller allows two different kinds of interface programming modes to be used in conjunction with the real-time target:
Summary
Remote laboratories for motion control, part of the growing field of computerised laboratories, emerge as a valuable tool for performing real time experiments with usually expensive or unique laboratory equipment in a safe way. The NI cRIO-9076 embedded controller [5] represents a highly reliable and flexible combination of robust and deterministic real-time operating system, FPGA core and dedicated LabVIEW software modules for rapid development of control and monitoring applications. The National Instrument cRIO C-series Drive Interface modules are an integrated hardware environment for various single axis motion control applications. The key futures could be determined as: High-level visual axes customisation with the ability to define additional inputs and outputs, which is NI C-series modules oriented; Integrated support for End-limit switches and Home switch, Brakes, Gearing and Camming; Integrated functionality for trajectory generation and spline interpolation; Dedicated Functional Blocks for movements, axis referencing, status monitoring, etc.; Low level programming with Property, Invoke and Axis Interface nodes for more complex system definition and control. Its performance and functionality are compared with another two solutions based on the combinations of the NI SoftMotion module/cRIO controller and the LabVIEW for Windows/ NI USB data-acquisition board
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