LabVIEW Programming Environment Research Articles

Development of an H2 fuel cell electrochemical system powered by Escherichia coli cells

Because of the growing high importance of the development of biocatalytic fuel cell (FC) technologies for renewable energy-producing and testing systems for medical or environmental purposes, in this study, we constructed and demonstrated an H2 FC voltammeter working with graphite sample testing micro-strips and based on Escherichia coli microbial cells. Presented H2 FC voltammeter that provides fast and precise testing of bio-electrochemical possible reactions in biosamples for H2 and other gases, is automated with software which works in NI LabVIEW programming environment, has amplifier cascade system with high internal resistance, temperature controlling and resistance cascade. Microbial Hydrogenase (Hyd) enzymes reversibly catalyze the formation and oxidation of H2. Isolation and characterization of O2-tolerant [NiFe]-hydrogenases (Hyds) have given rise to new concepts in H2 FC. Escherichia coli and [NiFe]-Hyds can be applied as a biocatalyst anode in biofuel cells (BFCs). We evaluated the efficiency of applying the 3 µl (1.5 mg cell dry weight) E. coli intact cells or crude extracts on 0.5 cm2 as anode catalyzers in the bio-electrochemical system. The highest electrical potential (up to 0.7 V) was achieved with bacterial whole cells, which were grown on glucose and glycerol.

Automated code development based on genetic programming in graphical programming language: A pilot study.

Continual technological advances associated with the recent automation revolution have tremendously increased the impact of computer technology in the industry. Software development and testing are time-consuming processes, and the current market faces a lack of specialized experts. Introducing automation to this field could, therefore, improve software engineers' common workflow and decrease the time to market. Even though many code-generating algorithms have been proposed in textual-based programming languages, to the best of the authors' knowledge, none of the studies deals with the implementation of such algorithms in graphical programming environments, especially LabVIEW. Due to this fact, the main goal of this study is to conduct a proof-of-concept for a requirement-based automated code-developing system within the graphical programming environment LabVIEW. The proposed framework was evaluated on four basic benchmark problems, encompassing a string model, a numeric model, a boolean model and a mixed-type problem model, which covers fundamental programming scenarios. In all tested cases, the algorithm demonstrated an ability to create satisfying functional and errorless solutions that met all user-defined requirements. Even though the generated programs were burdened with redundant objects and were much more complex compared to programmer-developed codes, this fact has no effect on the code's execution speed or accuracy. Based on the achieved results, we can conclude that this pilot study not only proved the feasibility and viability of the proposed concept, but also showed promising results in solving linear and binary programming tasks. Furthermore, the results revealed that with further research, this poorly explored field could become a powerful tool not only for application developers but also for non-programmers and low-skilled users.

Development and Implementation of an Energy-Efficient Test Stand for Railway Car Bogies

The bogies of railway cars are important components of the rolling stock system. The test stand solution that we have developed and proposed is used for testing car bogies under load to inspect and highlight the features that ensure operational safety and energy efficiency. This article presents the development and manufacturing of a prototype test stand for railcar bogies, incorporating specific elements such as hydraulic pressure cylinders, force transducers, displacement transducers, a hydraulic pumping system, a data computation and processing system, as well as a control and command unit. The technical topic of developing the test stand is aimed at testing bogies under a controlled, variable and uniformly distributed load, closely simulating the operational conditions of railcar bogies. The accurate and complete determination of the bogie's parameters assures the railroad operator that they are safely interchangeable—Moreover, decreasing the time spent on testing tasks and increasing the testing process efficiency through process automation is leading to a cutback in energy consumption and better predictability of the time intervals required for the repair of railway cars. The prototype consists of three hydraulic pressure cylinders: a centrally located hydraulic cylinder exerting a maximum pressing force of 20 tons-force and two lateral hydraulic cylinders, each applying a maximum pressing force of 10 tons-force. The hydraulic cylinders operate independently from each other, also supporting asymmetric load distributions that recreate the operating conditions as faithfully as possible. The data processing system monitors the magnitudes of the forces and the displacement of the hydraulic cylinders for reporting the specific characteristics of the bogie. To ensure rapid response in the control of the testing process, a control logic unit was developed, entirely dedicated to the control of this technological process. The graphical user interface of the embedded computer system was designed in the LabVIEW programming environment.

Optimizing the operation of photovoltaic panels using mathematical regression models

Solar (PV) panel models are necessary for the implementation of solar panel control algorithms such as maximum power point tracking. If real-time control is required, these models will be used on microcontrollers and, therefore, will be subject to constraints of memory and execution time: the model implemented on the microcontroller must occupy a memory area as small as possible and the mathematical relationships it contains can be computed in the shortest possible time. Analytical models usually do not fit this criteria, therefore searching for equivalent models which do fit it is required. In this paper, equivalent mathematical models are determined in the MATLAB programming environment based on data obtained by simulating an analytical model in the LabVIEW programming environment. In this paper, the models were obtained by modeling the current distribution in the panel through regression methods, more specifically by using an optimal response surface which has been validated through the resolution of an optimization problem with restrictions. The optimal response surface was used to estimate the extreme values of the power produced by the panel for certain given weather conditions (maximum power in summer and minimum power in winter).

Решение задач электромагнитной совместимости специализированными программными средствами

Reliability and stability of electric power systems depend on compliance with electromagnetic compatibility of electrical equipment, which requires compulsory and objective monitoring. Performing an analysis of power quality in electrical networks is a challenging task, so it is advisable to do it using specialized software. This article gives a brief overview of LabVIEW programming environment and MatLab software package. The possibilities of application of these products for solving the problems of electromagnetic compatibility are considered.

Development of Temperature Control Software with Ramp Programming using LabVIEW and Arduino

Abstract: In this work we show the development of a low-cost software to control the temperature of an oven, this software can be used in different applications that can be used both at a laboratory scale and at an industrial level. The control software was developed in the LabVIEW programming environment, using PID and PWM control algorithms with which precise temperature control was achieved following a heating path that has ramps and soaking times. The temperature acquisition was performed using an Arduino UNO data acquisition and generation card together with a K-type thermocouple connected to a Max8566 temperature module, using a solid-state relay as an actuator. Programming is optimized to work with the control system designed in LabVIEW along with the NI-VISA Application Programming Interface.

Implementation of a program for real-time processing and visualization of LIDAR scan data in the LabVIEW programming environment

The features of development and optimization of software for real-time LIDAR data processing are considered. The advantages of the LabVIEW graphical development environment for creating highly optimized applications using parallel execution threads and pipelined data processing are shown.

Diagnostic System for Asynchronous Motors and Synchronous Generators Operating in Autonomous Mode Developed through the Use of DAQ Devices and Labview Programming Environment

The paper explores the possibilities for the use of DAQ devices in developing specialised diagnostic systems for monitoring and diagnostics of electrical equipment with asynchronous electric drives and autonomous synchronous generators. The primary focus is on the construction of a system responsive to different complementary diagnostic methods, such as the spectral current- voltage analysis, Park's method, instantaneous power theories, etc. Such a system might be applied locally (discretely) and/or conjointly in a centralized equipment monitoring system with the use of the LabView platform.

FUZZY REGULATOR OF THE ROD SUPPLY SYSTEM OF ARDUINO-BASED CROSS-WEDGE ROLLING MILL IN LABVIEW ENVIRONMENT

The main purpose of scientific work is to develop a regulator based on fuzzy logic for an electronic control system for the supply of bar billets in automated cross-wedge rolling complexes.
 Cross-wedge rolling belongs to the advanced energy-saving technologies where technological processes based on metal cutting are replaced by economic processes of plastic forming of details. The analysis showed that coefficient increase of metal utilization requires loss decrease arising from the supply inaccuracy of the bar workpiece to the length of the part. The task is to reproduce the given law of motion of the actuator, i.e. to ensure maximum speed, smooth acceleration and braking with the possibility of a shockless stop at the end of the stroke. The solution of this problem is proposed to be carried out by entering the fuzzy control unit into the structure of the system for controlling the supply..
 The hardware basis of the control system in this work is the Arduino hardware and software complex based on the Atmel AVR microcontroller. The software model of the control system is developed in the graphical programming environment LabVIEW, which is widely used as a standard tool for data collection and control of devices in industry, education and research laboratories. The construction of a fuzzy regulator and its implementation are considered using Fuzzy Logic Designer.
 On the basis of systematized knowledge about the object of research, its characteristics and features, linguistic input and output variables were selected, as well as membership functions and a fuzzy production model of knowledge was formulated. The configuration of the control system depends on the number of controlled outputs and controlled input data and in this case the MISO information structure is applied. The paper presents the front panel of the virtual device developed by LabVIEW, which is designed to display information about the current state of the system. The purpose of the developed fuzzy regulator model is to output the value of the initial air pressure in the cavity of the actuating pneumatic cylinder, which will create an air cushion in the process of advancing the piston, which has properties similar to those of a normal spring. Smooth stopping of the piston is provided by the coordinated choice of rigidity of a pneumatic spring taking into account length of a detail and weight of a rod and allows us to reduce kinetic energy in an end point of positioning that increases accuracy of supply.
 The analysis of research results confirmed the efficiency and adequacy of the model used and the developed set of operation rules of the fuzzy regulator. Testing of the control system on parts of different lengths confirmed a reduction in total losses and an increase in the utilization of the metal.

An Artificial Heart System for Testing and Evaluation of Cardiac Pacemakers

The usability assessment of a pacemaker is a complex task where the dedicated programmer for testing programmed algorithms is necessary. This paper provides the outcomes of development and complex testing of the artificial cardiac system to evaluate the pacemaker’s functionality. In this work, we used the modular laboratory platform ELVIS II and created graphical user interface in LabVIEW programming environment. The electrical model of the heart allows signals generation (right atrium, right ventricle) and the monitoring of the stimulation pulses. The LabVIEW user interface allows to set the parameters of the generated signals and the simulation of the cardiac rhythm disorders as well as the monitoring and visualization of the pacemaker behavior in real-time. The results demonstrate the capability of proposed system to evaluate the paced and sensed pulses. The proposed solution allows the scientists to test the behavior of any cardiac pacemaker for its pre-programmed settings and pacing mode. In addition, the proposed system can simulate various disorders and test cardiac pacemakers in different working modes.

Digital Twins of Building Physics Experimental Laboratory Setups for Effective E-learning

Hands-on experiments in laboratories are fundamental educational tools for technical sciences. However, laboratories are expensive and not always accessible to students: lockdown and in-person meeting restrictions due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, distant location of teachers and students, facilities used for higher-priority purposes. Moreover, creating specific experimental setups for teaching only can be costly. In that context, digitalizing laboratory setups provides an attractive teaching alternative for remote e-learning. Digital twins are not meant to replace real-world experiments but should enable flexible teaching and effective learning at a lower cost. They complement physical setups and can be virtual extensions, allowing for larger and more complex study cases. e-learning is now popular and many educational institutions provide open-access videos of entire courses. However, the digitalization of practical exercises for engineering is yet limited. The e-learning effort presented in this paper aims to establish a series of digital twins of experimental setups for teaching building physics, energy in buildings and indoor environment. The development of the two first digital twins is detailed here. They are designed for teaching operation and balancing hydronic heating systems. Their numerical models and graphical user interfaces are created with the LabVIEW programming environment.

Novel design of reactor to grow CuSbS2 films by chalcogenisation of metal precursors sequentially evaporated

This article presents details of the design, construction and operation of a low cost reactor for growth of thin films of Chalcogenide Materials used for Photovoltaic applications. This reactor allows growing any type of chalcogenide compound by chalcogenisation of their metal precursors. However its performance was tested by depositing CuSbS2 films by chalcogenisation of metal precursors sequentially deposited by evaporation. The sulfurization process includes soft annealing of the Sb/Cu stacked precursor in a controlled atmosphere mixture of argon and hydrogen gas (95% Ar and 5% H2) followed by heating in the presence of elemental sulfur, using a tubular furnace heated with infrared lamps. Chalcogenisation process is carried out by controlling the heating rate of the furnace with the help of algorithms developed using LabVIEW programming environment. Through a study of deposition parameters that included the variables, furnace heating rate, final annealing target temperature and annealing time, conditions were found to grow single-phase CuSbS2 films with good structural, optical and morphological properties. This indicates that the CuSbS2 films prepared by means the chalcogenisation routine developed in this work, could be used later as an absorbent layer in solar cells.

Mössbauer Spectrometer With Advanced Modulation of Gamma Ray Energy Utilizing Real-Time Industrial Computer

A new Mössbauer spectrometer based on a CompactRIO platform was developed. The CompactRIO is a modular industrial computer platform developed by the National Instruments. This device runs under “LabVIEW RT OS”-Linux-based real-time operating system, which has a support of the LabVIEW programming environment. The CompactRIO has an integrated field programmable gate array (FPGA), which was used for most critical functions of the developed spectrometer, such as scintillation detector signal acquisition and accumulation of Mössbauer spectra, and for driving a velocity transducer movement using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) regulation. The velocity transducer modulates gamma rays' energy by movement using the Doppler effect. Precision of this movement is crucial, as it defines whole spectrometer accuracy. More sophisticated algorithms (i.e., PID parameters autotuning and additional Mössbauer spectra linearization methods) have been implemented on the real-time part of the CompactRIO. The developed spectrometer demonstrates the advantages of the real-time systems such as deterministic processing of large amounts of data allowing measurement in a very high velocity resolution.

МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЕ ПОГРЕШНОСТЕЙ ИЗМЕРИТЕЛЬНЫХ КАНАЛОВ АСУТП В СРЕДЕ LABVIEW

Questions of estimation of errors of measuring channels of automated process control systems are investigated. A method for studying measurement channel errors based on their mathematical modeling in the visual programming environment LabVIEW is proposed

Liquid Level Detection in Standard Capacity Measures with Machine Vision.

Capacity measures are commonly used volume standards for testing measuring systems for liquids other than water. Manual readings from the measuring scale can often be difficult due to the location of the capacity measure or to the nature of the measured liquid. This article focuses on the automation of this procedure by using a single camera machine vision system. A camera positioned perpendicular to the transparent neck captures the image of the liquid meniscus and the measuring scale. The volume reading is determined with the user-defined software in the LabVIEW programming environment, which carries out the image preprocessing, detection of the scale marks and the liquid level, correction of lens distortion and parallax effects and final unit conversions. The realized measuring system for liquid level detection in standard capacity measures is tested and validated by comparing the automated measurement results with those taken by the operators. The results confirm the appropriateness of the presented measuring system for the field of legal metrology.

Automated digitization of radial charts

Radial charts were commonly used in the industry to allow retrospective assessment of technological parameters. Today it is relevant to digitize the obtained data in order to simplify the automation of technological processes. Digitization of radial charts by means of standard methods is carried out with the help of human labor at significant time costs. The article proposes an automated method for digitizing radial charts using software, developed in the LabVIEW programming environment. The results of processing radial charts are displayed on the screen in numerical and graphical form, and can also be exported to a file (for example, to Notepad or MS Excel). The presented technique can be applied to images obtained on a color or black-and-white scanner, which minimizes geometric distortions, associated with the conversion of a paper document into electronic form, and ensures recognition quality of the clear plot line with an average relative error of up to 3 %. In case of ink fading or perspective photos of the diagram, the value of relative error can reach 8 %, as a result of which additional manual correction of the data will be required.

Continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance L-band spectrometer with direct digitalization using time-locked subsampling

This article describes a novel digital L-band EPR spectrometer. The spectrometer uses direct digital detection with time-locked subsampling (TLSS). The device consists of a microwave bridge equipped with a microwave source based on direct digital synthesis (DDS) and a digital receiver.DDS technology combined with an ultra-low noise 1 GHz master clock allowed the development of a digitally controlled microwave source with exceptionally good phase noise characteristics. The obtained level of phase noise is as low as −140 dBc/Hz at 30.5 kHz from the carrier frequency of 1.15 GHz, which is important when registering the EPR dispersion signal.The receiver is equipped with a high-speed A/D converter that enables direct digitalization of the L-band microwave signal. The obtained discrete data are then buffered and averaged in a programmable logic FPGA device. Data packets from FPGA are transferred to a DSP microcontroller that correlates them with the appropriate reference signals. This detection algorithm requires time locking of the generator and the receiver, which is ensured by clocking both devices from the same reference source. This procedure allows the simultaneous detection of the absorption and dispersion signals at the magnetic field modulation frequency and at any of its harmonics.The software to control the spectrometer was designed in the LabView programming environment. The program also allows further data processing. To the best of our knowledge, the described spectrometer is one of the first full implementation of the direct digital detection technique which could replace conventional analog CW spectrometers that utilize magnetic field modulation. For an 11 µm aqueous TEMPOL solution, the new spectrometer obtained a S/N ratio greater than 160 for an EPR spectrum registered in 69 s.

Research and Implementation of Vehicle Target Detection and Information Recognition Technology Based on NI myRIO.

A vehicle target detection and information extraction scheme based on NI (National Instruments) myRIO is designed in this paper. The vehicle information acquisition and processing method based on image recognition is used to design a complete vehicle detection and information extraction system. In the LabVIEW programming environment, the edge detection method is used to realize the vehicle target detection, the pattern matching method is used to realize the vehicle logo recognition, and the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) character recognition algorithm is used to realize the vehicle license plate recognition. The feasibility of the design scheme in this paper is verified through the actual test and analysis. The scheme is intuitive and efficient, with the high recognition accuracy.

Adaptive Software Defined Equalization Techniques for Indoor Visible Light Communication.

This paper focuses on a channel feed-forward software defined equalization (FSDE) of visible light communication (VLC) multistate quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM) based system, implemented in the LabVIEW programming environment. A highly modular platform is introduced; the whole experiment is simulated in software and then thoroughly explored and analyzed during practical measurements in the laboratory, simulating real-world situations. The whole platform is based on modified National Instruments software defined radios (NI SDR) and a commercially available Philips light source, often used in Czech government institutions. Three FSDE algorithms were tested: least mean squares (LMS), normalized least mean squares (NLMS), and QR decomposition based RLS (QR-RLS). Based on measurements, QR-RLS provides the best results, improving measured values by up to 10%. The experiments also show that the simulated results are very similar to real measurements, thus proving the validity of the chosen approach. The whole platform manages to improve measured data simply by making changes to the software side of the testing prototype.

Automation of measurements permeability of materials

The results of creating a hardware-software complex based on a precision LCR Agilent E4980A meter and a measuring cell 16454A using the LabVIEW programming environment for automated measurements of the frequency dependences of materials permeability are presented. Spectra of the real and imaginary parts of the magnetic permeability of ferrimagnets were obtained in the frequency range from 2 kHz to 2 MHz. A comparison of the measurement results with known data is performed.