Software simplifies development and debug for automated test systems
Improving the interactive use of PXI instruments, InstrumentStudio software has been announced by NI for its PXI modular instruments.
InstrumentStudio improves the live, interactive use model for modular instruments and makes debugging while running tests more intuitive, says the company. It is designed for use by engineers in the aerospace, automotive and semiconductor industries to provide a more effective workflow for test system development.
InstrumentStudio evolves the concept of single-instrument soft front panels into a unified, multi-instrument environment. Engineers can capture screenshots and measurement results in one view from their suite of instruments. InstrumentStudio can also save project-level configurations for specific devices-under-test (DUTs) that can be repurposed later or shared. This efficiency provides test repeatability and is a key benefit for testing high-mix devices, points out NI.
Rather than test engineers correlating measurements between similar test, using different hardware and at different stages in the design cycle, InstrumentStudio exports configuration files to programming environments that reproduce settings, thereby simplifying measurement correlation. This also saves valuable time for engineers who need to debug on the manufacturing floor as they do not need to invest in separate hardware for monitoring tests or debugging automated test equipment.
Additionally, test engineers can monitor PXI instrument behaviour by running InstrumentStudio while test sequences execute in parallel, streamlining the debug process. The seamless interactions with programming environments and test sequences help engineers maximise their investment in PXI instrumentation.
InstrumentStudio is designed to meet demands like testing higher complexity DUTs and shorter timeframes, with products tailored to needs within distinct stages of the development workflow which has LabView engineering system design software at its core and TestStand test management software handling overall execution. The workflow helps to improve the productivity of test and validation labs across many industries, confirms NI. Each piece of the workflow is also interoperable with third-party software to maximise code/IP reuse and draws on the LabView Tools Network ecosystem of add-ons and tools for more application-specific requirements.
InstrumentStudio is included with the purchase of an NI PXI instrument. Engineers can also download the complimentary software for use with existing NI products. For more information.
