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Autonomous or semiautonomous robots often require an embedded control system that can combine deterministic control with high-level intelligence and can easily connect to a variety of sensors and actuators. National Instruments delivers a variety of embedded hardware platforms to address the needs of these complex systems. From cutting-edge robotics research projects to advanced industry applications, the NI platform has proven to be an effective solution for robotics.
Reconfigurable I/O (RIO) Architecture
National Instruments embedded hardware platforms share a common reconfigurable I/O (RIO) architecture. This architecture combines a real-time processor, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and a wide range of I/O, including analog, digital, motion, and communication. Using this standard architecture and NI LabVIEW graphical development tools, you can rapidly design and prototype robotic systems with flexible, high-performance hardware.
Figure 1. NI RIO Deployment Curve: A Variety of Embedded Hardware Solutions for Robotics
NI CompactRIO and NI Single-Board RIO
A CompactRIO embedded system features a real-time embedded processor, a four- or eight-slot reconfigurable chassis containing a user-programmable FPGA, and hot-swappable industrial I/O modules. This low-cost embedded architecture delivers open access to low-level hardware resources for rapid development of robotics systems. It also features a mechanical enclosure for protection.
Figure 2. Students at Virginia Tech developed this semiautonomous ground vehicle based on CompactRIO.
NI Single-Board RIO is a low-cost board-level embedded system based on the same architecture as CompactRIO. NI Single-Board RIO features onboard analog and digital I/O, which you can expand with I/O modules. Consider the specifications in Table 1 to determine which RIO hardware platform best fits your application needs.
Figure 3. This nimble treaded rover from the USCD Coordinated Robotics Lab is based on NI Single-Board RIO.
|
CompactRIO Modular Systems |
CompactRIO Integrated Systems |
NI Single-Board RIO |
|
| Temperature range |
-40 to 70 ºC |
-20 to 55 ºC |
-20 to 55 ºC |
| EMC certifications |
√ |
√ |
− |
| Mechanical enclosure provided |
√ |
√ |
− |
| Ability to mix and match controller and chassis |
√ |
− |
− |
| C Series slots or expansion |
4 or 8 slots |
8 slots |
3 connectors for expansion I/O |
| LabVIEW Real-Time Scan Mode support |
√ |
√ |
− |
| Full-Speed USB host port for USB-based storage |
√ |
− |
− |
| Internal nonvolatile storage |
Up to 4 GB |
Up to 256 MB |
Up to 256 MB |
| Power supply input range |
Dual 9 to 35 VDC |
Single 19 to 30 VDC |
Single 19 to 30 VDC |
| FPGA |
Xilinx Virtex FPGA |
Xilinx Spartan-3 FPGA |
Xilinx Spartan-3 FPGA |
Table 1. NI RIO Hardware Comparison
With LabVIEW Robotics, you can easily program the real-time processor, reconfigurable FPGA, and I/O of your RIO embedded system. LabVIEW Robotics also includes robotics IP, examples, and sensor and actuator drivers for both real-time and FPGA implementations.
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