LabVIEW for FRC
Long Island Software Workshop
Dec 13, 2008
Robert.berger@ni.com
Agenda
• Intro to the New Control System
• LabVIEW Basics
– little LabVIEW History
– What else LabVIEW might be able to do for you
– Resources
– Hands On Instruction
• LabVIEW Project Window
• WPI Robotics Libraries for LabVIEW
What is LabVIEW?
• It is a tool used by scientists and engineers to
measure and automate the universe around
us
• It is a graphical programming environment
– programming – it is a programming language and
you won’t be an expert in a day or two
– graphical – you draw your code
– environment – it is more than measurement and
automation, it has analysis and user interface
capabilities created for scientists and engineers
Virtual Instruments (VI)
• LabVIEW = Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation
Engineering Workbench
• Programs are called VIs (vee-eyes), they have:
Front Panel Block Diagram
VI / Car Analogy – Front Panel
• The Front Panel is like the
driver’s cockpit
– Controls or Inputs to the car
• Ignition Key, Shifter, Gas Pedal,
Brake, etc.
– Indicators or Outputs
• Speedometer, Tachometer,
Fuel Gauge, etc.
– Connects to the engine
compartment
VI / Car Analogy – Block Diagram
• The Block Diagram is like
the engine compartment
– Functional Blocks
• Engine, alternator, battery,
sensors, control modules,
etc.
– Wires, Tubes and Hoses
• Connects everything
together
– Connects to driver’s cockpit
LabVIEW History
• 1986 - Premiered on a Macintosh
– It mainly automated electronic instruments –
oscilloscopes, multimeters, etc
• 1992 - Ported to MS Windows
• 1997 - Ported to a Real Time OS
– Used by several Universities and Companies in various
robotics competitions
• VA Tech started using it in 2003 – They finished in 3rd place at the
Urban Grand Challenge – late 2007
• 1999 - Robolab was introduced by LEGO & Tufts Univ
• 2006 - Ported to run on a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT
• 2008/9 – LabVIEW FTC and FRC
Other LabVIEW uses
• Students
– Students Projects with LEGO NXT
– You’ll see it in many collegiate engineering & science
programs
– Create NXT-G blocks for your favorite FLL or FTC
team*
• Teachers
– Project Lead the Way
– The Infinity Project
– Works with your Vernier Sensors
* You’ll need LabVIEW Version 7.1
Other LabVIEW uses
• Mentors from Industry
– Instrument Control – GPIB, Etc
– Industrial Automation – PLCs, HMI, SCADA
– Machine Vision
– Motion Control
– Program FPGAs
– Embedded Targets – ADI Blackfin, ARM 7
– Algorithm Engineering
Early Virginia Tech (TORC) successes using
LabVIEW in Autonomous System Projects
Results of IGVC Competition
1996 –- Did not place
1997 –- 5th place
1998 –- Did not place
1999 –- 7th place
2000 –- 1st place
2001 –- 2nd place
2002 –- Did not place
Introduction of
LabVIEW
2003 -– 1st Place
2004 –- 1st Place
2005 –- 1st Place
2006 –- 1st Place
2007 –- 1st Place
http://www.igvc.org/
Resources
• Books
– LabVIEW for Everyone – Travis & Kring
– Learning with LabVIEW – Robert Bishop
– LabVIEW for LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT - Michael
Gasperi
• Websites
– ni.com/first
Logistics
• LabVIEW for FRC
– 2 DVDs ship with the Kit
• You don’t need to load both
• Disk 1 = LabVIEW
• Disk 2 = Windriver C++
• Version 8.5.1 which is not the latest version
– http://www.usfirst.org/frccontrolsystem
• LabVIEW FRC software update - VERY IMPORTANT
• Control System Manual
• H/W and S/W Documentation
• If you don’t have your kit – use LabVIEW
Evaluation Copy
Hands On Instructions
• At first, please do what I do… don’t stray
• Listen Carefully…
– “left-click” vs. “right-click”
– “click & release” vs. “click & hold”
• Raise your hand … shout “Help!”