Advanced Programmable Automation Controller Based on CompactRIO

The new NI cRIO-907x CompactRIO integrated system is an advanced programmable automation controller (PAC) that integrates an industrial real-time processor and a configurable FPGA in a single chassis, reducing applications for high-volume machine control, monitoring, and more. The cost of the CompactRIO system. Engineers and mechanical designers can quickly program and customize FPGAs in the cRIO-9072 and cRIO-9074 systems with the new LabVIEW 8.5 graphical development tools without the need for unnecessary time and money for custom hardware design.

Robust embedded machine control and monitoring system
Integrated real-time controller and FPGA chassis
Real-time controller designed for deterministic control, data logging and analysis
Reconfigurable FPGA designed for custom I/O timing, control and processing
8-slot chassis for any C Series I/O module
High-capacity deployment and OEM applications at lower cost

The cRIO-9072 integrates a 266 MHz real-time processor, a 1M gate FPGA and 8 slots for connecting C Series I/O modules. The cRIO-9074 integrates a better performance 400 MHz real-time processor, a more intensive 2M gate FPGA and eight C Series I/O module expansion slots. To meet the needs of demanding environments, the system operates from -20 to 55 °C with an input voltage of 19-30 VDC. The cRIO-907x CompactRIO integrated system enables high-capacity systems and OEM applications such as industrial machinery and medical equipment at low cost.

Both systems can connect to eight C Series I/O modules. Various I/O modules are available, including: voltage, current, thermocouple, RTD, accelerometer and strain gauge input; ±60 V synchronous sampling analog I/O; 12, 24 or 48V industrial digital I/O; V/TTL digital I/O; counter/timer; pulse generator; and high voltage/high current relay.

Table 1. Features of the integrated system

Both systems have 10/100 Mb/s Ethernet ports for programmable communication between networks; the system also includes a web server (HTTP) and a file server (FTP). The cRIO-9074 features two 10/100 Mb/s Ethernet ports for programmable communication between networks, a built-in network, and a file server to add expansion or distributed I/O to the system. For example, one Ethernet port is used to communicate with the network of a PC host or enterprise system, and the other port is used to expand I/O, and it is easy to connect another CompactRIO system or Ethernet-based device for I/O expansion.

Using the new LabVIEW 8.5 graphical programming tool, engineers can program real-time processors and custom FPGAs for embedded control, monitoring, processing, and logging. The new cRIO-9072 and cRIO-9074 systems extend the NI family of FPGA-based deployment platforms, including PXI-RIO, PC-RIO, and standard CompactRIO hardware, all with the same embedded hardware architecture, combined with a powerful floating-point processor. Configurable FPGA and I/O modules. This standard architecture improves time-to-market and reliability of machines and embedded devices. Using standard architecture and LabVIEW tools, engineers can quickly design and model industrial monitoring, control machinery and embedded devices with flexible, high-performance hardware and quickly deploy them on the new cost-optimized cRIO-907x CompactRIO system , thereby reducing deployment costs. Engineers can reuse the same LabVIEW code during the modeling and deployment phase, reducing time-to-market and improving machine reliability.

"Using National Instruments' CompactRIO embedded system and LabVIEW graphical tools, we quickly completed the design, modeling, and deployment of the Visica2 medical device control system, achieving time-to-market goals, and because there is no need to design custom The hardware also saves money. Thanks to the standard embedded RIO [reconfigurable I/O] architecture and new low-cost hardware, such as the cRIO-907x system, we are able to reuse existing high-capacity machines. Software, no need to redesign the new system to achieve low hardware costs." - Jeff Stevens, Chief System Designer, Sanarus Medical

Engineers can quickly program reconfigurable FPGAs within the cRIO-907x with the LabVIEW FPGA Module for custom and high-speed control, I/O timing, and signal processing. The embedded real-time processor in the system is programmed with LabVIEW Real-Time Module software. LabVIEW Real-Time software includes built-in function modules for floating point control, processing, analysis, data logging, and communication. The function modules of LabVIEW real-time software can also be used to realize the data transmission between the real-time processor and FPGA in the system.

LabVIEW shared variable technology makes it easy to connect real-time targets to PCs
. Deterministic timing in microsecond resolution
More than 600 analysis functions
Can integrate existing C/C++ code
System replication tool for fast system replication

FPGA Wizards enable rapid build of real-time and FPGA code
. Easy to get started with the FPGA Engineering Wizard
State diagram module implementation based on FPGA control, state machine, etc.
FPGA simulation makes development and debugging easy
Built-in FPGA IP function module (new in LabVIEW 8.5: multi-channel PID, signal generator, Notch filter, etc.)

Because the new CompactRIO integrated system has been optimized for high-volume applications, there are some technical differences and trade-offs when measuring the cRIO-901x controller with the cRIO-910x chassis or the new cRIO-907x integrated system. The CompactRIO modular controller with chassis has a larger operating temperature range, a smaller footprint of 4 slots, higher FPGA performance, and a full-speed USB port for extended connection to USB-based storage devices.

To help you convert your LabVIEW FPGA code under a modular system to an integrated system, read the following guide:

Guide: Differences between Xilinx FPGA family products

Table 2. CompactRIO Modular System vs. CompactRIO Integrated System