A Methodology for the Development of a Visual Programming Language - Term Paper Example

Introduction: LabView is the short form for Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench, a methodology for the development of a Visual Programming language and was developed by the National Instruments. The language is abbreviated “G”. The technology was original released for the Apple Macintosh in 1986. It is used or various tasks that include; industrial automation, data acquisition and also instrument control. The tasks can be used on various platforms like Microsoft Windows and different types of UNIX, Linux and MAC OS X. LabView 2009 is the latest version that was released in August 2009. The encoding language also known as “G” is the dataflow programming language. The languages’ execution is determined by the graphical block diagram commonly know as the LV source code. The LV source code is a program that connects the nodes to give different functions. When the data is available, these nodes become fully functions to execute different commands. In cases of multiple nodes, G is capable of performing multiple instructions and commands. Hardware such as multi-threading and multi-processing, which works with a built in scheduler that utilises, multiplexes principle on the OS threads to give commands that are then executed. BENEFITS LabView is superior to other development hardware because they support in accessing layers such as drivers and other abstractions. Graphical codes are presented through available and commonly utilised layers. The available layers include driver layer and abstraction layer. Abstraction layer provide an interface in which the hardware and the software communicate. These provide a platform under which even people with limited knowledge of coding can develop programs that are competent. DAQmxBase is a new program that is mainly made of G-coded inputs which helps to perform instructions such as data acquisition and instrumentation. LabView can be used on different platforms that may include Windows, Linux and also Linux. LabView provides an ancient code produced by the compiler to perform the tasks provided. To execute the commands provided by the user, the syntax has to be interpreted and compiled. In order to save the settings, the two codes (source and executable codes) have to be merged. The run-time engine in the LabView contains precompiled codes that combine with the executable files to perform the commands. The run-time engine serves as the link to all the other systems. The LV code is lower than the complied code assuming there are no differences in the programs and the speed of execution. Different LabView packages provide different options for the large number of functions for analysing data, statistics, acquiring data, generating signals, conditioning of signals and mathematics. LabView includes a component known as MathScript for mathematics, processing of signals and analysis. MathScript and Matlab combine to interpret script codes and perform other capabilities. LabView allows re-use of codes without any modification if the character was object-oriented and the data types must be consistent. LabView Professional Development System has let development of independent executables and the resulting code to be distributed any number of times. The executable code is provided without any costs together with the run-time engine. LabView environment can stand alone from the G code and can be interchanged by various operating systems. The Natonal Instruments is targeting various platforms as potential users of platforms like FPGAs, Pocket PCS, PDAs and Wireless sensor network nodes. The LabView Student Edition is a low cost program meant for institutions for educational purposes. LabView users communicate through various communication channels such as e-mail groups and other forums in the internet. TASK 2 The first step is taking two sine wave in which one of them is the carrier signal and the other is the modulation signal. Modulation signal and carrier signal of 1kHZ and 1MHz respectively and an amplitude of 2 volts, are the sine waves that we shall use. Then we used the general calculation formula for AM: X1+X2/X1*cos (2* pi*1000)*cos (2*pi*1000000). Amplitude modulation commonly referred to as AM is a method used in electric communication. It is mostly known information transmission through radio waves. The information in transit is varied in comparison to transmitted signal so as the modulation can work. A change in the strength of the signal reflects directly to the sound produced by the speaker of a radio and the intensity of light in a television set. Undulatory currents were the first amplitude modulation waves to successfully test for quality voice during the mid- 1870’s relative to telephone lines. In 1906, Reginald Fessenden carried out an audio demonstration and the method is still in use in many forms of communication. Amplitude modulation commonly refers to medium wave. Amplitude modulation was originally developed to add audio information to the current of a telephone transmitter to receiver. To test the strength of the current received, a microphone was used to test the quality of the sound at the transmitters end. At the receivers end, an electromagnet was placed to test when the current strengthened and weakened in accordance to the magnet. Vibrations were produced in the receivers’ diaphragm of the electromagnet thus, the sounds produced at the transmitters end were exactly reproduced. Radio communication in contrast to the telephone modulates a continuous wave radio signal that is produced by a radio transmitter. The amplitude modulation usually creates a signal that has power concentrated at two adjacent sidebands and carrier frequency. This entire process is commonly know as heterodyning. The two sidebands where power is concentrated are equal and similar; sometimes it is a mirror image. When amplitude modulation produces two sidebands and a carrier, then it is known as double sideband amplitude modulation or DSB-AM. AM is much weak and inefficient and most of it is wasted. The carrier signal uses two thirds of the power but carries no useful information. The power that remains is used by the two sidebands though only one is required. The transmitter efficiency can be improved through removing the carrier from the AM signal. This results in the production of double-sideband suppressed-carrier (DSBSC) signal or reduced carrier transmission. This means that a suppressed carrier amplitude modulation is more efficient (up to three times) compared to the traditional DSB-Am. However, if the carrier is partially suppressed, it results in a DSBRC signal (double sideband reduced carrier). With the utilisation of conventional techniques, the DSBRC and DSBSC signals can be demodulated easily through the help of bet frequency oscillator. Moreover, greater efficiency can be achieved through completely suppressing both one of the sidebands and carrier. The single sideband modulation is commonly utilised in amateur radio because of its efficiency in terms of bandwidth and power. Conclusion: Today’s computers are associated wit immerse power and flexibility, and thus scientists and engineers have extraordinary ability to efficiency control, measure, diagnose, monitor test, automate and to characterise any process easily. However, this s scenario is only possible if data present is analysed in a way that it provides useful information. An example of such technology is the LabView presented by National Instruments, and integrated with its numerous functions, provides a convenient environment in terms of graphical application that is specifically designed for scientist, engineers and other interest parties. LabView can be used extensively without specific focus to a given industry since it provides numerous functions ranging from design, production to validation. Furthermore, utilisation of LabView provides numerous benefits that include unparalleled connectivity to stand-alone instruments and plug-in DAQ for acquiring data. Moreover, its features that include routines, analysis libraries and algorithms, and its utilisation ranges from basic math to advanced signal processing, and its capability can be utilised for both vertical needs and general purpose applications, which are integral to functions associated with LabView. Generally, these numerous features have ensured that LabView is a powerful data visualisation application. This means that the benefits associated with utilisation of this program include: The application has appropriate user interface t brings together numerous components that include graphics and buttons literally meaning that no programming is required. This is because it is just placed on the front panel and then the data terminals appear on the given block diagram. It has an inbuilt library that contains numerous drivers that allows for test instruments and data acquisition hardware. Thus, for example, if the main aim of the user is to obtain and transferring data from and to these, and putting an interface for the user on it, the user does not require to program since the system adjusts itself based on these requirements. The technology allows automatic handling of multiple tasks easily – for example, placing two independent loops on a given diagram, and the task executes it simultaneously. This approach is usually conducive for those scenarios that require control applications and data acquisition. Read More