Fast embedded control
April 2009
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
National Instruments introduces industry’s first 3U quad-core PXI controller.
National Instruments has introduced the NI PXI-8110 embedded controller, which is the industry’s first 3U quad-core embedded controller for PXI systems. Featuring a 2,26 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad processor Q9100, up to 4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 RAM and a high-performance 7200 rpm drive, it is also the industry’s fastest embedded controller in the 3U PXI class. The PXI-8110 provides up to 80% performance improvement over dual-core controllers with similar CPU clock frequencies for applications that are optimised to use the controller’s four processing cores.
“Engineers and scientists depend on the performance and reliability of PXI to solve the world’s most challenging test, measurement and control applications,” said Robert Canik, vice president of R&D at National Instruments. “The new PXI-8110 quad-core embedded controller delivers on our commitment to providing engineers and scientists with advanced embedded computing solutions using high-performance processors such as the Intel Core 2 Quad.”
Computer processor manufacturers are continuing to add more CPU cores to their processors as a way of enhancing computing power. When using traditional text-based programming languages, engineers who want to harness this computing power for developing advanced test, measurement and control applications regularly face the challenges of using complex software primitives and programming models. However, engineers and scientists can capitalise on multithreaded application development by combining the multicore support and parallelism of National Instruments LabVIEW graphical system design software with the PXI-8110 controller’s advanced functionality. Because the new controller features a platform on which an application can distribute processing loads across four CPU cores simultaneously, it can significantly reduce test times for applications that require intensive signal and data processing such as RF protocol testing and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations. These applications also can replicate specific tests or processes to run on separate CPU cores and effectively double system throughput.
As an example of its leading-edge performance, the PXI-8110 can process up to 215 000 1K fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) per second, which is approximately 80% faster than the NI PXI-8108 dual-core embedded controller. Previously, this type of performance could be achieved only by using a bulky workstation. The PXI-8110 offers this same capability in a compact, 3U form factor that fits seamlessly inside a PXI chassis.
“By integrating Quad processors in a compact 3U form factor, National Instruments is delivering the benefits of Intel architecture to scientists and engineers requesting more cores for creating powerful and efficient parallel test and control systems,” said Jonathan Luse, director of marketing, Embedded and Communications group at Intel.
The PXI-8110 also is available in a version that supports the NI LabVIEW Real-Time and LabWindows/CVI Real-Time modules to deliver a flexible and rugged platform for deterministic and realtime measurement and control. With dual-core realtime systems, engineers are limited to a single CPU core to execute time-critical application segments because the other core is used for executing non-critical background services. With the new PXI-8110 quad-core embedded controller, engineers can allocate multiple CPU cores for running time-critical test sections while delegating non-critical services to the remaining cores. This capability helps engineers create powerful realtime and deterministic systems.
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