National Instruments expands NI CompactDAQ Platform with single-slot chassis offering wireless, Ethernet, and USB connectivity and delivering maximum performance and ease of use in simplified, portable format, NI said, about this NIWeek introduction.

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National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) today announced new 1-slot NI CompactDAQ chassis that support wireless, USB and Ethernet buses, giving engineers and scientists the portability of a data logger with the performance and flexibility of modular measurements. The NI cDAQ-9191, cDAQ-9181 and cDAQ-9171 chassis support all NI C Series modules for the NI CompactDAQ platform and can be used in conjunction with the existing 4- and 8-slot chassis.

With modules designed for almost any sensor, the NI CompactDAQ platform eliminates the fixed functionality of traditional sensor measurement systems and gives engineers and scientists the ability to increase productivity while decreasing overall cost. NI made the announcement at its NIWeek conference in Austin, Texas.

New metal enclosures make the chassis more resistant to environmental damage as compared to the previous plastic sleeves. The chassis operate in a temperature range of 0 to 55 C and can withstand up to 30 g shock and 3 g vibration. Applications for NI CompactDAQ 1-slot chassis include demanding test applications on the benchtop, in the field or on the production line, NI said.

“The addition of the new wireless, USB and Ethernet 1-slot chassis demonstrates our commitment to expanding the NI CompactDAQ modular data acquisition platform,” said Kevin Schultz, National Instruments vice president of research and development. “These chassis can be used with more than 50 C Series modules which make it possible for engineers and scientists to build flexible, scalable measurement systems for portable and distributed applications.”

More than 50 measurement-specific modules featuring multiple electrical and sensor connectivity options can be combined with any chassis to create customized systems specific to the needs of numerous applications. NI Signal Streaming technology delivers high-bandwidth capabilities that make it possible to achieve sustained high-speed and bidirectional data streams over USB, Ethernet and wireless buses. Zero configuration networking technology simplifies initial setup, eliminating the need for IT involvement in network setup and integration.

NI-DAQmx driver software, included with each NI CompactDAQ chassis, goes beyond a basic device driver to deliver increased productivity and performance, NI said. With NI-DAQmx, engineers and scientists can log data for simple experiments or develop a complete test system in NI LabVIEW, NI LabWindows/CVI, ANSI C/C++ or Microsoft Visual Studio .NET. A consistent API means that an application developed for an NI CompactDAQ
wireless chassis will work with an NI CompactDAQ USB or Ethernet chassis without any modifications to the software. In addition, all new NI CompactDAQ chassis support the new controller area network (CAN) C Series module for optimal communication across various networks.

National Instruments said it is transforming the way engineers and scientists design, prototype and deploy systems for measurement, automation and embedded applications. NI empowers customers with off-the-shelf software such as NI LabVIEW and modular cost-effective hardware, and sells to a broad base of more than 30,000 companies worldwide, with its largest customer representing approximately 4 percent of revenue in 2010 and no one industry representing more than 15 percent of revenue. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has approximately 5,500 employees and direct operations in more than 40 countries.

- Edited by Mark T. Hoske, CFE Media, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com.

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