APPLICATIONS OF VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTATION IN DIFFERENT DOMAINS OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

Abstract

This research work has intended to identify the clusters of embedded systems where the application of virtual instrumentation concept can be used; one can apply the concept of virtual instrumentation for developing different applications of signal and image processing, automotive, mechatronics, control and simulation, embedded software designing, HDL & microprocessor coding etc. The graphical tool used in virtual instrumentation such as LabVIEW can be used for designing various applications of different embedded system domains. With a heavy emphasis features of LabVIEW like user friendly interface, quick design time, existing code reuse, large no of vi database and verity of I/O support. The available graphical tool now provides better mechanism to downloaded software to embedded systems this is especially important in creating hardware prototype for apps of embedded systems this forms of flexibility available in virtual instrumentation decreases time. Virtual Instrumentation concepts can be used in different domains of embedded system is explained by implementation of Virtual Function Generator using sound card and controlling stepper motor using RS-232 in this research work. AVR Atmega8 used as intermediate controller to extract the control signals sent from LabVIEW via RS-232.

Keywords: 

AVR Microcontroller, LabVIEW, Stepper Motor, RS-232, Virtual Instrumentation, Automotive, Signal processing, Embedded systems.