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Master Research & Development - Learn LabVIEW

LabVIEW is a graphical programming language introduced to most via FIRST Robotics, an intro to computer science class or because a past engineer used it in your workplace. Characterized by its code blocks logically stringed together with wires LabVIEW has been shrugged off and abandoned for "adult" non-graphical languages. I too thought my days of dragging and dropping would be limited to troubleshooting retired FIRST robots. After a number of internships featuring leading edge research and development projects controlled by LabVIEW I decided to reconsider my neglectful relationship with the language. 

Brains of a NASA prototype deep space habitat's power system is controlled by a National Instrument's C-RIO programmed with LabVIEW. I started to realize LabVIEW was no joke. LabVIEW was used once again to prototype an Orion-like space craft display and process commands from sibling systems. Energy conversion systems for NASA's ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization)  are controlled by sophisticated LabVIEW code following software engineering frameworks such as the "Actor Framework". During my NASA experiences I learned that LabVIEW was no joke and could be used for cutting edge research and development (R&D). 

Top skills to learn in LabVIEW to become an effective R&Der include user interface design, control and data collection.

Interface Design

LabVIEW enables the ability to create graphical user interfaces (GUIs) of your controls as you drag and drop code. While you work on the backend "Block Diagram" focusing on logic LABVIEW creates a user interface you can personalize later for the user. The default GUIs may not be the prettiest but there are plenty of opportunities for customization. LabVIEW user interface tutorial. How to customize user controls.

Control 

Using software engineering mantras or simple case structures your control design system can be complex or simple with LabVIEW. As you create a loop function by actually drawing a loop around code and deciding the order of code execution by drawing a wire between code blocks you will find it is quite intuitive.  LabVIEW doesn't offer control unique from any other language, rather how you visualize the control. Series of videos to familiarize yourself with control structures in LabVIEW.

Data Collection

National Instruments has devices that work for plug and play data collection. Their CDaq device you plug sensors into and then recognized by LabVIEW. CDaq's code block in LabVIEW allows you to connect with a wide array of sensors, send sensor data to an Excel sheet, enter raw data into formulas, and more. Within an hour a data collection program could be thrown together for fast data collection. Video on LabVIEW data collection.

If you want do some R&D, to slap together a system to test out and work out kinks in a design LabVIEW is a quick tool to use. I am not affiliated or endorsed by National Instruments. This post is an advice piece, not an endorsement.