Understanding Arduino & Labview

[Laptopolus]

1.You can use labview to program arduino uno such that when you unplug from computer it will execute code?

2.You can use labview to tunnel into arduino and use it as a DAQ device (read signals, generate signals?)

3.You could also write a program in arduino native language, and then use rs232 as a communication between labview and the controller?

National Instruments hardware seems to lack low cost to generate pulse trains, So I am looking at using the Arduino. The usb 6008 only gets to 100Hz using software time, and the 6210, is expensive. I am assuming 6501 has the same software timed restrictions as the 6008 so I would be limited to writing high/low at 100Hz.

I would like to generate pulse trains at high frequency, 100kHz. I would like to send a command to generate a variable number of pulses at a variable frequency. What would be the way to do this using the Arduino with labview. (I ask questions 1&3 because the labview code on arduino run at slower cycles, thus the PWM would not be able to achieve 100kHz?)

[RTSLVU]

In essence LabView turned the Arduino into a USB DAQ like the NI-6009.

So the answers are Q1 No, Q2 Yes, Q3 Yes.

[Electromecha]

1.You can use labview to program arduino uno such that when you unplug from computer it will execute code?

NO, the only way to program an Arduino and have it run in stand-alone/headless operation is to use the free Arduino API. You can't deploy LabVIEW code onto the Arduino for embedded control.  But I bet NI could do it someday like they did in translating LabVIEW FPGA to VHDL for us.  Thanks NI!

http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

2.You can use labview to tunnel into arduino and use it as a DAQ device (read signals, generate signals?)

YES, check out the sweet LabVIEW Interface for Arduino (LIFA) App. Thanks again NI!

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z0000019TmpSAE&l=en-US

3.You could also write a program in arduino native language, and then use rs232 as a communication between labview and the controller?

YES, using LIFA referenced above and the Arduino API.

National Instruments hardware seems to lack low cost to generate pulse trains, So I am looking at using the Arduino. The usb 6008 only gets to 100Hz using software time, and the 6210, is expensive. I am assuming 6501 has the same software timed restrictions as the 6008 so I would be limited to writing high/low at 100Hz.

My experience with buying low cost hardware is that what you save on the front end for the less expensive hardware you loose on the back end during software development trying to make up for missing hardware capability or by trying write drivers to communicate with obsucure hardware.  

But..., if you're able to invest the time in learning how to program the Arduino with the Arduino API, it will likely pay dividends in the future if you do this type of work regularly.  I'm already banking on it and think the Arduino line is going to be a major player in the future of Automation.  It's open source, object oriented, and there are already tons of great libraries for it.

http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Foundations

I would like to generate pulse trains at high frequency, 100kHz. I would like to send a command to generate a variable number of pulses at a variable frequency. What would be the way to do this using the Arduino with labview. (I ask questions 1&3 because the labview code on arduino run at slower cycles, thus the PWM would not be able to achieve 100kHz?)

Do you need to vary (sweep) the frequency while the generation is occuring?..., this could be challenging.  What Arduino Model are you using?

[Laptopolus]

This application does not require me to change frequency on the fly. I happend to dig up an old machine with an old NI-6040E, it has two sourcing timers so I will be using that in the mean time. I will be getting a couple of Arduino Unos to begin trying this with. I will be investing the upfront time for the long term payoff of having some low cost hardware for the future. 

[CarlosOtiniano]

add other useful links, greetings

NI LabVIEW Interface for Arduino Toolkit - 

https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/tools-network/download.labview-hobbyist-toolkit.html

Getting Started With the LabVIEW Interface for Arduino

http://vishots.com/getting-started-with-the-labview-interface-for-arduino/