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Ni Elvis

National Instruments elvis

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
132 views14 pages

Ni Elvis

National Instruments elvis

Uploaded by

Rinno
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 14

PRODUCT FLYER

NI Educational Laboratory Virtual


Instrumentation Suite (NI ELVIS)
CONTENTS
NI ELVIS
Detailed View of NI ELVIS III
Key Features
NI ELVIS III Soft Front Panels
NI ELVIS III With Multisim Live
NI ELVIS III Application Programming Interface (API)
Hardware Services

Page 1 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


NI ELVIS
NI ELVIS III, NI ELVIS II+, and NI ELVIS II

• Software includes interactive web and desktop soft front panels, instrumentation support for
Windows and Mac, API support for LabVIEW and text-based languages, shipping examples,
and detailed help files
• Seven hardware instruments plus control I/O containing 16 AI, 4 AO, and 40 DIO
• 4-channel, 100 MS/s oscilloscope sample rate with 14-bit resolution and 50 MHz bandwidth
• 16-channel, 100 MS/s logic analyzer/pattern generator
• 16-channel, 1 MS/s analog input with 16-bit resolution
• 40 DIO lines individually programmable as input, output, PWM, or digital protocols

Project-Based Learning for the Modern Engineer


NI ELVIS is a project-based learning solution that combines instrumentation, embedded design, and web
connectivity for engineering fundamentals and system design. It provides a comprehensive teaching
solution for engaging students in hands-on labs involving analog circuits, mechatronics, power
electronics, instrumentation, digital communications, digital electronics, controls, and more. Each
laboratory solution includes lab material and complete experiments developed by experts in industry and
education, so students can explore theory in the physical laboratory with a safe, in-depth experience.
With its hands-on approach, NI ELVIS helps educators teach students practical, experimental engineering
skills. Built on the concept of teamwork, NI ELVIS connects students to their experiments, which enables
them to collaborate using the same technology in over 35,000 companies worldwide. It combines the
precision and accuracy of seven benchtop instruments with the speed and customization of industrial
embedded controllers in one single platform. Students can use its easy, prebuilt interfaces to customize
at a level not available in any other educational laboratory equipment.

Page 2 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


Table 1. NI offers three NI ELVIS models.
NI ELVIS II NI ELVIS II+ NI ELVIS III

Legacy NI ELVIS Legacy NI ELVIS with higher Latest NI ELVIS with integrated
Description
oscilloscope performance instrumentation and control I/O

Oscilloscope 2 ch, 1.25 MS/s, 10 bits 2 ch, 100 MS/s, 8 bits 4 ch, 100 MS/s, 14 bits

Function Generator 1 ch, 5 MHz, 10 bits 1 ch, 5 MHz, 10 bits 2 ch, 100 MS/s, 15 MHz, 14 bits

Logic Analyzer/Pattern Generator x x 16 ch, 100 MS/s

IV Analyzer x x ±10 V, ±30 mA, 15 MHz

Digital Multimeter 5½ digits 5½ digits 4½ digits

Variable Power Supply ±12 V, 500 mA ±12 V, 500 mA ±15 V, 500 mA

Processor FPGA x x Xilinx Zynq-7020

AI/AO 16 ch, 16 bits/2 ch, 16 bits 16 ch, 16 bits/2 ch, 16 bits 16 ch, 16 bits/4 ch, 16 bits

DIO 24 DIO, 15 PFI 24 DIO, 15 PFI 40 ch

SFP Support Windows Windows Windows, Mac, Web1

Programming Language Support LabVIEW LabVIEW LabVIEW, Python, C2

Enclosure plastic, white plastic, white metal, NI compass silver


Full implementation of web soft front panels coming soon.
1

C support coming soon.


2

Detailed View of NI ELVIS III

Page 3 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


Key Features
Teach Innovation by Integrating Instrumentation With Embedded Design
Projects that inherently challenge students to use innovative design thinking often involve interacting with
an unknown process or device. Students are encouraged to understand the unknown through theory,
simulation, and experimentation; however, projects that introduce the unknown in messy, multisystem
environments tend to challenge the students to be much more innovative. Designing a test in this style
requires not only knowledge of the specifications, equipment limitations, and fundamental concepts being
applied but also the ability to contend with outside factors and grasp how one change can have a
cascading effect on the experimental setup.

Figure 1. NI ELVIS III

To most effectively analyze concepts this way, students need the ability to not only instrument and
analyze the experiment but also precisely control and manipulate the type and behavior of the inputs to
the system. NI ELVIS III is the only engineering laboratory solution that combines seven traditional
instruments with fully customizable I/O to enable the complete implementation of the concepts in this
approach.

Page 4 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


Engage Students With a Modern, Web-Driven Experience
NI ELVIS meets students where they are with a web interface that drives collaboration, reduces time to
measurement, and integrates with teaching and learning resources to fully equip students in their
educational careers.
The seven instruments on NI ELVIS III are all accessed through a minimal install for both Windows and
Mac. This gives every student access to the instruments on their own computers instantly via USB,
Ethernet, or Wi-Fi. The Bode Analyzer and the IV Analyzer are immediately accessible using a web soft
front panel. This means that students can access the instruments on any device, computer, tablet, or cell
phone without installing them. Only these two instruments are accessible via the web; however, every
instrument will have an associated web soft front panel by the end of 2019.

Figure 2. NI ELVIS Experiment and Simulation Comparison

With NI ELVIS III, educators can find resources to teach and develop labs all in one place. Using the pre-
created labs for NI ELVIS, students gain access to the lab instructions, simulations, and instrument
launcher all in the same window. Then, when completed, the answers are all compiled and sent in as a
lab report. Moving lab resources to the web with NI ELVIS III saves time and reduces the number of
programs students need to interface with.

Page 5 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


Drive Teamwork With Easy Coordination of Experiments
One of the major requests from industry and accreditation bodies is for students to graduate from college
with an understanding of how to work in teams to solve a common engineering problem. Because NI
ELVIS III is a network-connected device, it enables collaboration on experiments through multiuser
access. Each of the seven instruments can be accessed simultaneously by different students connected
wirelessly to NI ELVIS III. Also, the control I/O can be programmed independently from students
accessing the instrumentation. This means that in a group of students, each individual can interact with NI
ELVIS III to perform part of an experiment, so everyone is involved in a completely collaborative
experimentation environment.

Figure 3. Remote Student Design

Similarly, since NI ELVIS III can be remotely accessed, teaching assistants find assessing student work
much simpler. Rather than designating time to meet in person with each student, the TA can be a remote
resource logging into each device after students complete the assignment.
NI ELVIS III removes barriers to collaboration and enables more students to progress through a lab in
less time. This increases student satisfaction and makes the best use of teaching staff resources.

Page 6 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


Interchangeable, Course-Specific Experiments
NI ELVIS enhances engineering curriculum by integrating project-based learning, teamwork, and design
with course-specific application boards and labs developed by experts from education and industry. With
a constantly expanding ecosystem, NI ELVIS enriches courses from the fundamentals of electrical and
mechanical engineering to system-level design in power electronics and mechatronics. NI has partnered
with leading companies in engineering education such as Texas Instruments, Digilent, Emona, and
Quanser to offer complete lab solutions for electronics, controls, mechatronics, and communications.

Figure 4. NI ELVIS Ecosystem

The application boards provide not only easy access to the hardware needed to complete engineering
labs but also the laboratory exercises and programs necessary to finish the exercises. The exercises and
programs are freely available at ni.com/teach even before purchasing the boards.
To explore the application boards NI offers for NI ELVIS, visit one of the following pages:
NI ELVIS Electronics Boards
NI ELVIS Mechatronic Boards
NI ELVIS Controls Boards
NI ELVIS Communications Boards

Page 7 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


NI ELVIS III Soft Front Panels
NI ELVIS III soft front panels are launched from Measurements Live at measurementslive.ni.com. Each
soft front panel corresponds to an instrument with seven soft front panels: Oscilloscope, Function and
Arbitrary Waveform Generator, Digital Multimeter, Variable Power Supply, Bode Analyzer, IV Analyzer,
and Logic Analyzer and Pattern Generator. The soft front panels are implemented in two formats: desktop
and web soft front panels. The desktop soft front panels, which are installed via a small executable for
Windows and Mac, launch when selected in the instrument launcher. The web soft front panels require no
install and launch in a new browser window. An update in 2019 will make each instrument available via a
web soft front panel.
Measurements Live
Measurements Live is the primary interface for NI ELVIS III. It contains the connection to the device, the
instrument launcher, and links to all the additional user resources for the device. Measurements Live can
be accessed at measurementslive.ni.com

Figure 5. Measurements Live

Page 8 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


Oscilloscope Soft Front Panel
The Oscilloscope soft front panel is one of the seven soft front panels for NI ELVIS III. It communicates
with the 4-channel oscilloscope to display waveforms, measurements, and frequency information. The
desktop soft front panels are installed using a minimal built-in installer and are launched via
Measurements Live.

Figure 6. NI ELVIS III Oscilloscope Soft Front Panel

Page 9 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


Bode Analyzer Web Soft Front Panel
The Bode Analyzer is one of two web soft front panels. It is launched from Measurements Live and opens
a new browser window instead of a desktop application.

Figure 7. NI ELVIS III Bode Analyzer Web Soft Front Panel

Page 10 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


NI ELVIS With MultisimLive™
NI ELVIS III soft front panels can turn on a reference channel so additional outside data can be imported.
Students performing circuit experiments are traditionally required to fully understand and simulate a circuit
before building and beginning the experiment. Doing this reduces the time spent in the lab and leads to
more intentional work and less guessing. MultisimLive is a browser-based SPICE circuit simulation
environment that provides fully interactive simulation, touch, and mobile compatibility and directly
connects with Multisim (for desktop), the standard software for educational circuit simulation. When
students create a simulation in MultisimLive, they can easily import it into NI ELVIS III soft front panels for
direct simulation-to-experiment comparison. Now students can fully understand the fundamental
differences between the simulation and experiment, which leads to faster conclusions and accelerated
discovery. Find more information and instructions in the NI ELVIS III MultisimLive Integration white paper.

Figure 8. Comparing MultisimLive Data to NI ELVIS III Acquired Data

Page 11 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


NI ELVIS III Application Programming Interface (API)
In addition to the soft front panels, NI ELVIS includes a best-in-class API that works with a variety of
development options such as LabVIEW, Python, and, soon, C. The API can automate measurements
from the instrumentation and programmatically acquire, analyze, and control data through the control I/O.
The control I/O is accessed via a real-time OS implemented on NI ELVIS III with over 60 lines of
customizable analog and digital inputs and outputs. They are traditionally used for courses that require
fast response times to impulses or higher channel counts for data acquisition or digital communications.
Learn more about programming NI ELVIS III in LabVIEW.
Learn more about programming NI ELVIS in Python.
Programming the Control I/O
The control I/O is programmed on the industry-standard real-time controller through one of two ways:
Express VIs or lower level VIs. The Express VIs (Figure 9) are simple blocks configured via a user
interface that pops up. They require no knowledge of programming and let the user easily manipulate
data while keeping the customization of the data acquisition to a minimum.

Figure 9. Analog Input Using an Express VI


Lower level programming helps when more control is needed to specify input/output timing, triggering,
and more details. The lower level VIs can be found in the same pallet as the Express VIs or by copying
the code from Express VIs.

Figure 10. Analog Output Using Low-Level Code

Page 12 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


Programming the FPGA
The control I/O does not directly connect from the real-time side to the inputs and output. Instead, it goes
through a Xilinx Zynq-7020 FPGA. This FPGA is preprogrammed with a default personality that enables
all the Express VIs and other VIs to work seamlessly without users needing to know about the FPGA.
However, if users need faster control or data processing, they can customize the FPGA using LabVIEW
FPGA. They can take advantage of the convenience of the LabVIEW real-time compiler and easy-to-
understand VIs to avoid programming in VHDL or Verilog.
Learn more about LabVIEW FPGA.

Figure 11. Closed-Loop Field-Oriented Inverter Control Implemented on an NI ELVIS III FPGA

Programming the NI ELVIS Instrumentation


NI ELVIS III instrumentation is programmed similarly to the control I/O. The user can initialize and
configure each instrument as needed and then remove and manipulate the data (Figure 12).

Figure 12. NI ELVIS Instrumentation API Configured to Read From the Oscilloscope

Page 13 | ni.com | NI ELVIS


Hardware Services
All NI hardware features a one-year warranty for basic repair coverage and includes calibration in
adherence to NI specifications prior to shipment. PXI systems also include basic assembly and a
functional test. NI offers additional entitlements to improve uptime and lower maintenance costs with
service programs for hardware. Learn more at ni.com/services/hardware.

Standard Premium Description

Program Duration 3 or 5 years 3 or 5 years Length of service program

Extended Repair NI restores your device’s functionality and includes firmware updates and
● ●
Coverage factory calibration.

System
NI technicians assemble, install software in, and test your system per your
Configuration, ● ●
custom configuration prior to shipment.
Assembly, and Test1

Advanced NI stocks replacement hardware that can be shipped immediately if a repair



Replacement2 is needed.

System Return
NI accepts the delivery of fully assembled systems when performing repair
Material ●
services.
Authorization (RMA)1

Calibration Plan NI performs the requested level of calibration at the specified calibration
Standard Expedited3
(Optional) interval for the duration of the service program.

This option is available only for PXI, CompactRIO, and CompactDAQ systems.
1

This option is not available for all products in all countries. Contact your local NI sales engineer to confirm availability.
2

Expedited calibration includes only traceable levels.


3

PremiumPlus Service Program


NI can customize the offerings listed above or provide additional entitlements such as on-site calibration,
custom sparing, and life-cycle services through a PremiumPlus Service Program. Contact your NI sales
representative to learn more.

Technical Support
Every NI system includes a 30-day trial for phone and email support from NI engineers that can be
extended through a Standard Service Program (SSP) membership. NI has more than 400 engineers
around the globe to provide local support in more than 30 languages. You also can take advantage of
NI’s award-winning online resources and communities.

©2018 National Instruments. All rights reserved. CompactRIO, Digilent, LabVIEW, Multisim, National Instruments, NI, ni.com, and NI
CompactDAQ are trademarks of National Instruments. Other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of
their respective companies. The contents of this Site could contain technical inaccuracies, typographical errors or out-of-date
information. Information may be updated or changed at any time, without notice. Visit ni.com/manuals for the latest information.
2 July 2018

Page 14 | ni.com | NI ELVIS

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