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Session 2620

Computing and Programming with LabVIEW

Shahnam Navaee Georgia Southern University

Abstract

In this paper an alternate approach in teaching various computing and programming principles to engineering students utilizing the LabVIEW software is discussed. LabVIEW, acronym for “Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench”, is a powerful and robust graphical programming language developed by National Instruments, Inc. for use in various engineering and scientific related fields. At the present time, this software tool is mainly utilized in the industrial, governmental, and educational venues to aid the investigators in conducting laboratory experimentations, and in collection and analysis of recorded data. The submitted paper specifically focuses on the programming capabilities of LabVIEW rather than the utility of this tool in data acquisition and laboratory measurements. All essential and important tools and constructs needed for developing solutions to classical engineering problems are included in LabVIEW. These include capabilities for setting up various conditional structures, loops and Case structures; special handling of array and matrix operations; solving systems of linear algebraic equations; solving differential equations; differentiating and integrating functions; computing zeros of functions; as well as, performing a series of other important computing tasks. Learning the programming principles through using LabVIEW better prepares the students for understanding other more complicated text- based programming languages. The virtual instruments developed for several engineering problems are included in this paper to illustrate the special features, capabilities, and utilities of this powerful and interesting software tool.

I. Introduction

In the past several years, a great number of publications have explored various capabilities of LabVIEW relative to laboratory experimentation and data acquisition. Several examples of this type are included in bibliography1,2,3. The purpose of the submitted paper is to focus on the programming capabilities of this tool for performing engineering computations and to introduce the reader to some of the potential applications and advantages of LabVIEW.

LabVIEW programs also referred to as Virtual Instruments (VIs) basically have two main windows called the “front panel” and “block diagram”. Through using the front panel, the input and the output of the VIs can be managed using a variety of visual controls and indicators available in LabVIEW. All programming steps and constructs used in the development of the solution of problems are included in the block diagram of the VIs as a series of wired graphical icons (nodes). The visual controls and indicators used in the front panel together with the graphical icons of the block diagrams are especially very helpful to the novice engineering students. These visual elements command their attention and interest, and enable them to better understand and grasp the computing and programming, as well as, the engineering principles Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2004, American Society for Engineering Education

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Navaee, S. (2004, June), Computing And Programming With Labview Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--13477