NI ELVIS Computer-Based Instrumentation

by Dr. Petru A. COTFAS, Dr. Daniel T. COTFAS, Dr. Doru URSUTIU, and Dr. Cornel SAMOILA | Transilvania University of Brasov

This instructional guidebook provides an introduction to the NI ELVIS II workstation and to LabVIEW’s graphical programming environment. Building on this framework it then presents a set of fully detailed hands-on labs that explore more features and capabilities of NI ELVIS II while introducing the reader to test, measurement, and data acquisition concepts through the use of sensors and actuators, the study of vibration, speed and temperature control, and photovoltaics, including the study of a solar panel. Exercises and challenge problems are included, along with LabVIEW Project Files to accompany the text.

Download Course

Bookmark

Details

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understand the features and capabilities of NI ELVIS II
Introduce test, measurement, and data acquisition concepts
Explore sensors and actuators, the study of vibration, speed and temperature control, and photovoltaics, including the study of a solar panel

COURSE ALIGNMENT

Level	University
Topic	Virtual Instrumentation
Style	Laboratory
Prerequisite Skills	None

Included Course Labs

LAB 1: INTRODUCTION TO NI ELVIS COMPUTER-BASED INSTRUMENTATION

This lab introduces the idea of a computer-based instrument through building a simple instrument using the NI ELVIS II workstation and controlling it with a LabVIEW program. This lab also gives a short tutorial for LabVIEW programming.

LAB 2: INTRODUCTION TO TESTING, MEASUREMENT, AND DATA ACQUISITION

In this lab, LabVIEW is used as an instructor's aid to develop lab exercises and lab setups that introduce students to testing, measurement, and data acquisition. The overall goal is to provide students with a general background in taking measurements for scientific and engineering applications. The lab exercises require the students to write and/or run simple LabVIEW programs.

LAB 3: INTERFACING BASIC SENSORS

This lab illustrates how LabVIEW and NI ELVIS II can be used for studying different kinds of sensors. For this lab, a light sensor and a dual-axis accelerometer are used.

LAB 4: INTERFACING ACTUATORS

The purpose of this lab is to study the behavior of two actuators using the NI ELVIS II platform. The devices studied in this lab are an electromagnetic relay and a stepper motor.

LAB 5: THE STUDY OF VIBRATION

The goal of this lab is to familiarize students with the theoretical concept, as well as with the application, of ideal harmonic oscillatory movement, damped and forced. Students will learn how to design experiments that validate the theoretical solutions for the differential equations describing the damped and forded harmonic oscillatory movement.

LAB 6: INTRODUCTION TO CONTROL

This lab is designed to enhance the understanding of the control system concept. The PID algorithm is used to create the control system. This algorithm is applied to control the speed of a DC motor and the temperature of a heater.

LAB 7: THE PHOTOVOLTAIC CHARACTERIZATION

The purpose of this lab is to study the behavior of some types of solar cells and mini solar panels, using the NI ELVIS II platform. Students will raise the I-V characteristic of the solar cell, determine some solar cell parameters, and investigate the the behavior of the cells if they are bound in series or parallel.

Requirements

NI ELVIS II/II+

The NI Educational Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Suite (NI ELVIS) is a versatile laboratory platform that enables educators to teach over 20 different courses across science and engineering departments. The NI ELVIS integrates 12 common lab instruments including an oscilloscope, function... Learn more

LabVIEW

LabVIEW is systems engineering software for applications that require test, measurement, and control with rapid access to hardware and data insights. Learn more

DETAILED REQUIREMENTS

Required Software
Download Academic Software, Learn About Software Licensing

LabVIEW 2014 or Later (requires license)
NI ELVISmx 14.0 or Later - Download
NI LabVIEW PID and Fuzzy Logic Toolkit

Required Hardware
Purchase Engineering Education Products

NI ELVIS II or II+ - View Specifications, View User Manual
Digital multimeter (DMM)
Digital voltmeter (DMM[V]) Digital ammeter (DMM[A]) Required components include
5.6 kΩ resistor, R1,R2 and R3 LM335 temperature sensor
DC motor
Tachometer
TSL230R—light-to-frequency converter from Parallax, Inc.
Memsic 2125—dual-axis accelerometer from Parallax, Inc.
Mobile prototyping board
Protractor
Two 220 Ω resistors
One electromagnetic relay Chansin, of 12 V, initial contact resistance 100 mΩ (1A, 24 VDC), contact material silver alloy
One transistor BC 177 NPN
One transistor BC 107 PNP
Two resistances of 100 kΩOne resistance of 1 mΩ
One resistance of 1 kΩ
One resistance of 2 kΩ
One resistance of 10 kΩ;
One resistance of 5.19 Ω, 5 W.
One stepper motor from INEX Innovative Experiment of 12 V, 100 Ω, 7.5 degree/step
One integral circuit ULN 2003 which has 7 NPN Darlington pairs
Four LEDs
Polarized resistors of 1 kΩ
The lamella for the oscillation
Accelerometer Analog Devices ADXL325BCPZ Electromagnet used for forced oscillation
DC motor
Tachometer
IRF530 MOSFET transistor
1N4007 semiconductor diode
LM335 temperature sensor
27 Ω, 5 kΩ, and 5.6 kΩ resistors
1 MOSFET transistor IRF2907z
1 resistance of 5.6 kΩ
1 resistance of 0.1 Ω
One solar cell, 0.5 V/400 mA, dimensions (L x W) 76 x 46 mm, operating temperature –20 to 800C
Two solar cells, 0.51 V/200 mA, dimensions (L x W) 50 x 23mm, operating temperature –20 to 800C
One halogen bulb, 35 W, 12 V
The power supply, 12 V, 4 A