APPLICATIONS OF VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTATION IN DIFFERENT DOMAINS OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

Abstract

This research work has intended to identify the clusters of embedded systems where the application of
virtual instrumentation concept can be used; one can apply the concept of virtual instrumentation for
developing different applications of signal and image processing, automotive, mechatronics, control and
simulation, embedded software designing, HDL & microprocessor coding etc. The graphical tool used in
virtual instrumentation such as LabVIEW can be used for designing various applications of different
embedded system domains. With a heavy emphasis features of LabVIEW like user friendly interface, quick
design time, existing code reuse, large no of vi database and verity of I/O support. The available graphical
tool now provides better mechanism to downloaded software to embedded systems this is especially
important in creating hardware prototype for apps of embedded systems this forms of flexibility available
in virtual instrumentation decreases time. Virtual Instrumentation concepts can be used in different
domains of embedded system is explained by implementation of Virtual Function Generator using sound
card and controlling stepper motor using RS-232 in this research work. AVR Atmega8 used as
intermediate controller to extract the control signals sent from LabVIEW via RS-232.
Keywords: AVR Microcontroller, LabVIEW, Stepper Motor, RS-232, Virtual Instrumentation, Automotive,
Signal processing, Embedded systems.