yet extremely powerful . We coined the phrase ” The software is |
reason : software . We moved as many technical problems into the |
the instrument ” to describe this approach , and seeing engineers |
FPGA as we could , and Moore ’ s law ( along with Xilinx ) delivered a |
and scientists save valuable time and get to results faster was all |
vehicle capable of handling the computation . We , in turn , passed |
the market validation we ever needed . |
the keys to that vehicle over to our customers by allowing them |
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Evolving With Moore ’ s Law
People talk about Moore ’ s law like it ’ s about hardware , but computational hardware exists only to run software ( and maybe firmware ). Once we made test and measurement all about software , we had effectively enlisted Intel , Xilinx , and many other billion dollar companies in our R & D staff . With customers and partners building proficiency with our software tools , we just had
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to customize that FPGA with LabVIEW . From 5G cellular technology development to automotive radar and driver assist algorithm development to reductions in the cost of Internet of
Things ( IoT ) devices , the VST and LabVIEW are helping customers achieve goals conventional instruments quite simply prevent them from obtaining .
The Future
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to follow the chips to deliver increasing value to test and |
We are seeing glimpses of the future everywhere we look . A |
embedded systems . This has happened , so far , along two key |
modern factory features what we call “ cyberphysical systems ,” |
dimensions : multicore processors and FPGAs . Because LabVIEW is |
which combine software-centric computing technology with |
graphical and , therefore , not obviously sequential , it is tailor- |
electromechanical systems and human operators to improve |
made for parallel processing . LabVIEW users were among the first |
safety , efficiency , and cost structures . The acquire , analyze , and |
programmers to easily migrate from single-core processors to |
present concept is still valid , but we ’ ve added “ sense , compute , |
multiple threads and multiple cores and see almost instant speed |
and connect ” as a parallel flow for IoT devices . Wireless |
improvements . Obviously , it ’ s possible to take advantage of these |
technology in general is pervasive . We ’ ve been saying this a while , |
trends with other languages , just like it ’ s still possible to write |
but if you aren ’ t an RF engineer today , you will be . And the more |
highly efficient code in machine or assembly language , but why |
you connect things , the more you ’ d be crazy not to take |
would you ? The pace of change in modern electronics means you |
advantage of the data you can collect for billions of sensor nodes . |
can ’ t waste time doing by hand what a tool can easily do for you , |
For us , this is Big Analog Data™ solutions , and it ’ s the richest set |
and we hear that over and over from LabVIEW users . |
of data in the world . NI customers are acquiring terabytes and |
That goes to an entirely different level with FPGAs . Some |
terabytes of it every day . |
problems are just better solved in the highly parallel , |
But even as our capabilities become more advanced and the scale |
deterministic world of silicon . But the toolchains and |
of the problems we try to solve grows vaster , the tools we use |
programming constructs were inaccessible to most mechanical |
must be easier to navigate . Just as machine language migrated to |
engineers or medical researchers who were experts in their |
assembly and to object-oriented , other paradigms , including |
measurements and problems to solve ( not digital design ). We |
graphical dataflow programming , are critical to offer the right |
recognized this in the late 1990s with LabVIEW ’ s graphical |
level of abstraction . The multirate diagram in our LabVIEW |
paradigm . We were on a quest to deliver the power of FPGAs to |
Communications System Design Suite is a great example ; no |
LabVIEW programmers , and we ’ ve done that . A quick look at our |
single software tool delivered the productivity needed to |
Engineering Impact Awards winners demonstrates the power of |
prototype 5G algorithms until we were bold enough to tackle |
this technology : applications ranging from regenerating and |
multiple models of computation inside a single flow that could |
restoring organ function damaged by disease or trauma to setting |
deploy directly to hardware . |
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a world record in 5G wireless spectrum efficiency with massive
MIMO .
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No great innovation will be done alone . The best platforms we use today are effective because they ’ ve fostered an ecosystem . |
A Software-Centric Approach to Hardware Design |
Our software-centric approach at NI spawned a partner network |
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When you think about software as uniquely as we have , it ’ s easy to think differently about hardware , too . Modular , PC-based plugbecause in boards were a natural by-product . Make the hardware as lightweight and cost-effective as possible ( no dedicated screens , power supplies , fixed buttons / knobs , and so on ) and focus on
ADCs , DACs , signal conditioning , and data movement .
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of a healthy ecosystem built on developer-friendly of more than 1,000 companies and 300,000 active LabVIEW users . The rise of mobile devices and “ apps ” is possible only platforms . Team-based development , code sharing , and community support soon will no longer be novel or best in class .
They will be expected .
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I have yet to see a test and measurement vendor design a user interface better than a customer , for any specific task , that makes |
In Closing
It would be impossible to have witnessed what I ’ ve witnessed in
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the customer more productive . Even the best front panels on box |
our industry for the past 40 years and not be excited about where |
instruments are cluttered with unused buttons or menu |
all of these technologies and trends are leading us . My advice to |
structures . Many of our hardware products have size constraints |
any new engineer is simple : develop a vision for the future and |
dictated by the I / O connector . Can it get more efficient than that ? |
pursue it with intensity . And , at the end of the day , don ’ t be afraid |
The reality is our strategy is more than just efficient ; it ’ s right . |
to have fun . |
Take the new Vector Signal Transceiver ( VST ), which combines an |
Thank you for 40 great years . I believe the following five |
RF analyzer , RF generator , parallel and serial digital interfaces , and |
selections from the Automated Test Outlook archive are as true |
high-performance signal processing into a 2-slot PXI module . This |
today as the day they were published initially . May they inform |
product delivers industry-leading bandwidth ( 1 GHz ), amazing RF |
your vision for the future and bring you and your organization |
performance , and scalability for MIMO applications for one |
prosperity and success . |