DMC worked with the client’s engineering teams to collect requirements as well as to develop and deploy a highly coordinated controls system. The system requires the synchronization of multiple CompactRIO systems in conjunction with high performance motion drives. Custom FPGA was deployed to address critical timing and control requirements. In addition, the performance and reliability of the FPGA provided a robust platform for highly-available operation. With a relatively large amount of I/O, the flexible LabVIEW FPGA allowed DMC and the client’s development team to iteratively update control strategies to allow for optimal performance of application specific requirements.
The Compact RIO platform extensibility allowed design teams to integrate it into the context of a much larger system. By componentizing the design, LabVIEW specific support personnel are minimized as part of system management and deployment. Utilizing a “firmware” style approach, the CompactRIO is an embedded component performing highly reliable controls processing, as is largely transparent to end users. By blending in to industry-standard application technologies, the client was empowered to deliver a highly capable system with a very familiar and widely accepted finish.
The jointly developed application serves machine control for numerous Aerospace clients. As rigorous industry regulations and manufacturer quality standards continue to present engineering challenges, this solution provides the added flexibility to adapt to application requirements over time. With a reconfigurable software personality, new control strategies can continuously be applied to ensure compliance and performance for the end customer.