High-Performance Real-Time
Embedded Controllers for PXI
NI PXI-8184 RT, NI PXI-8186 RT, NI PXI-8187 RT NEW
• Execution target for LabVIEW
Real-Time applications
• Reliable and deterministic operation
• Ethernet control of PXI
• 43 kHz single PID loop
rate, maximum
Development System
Requirements
• LabVIEW for Windows or Mac OS X
• LabVIEW Real-Time Module
for Windows or Mac OS X
Deployment Software (included)
• LabVIEW Real-Time embedded software
Overview devices through CAN, GPIB, Ethernet, or serial protocols. Use
National Instruments RT Series PXI embedded controllers deliver a NI-VISA to integrate third-party PXI/CompactPCI modules in
flexible, rugged platform for your deterministic, real-time measurement your application.
and control applications. The NI PXI-8184 RT, NI PXI-8186 RT, and In addition, the RT Series PXI embedded controllers include an
NI PXI-8187 RT controllers offer a high-performance platform, ideal external SMB connection for use as a trigger input, output, or
for real-time test and control applications. You develop your LabVIEW watchdog timer. Use the external SMB to pass trigger and timing
application with the NI LabVIEW Real-Time Module on Windows or signals into and out of the PXI trigger bus in your PXI system.
Mac OS X, and then download the program to your RT Series PXI
embedded controller via Ethernet. The embedded code executes on a Create Reliable Stand-Alone Systems
real-time operating system. Thus, you use the powerful and flexible To ensure reliable operation, embedded LabVIEW applications
development tools of LabVIEW to build reliable, real-time solutions. continue to run even if the host PC is interrupted or rebooted.
LabVIEW Real-Time applications running on PXI systems achieve Because RT Series PXI embedded controllers run in a separate chassis
microsecond loop rates with only 3 to 4 ns of system jitter. These with a dedicated power supply, the operator can shut down the host
real-time measurement and control systems capitalize on Intel computer entirely without disrupting the real-time program.
processors coupled with the advanced timing, triggering, and For stand-alone operation, you can permanently embed code in
I/O synchronization benefits of PXI. Furthermore, NI-DAQmx the system so it starts automatically when the system boots,
Measurement Services software extends the timing capabilities of PXI requiring no human interaction. Use the LabVIEW Professional
to deliver tight integration with LabVIEW Real-Time applications Development System and LabVIEW Real-Time Module to compile
through operations such as hardware-timed software loops. your LabVIEW application to an executable and download it to
your RT Series PXI embedded controller.
Connect to Any I/O Model PXI-8187 RT PXI-8186 RT PXI-8184 RT
The modularity of PXI and open development environment of Processor 2.5 GHz P4-M 2.2 GHz P4-M 850 MHz Celeron
LabVIEW make it easy to integrate a variety of I/O within your RAM, standard 256 MB 256 MB 128 MB
RAM, maximum 1 GB 1 GB 512 MB
application. Create a custom real-time embedded solution using Storage, hard drive 40 GB1 40 GB1 40 GB
an RT Series PXI embedded controller with any number and Storage, solid-state –2 –2 –2
GPIB interface ✓ ✓ –
combination of PXI/CompactPCI plug-in modules. Ethernet port (10/100BaseTX) ✓ ✓ ✓
Built-in LabVIEW libraries help you create applications with data Serial ports (RS232) 2 2 1
Built-in us hardware timing ✓ ✓ ✓
acquisition, dynamic signal acquisition, motion control, image Watchdog/trigger SMB ✓ ✓ ✓
acquisition, and reconfigurable I/O. Communicate with peripheral 130 GB for PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT Extended Temperature versions. 2Optional 128 or 512 MB solid-state drives can
replace the hard drives.
Table 1. PXI RT Series Controller Selection Guide
High-Performance Real-Time
Embedded Controllers for PXI
Dual-Boot Option Extended Temperature Option
NI PXI embedded controllers can be configured to boot into The PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT controllers are available in two
Windows or the real-time OS. NI Measurement & Automation versions to address different environmental conditions. The standard
Explorer includes features for installing and configuring PXI version has an operating temperature of 5 to 40 °C with a storage
embedded controllers as LabVIEW Real-Time targets. The temperature of -20 to 60 °C. The extended temperature version has
controllers use a hardware switch or BIOS setting to boot into the an operating temperature of 0 to 55 °C with a storage temperature of
desired OS. -40 to 85 °C.
The result is a PXI controller that can run embedded LabVIEW The extended temperature option uses a hard drive designed for
Real-Time or Windows applications. When the controller is in reliability in the low and high-temperature extremes. This extended
real-time mode, you need another Windows or Mac OS X computer temperature hard drive has a capacity of 30 GB (minimum),
to develop and debug the LabVIEW Real-Time code for the versus 40 GB (minimum) on the standard controller. Refer to the
PXI controller. To enable a Windows PXI embedded controller to specifications section for additional details, including chassis-specific
dual-boot with the real-time OS, you must purchase the LabVIEW temperature specifications.
Real-Time embedded software for the controller.
Maximum Loop Rate (kHz)
NI Hardware Benchmark Processing Channels File Write Network Transfer PXI-8187 RT PXI-8186 RT PXI-8184 RT
E Series DAQ Analog Input and Output PID 1 – – 43 42 23
Analog Input and Output PID 8 – – 9 9 9
Analog Input and Output PID 1 ✓1 – 35 31 18
Analog Input and Output PID 1 – ✓2 38 24 15
PXI-6533 Digital Input and Output3 - 8 – – 179 153 78
Digital Input and Output3 - 16 – – 124 104 58
Digital Output4 - 16 – – 380 298 141
PXI-6602 Counter Read5 - 1 – – 144 140 87
Counter Read5 - 4 – – 35 34 21
None Data Analysis FFT6 1 array – – 5.1 5 0.7
1One data value per iteration written to an open file. 2TCP transfers of 512 bytes per transfer. 3Static (non-buffered, unstrobed) digital read and write. 4Static (non-buffered, unstrobed) digital write. 5Read current value of counter register. 6FFTs per second based
on test of 1000 FFTs using one array of 2048 double-precision data points with Hanning windowing and no averaging.
Table 2. Maximum Loop Rates for LabVIEW Real-Time PXI Systems (All benchmarks use LabVIEW 7 Real-Time Module and traditional NI-DAQ 7.0 and adhere to the NI recommended
architecture for LabVIEW Real-Time applications. Contact National Instruments for additional details regarding these and other benchmarks.)
Ordering Information Step 3. Select Solid-State Storage Options
To order a complete PXI system based on a LabVIEW Real-Time 128 MB Solid-State HDD for
embedded controller, visit ni.com/pxiadvisor. PXI-8184 RT, PXI-8186 RT, PXI-8187 RT ......................779175-128
Step 1. Select Controller 512 MB Solid-State HDD for
NI PXI-8184 RT ......................................................................778824-33 PXI-8184 RT, PXI-8186 RT, PXI-8187 RT ......................779175-512
NI PXI-8186 RT ......................................................................778755-33
NI PXI-8186 RT, Extended Temperature................................778842-33 Step 4. Select Accessories
NI PXI-8187 RT ......................................................................779755-33 Micro-GPIB to GPIB cable (0.2 m)......................................183285-0R2
NI PXI-8187 RT, Extended Temperature................................779842-33 Micro-GPIB to GPIB cable (1 m) ..........................................183285-01
Micro-GPIB to GPIB cable (2 m) ..........................................183285-02
Step 2. Select Memory Upgrades NI PXI-8252 FireWire (IEEE 1394) interface module ..........778925-01
256 MB RAM for PXI-8184 RT.............................................778469-256
512 MB RAM for PXI-8184 RT.............................................778469-512
512 MB DDR RAM for PXI-8186 RT, PXI-8187 RT ..............778763-512 BUY NOW!
1 GB DDR RAM for PXI-8186 RT, PXI-8187 RT ..............778763-1024 For complete product specifications, pricing, and accessory
information, call (800) 813-3693 (U.S. only) or go to ni.com/pxi
2 National Instruments • Tel: (800) 433-3488 • Fax: (512) 683-9300 • [email protected] • ni.com
High-Performance Real-Time
Embedded Controllers for PXI
Specifications
Physical Shock and Vibration
Slot Requirements Operational Shock ............................................ 30 g peak, half-sine, 11 ms pulse
PXI-8184 RT ............................................... 1 system slot, 2 controller expansion slots (Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-27. Test profile
PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT ................... 1 system slot, 3 controller expansion slots developed in accordance with MIL-PRF-28800F)
Dimensions Random Vibration
PXI-8184 RT ............................................... 6.1 by 13 by 21.6 cm (2.4 by 5.1 by 8.5 in.), 3U Operating.......................................................... 5 to 500 Hz, 0.3 grms (with solid-state hard drive)
PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT ................... 8.1 by 13 by 21.6 cm (3.2 by 5.1 by 8.5 in.), 3U Nonoperating.................................................... 5 to 500 Hz, 2.4 grms (Tested in accordance with
Weight IEC-60068-2-64. Nonoperating test profile exceeds
PXI-8184 RT ............................................... 0.64 kg (1.14 lb), typical the requirements of MIL-PRF-28800F, Class 3)
PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT ................... 1.0 kg (2.2 lb), typical
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
Operating Environment
Ambient Temperature
PXI-8184 RT ............................................... 226,000
PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT ................... 170,248 Temperature (°C)
(Predictions in accordance with Belcore methods) Chassis PXI-8184 RT PXI-8186 RT, PXI-8187 RT Extended Temperature
PXI-1000B 5 to 50 5 to 40 0 to 55
Peripherals PXI-1002 5 to 40 5 to 40 0 to 50
Ethernet ............................................................ 10/100BaseTX, RJ-45 connector PXI-1006 5 to 50 5 to 45 0 to 55
Serial port (RS232) PXI-1010 5 to 35 Not Recommended 0 to 35
PXI-8184 RT ............................................... 1 PXI-1011 5 to 50 5 to 40 0 to 55
PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT ................... 2 PXI-1042 5 to 50 5 to 40 0 to 55
GPIB port PXI-1045 5 to 55 5 to 45 0 to 55
PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT ................... PCI-GPIB/TNT, Micro D25 connector (adapter not included),
IEEE 488 and HS488 protocols (Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2)
RAM
PXI-8184 RT ............................................... 128 MB standard, 512 MB maximum, 7.5 ns SDRAM, Relative Humidity ............................................. 10 to 90%, noncondensing (IEC-60068-2-56)
1 SO-DIMM socket Altitude ............................................................ 2000 m (at 25 °C ambient temperature)
PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT ................... 256 MB standard, 1 GB maximum, DDR SDRAM,
1 SO-DIMM socket
Storage Environment
Ambient Temperature
Nonvolatile Memory
PXI-8184 RT, PXI-8186 RT,
PXI-8184 RT, PXI-8186 RT,
and PXI-8187 RT ........................................ -20 to 65 °C (IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2)
and PXI-8187 RT .................................. 40 GB minimum, Internal 2.5 in,
PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT
Fast Ultra ATA100 Interface
extended temperature ............................... -40 to 85 °C (IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2)
PXI-8186 RT and PXI-8187 RT
Relative Humidity ............................................. 5 to 95%, noncondensing (IEC-60068-2-56)
extended temperature ........................ 30 GB minimum, Internal 2.5 in,
Fast Ultra ATA100 Interface Safety Compliance
EN 61010-1, IEC 61010-1
Power Requirements
PXI-8184 RT Electromagnetic Compatibility
Current (A) Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for regulatory compliance information. To obtain the DoC for
Voltage (V) Typical Maximum this product, click Declaration of Conformity at ni.com/hardref.nsf.
+ 3.3 3.0 4.0
+5 4.5 6.0 *Specifications subject to change without notice
+12 0.001 0.04
-12 0 0
PXI-8186 RT, PXI-8187 RT
Current (A)
PXI-8186 RT PXI-8187 RT
Voltage (V) Typical Maximum Typical Maximum
+ 3.3 4.0 5.0 4.0 5.0
+5 6.5 8.0 7.0 9.0
+12 0.15 0.20 0.15 0.20
-12 0 0 0 0
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