[English] How to connect Arduino and LabVIEW?

Well, LabVIEW is a powerful tool to Data acquisition and for become this action a common practice we need to some hardware to connect it. However, NI’s devices are really very expensive. For everyone’s joy, there are low cost solutions and the LabVIEW’s interface for Arduino (LIFA) is an excellent example about to follow the low cost philosophy. LIFA provides an easy interface between Microcontroller Arduino and LabVIEW being possible connect uncountable sensors and devices. However we need to charge the libraries on Arduino’s IDE and come appearing a lot of problems to compiling the code.
Beyond of the LIFA, there is a new toolkit more recent and with more functions, the LINX. LabVIEW’s Interface for X allows connection with common embedded platforms and with common sensors including accelerometers, temperature sensors, and ultrasonic distance sensors. Linx has a very simple interface.

So, how connecting these tools?
First, I’ll assume some things:
1 – The LAbVIEW’s software is installed on PC – The version from this tutorial is 2013;
2 – Arduino’s software is installed on PC – The version which will be used is 1.6.0 (Download here)
3 – The user has an account on Ni’s website (Here)

Now, some steps are needed:

4 – Install the VI Package Manager (VIPM), whose function is manage and reusable share VIs across multiple projects and computers. (Download here)
5 – Install NI-Visa Universal I/O Interface Software that provides the programming interface between hardware and application development environments such as NI LabVIEW. (Download NI-Visa)

Hence, for download the LINX, is necessary only access this web page and follow the steps on the video:

Though the LINX provides really an easy interface to programming, there is other way, more generic, to connect Arduino and LabVIEW using a function to configure USB Serial communication, the VISA. For lovers programming in C++ or when LINX can’t resolve your problem, you can program on Arduino’s IDE and make the data processing on LabVIEW.
For access the VISA’s pallet, you need to click using right-hand mouse button an empty space of block diagram window and follow the next steps on Functions pallet:

In Serial Pallet, there are some important functions, like:

“Visa Serial” – Configure Serial Port;
“Visa W” – Write a data on Serial Port;
“Visa R” – Read a data from Serial Port;
“Visa C” – Close an event by VISA

For start the communication, is necessary to select “Visa Serial” and configure Serial Port.

The data from Serial Port is read through Arduino IDE:

Now, only put into practice your projects offering users a good interface!

Below, follow attached a simple example. In this example you can read an analog input on Arduino from a temperature sensor, for example:

LabVIEW VI: download
Arduino’s Code: download

More Information:

LINX Toolkit

 NI – Visa