Configuring an RT Target
Before you can deploy robotics applications to an RT target, you must configure the basic settings of
the target and install software on the target. To configure the Single-Board RIO on the Starter Kit robot,
use the National Instruments Robotics Hardware Setup Wizard, which launches after you install the
LabVIEW Robotics software on the host computer. You also can click the
Welcome
link on the
Getting
Started
window and click the
Hardware Setup Wizard
link to launch this wizard manually.
If you use a CompactRIO or non-Starter Kit Single-Board RIO, you also can use this wizard. However,
if you use any other type of target, use the National Instruments Measurement & Automation Explorer
(MAX) to detect, configure, and test an RT target. MAX provides access to National Instruments devices
and systems, so you can use MAX to communicate with networked RT targets located on the same
subnet as the host computer. Select
Start»All Programs»National Instruments»Measurement &
Automation Explorer
to launch MAX and refer to the MAX help for more information about configuring
targets in MAX.
In the Robotics Hardware Setup Wizard, complete the instructions that appear on the screen to perform
the following tasks:
•
Set the IP address of the target you want to use
•
Download software to the target that can run VIs you deploy to the target
•
Test that the target is configured correctly
The host computer communicates with the remote system over a standard Ethernet connection. If the
host computer is already configured on a network, you must configure the remote target on the same
network. If neither machine is connected to a network, you must connect the two machines directly using
a CAT-5 crossover cable or hub.
On the final page in the Robotics Hardware Setup Wizard, exit the wizard and launch LabVIEW to
continue this exercise. When LabVIEW launches, the Robotics Project Wizard displays.
Tip
If you do not have the Robotics Starter Kit, you can launch LabVIEW and click the
Create
Project
button on the
Getting Started
window and select the
Robotics Project
template from
the
Create Project
dialog box to launch the Robotics Project Wizard.
Creating a Robotics Project
With the Robotics Module, you must use a LabVIEW project (
.lvproj
) to build and configure robotics
applications and to work with RT and FPGA targets. Use projects to group LabVIEW files and
non-LabVIEW files, configure communication between hardware, create build specifications, and deploy
files to targets.
Refer to the topics in the
Fundamentals»Working with Projects and Targets
book on the
Contents
tab of the
LabVIEW Help
for more information about LabVIEW projects.
For this exercise you will use the Robotics Project Wizard to create an application that drives the Starter
Kit robot. The application consists of a VI that acquires data from the distance sensor, calculates a
heading for travel, and then applies the correct amount of velocity to the drive motors.
Note
You can complete some of the same the steps in this exercise even if you do not have
the Starter Kit. The process this exercise describes is similar to the process for creating an
application for a non-Starter Kit RT target or a Windows-based target.
Getting Started with the LabVIEW Robotics Module
6
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