The Use of LabVIEWR Virtual Instruments in the Undergraduate Science Laboratory

 

Hank Bestman

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 1998, Volume 19

Abstract

The graphical programming software package LabVIEW® (developed by National Instruments, 6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730-5039; phone (512) 794-0100) has made the concept of the virtual instrument (VI) a practical reality. The King’s University College has adopted LabVIEW® as the standard software for data acquisition and analysis purposes in its science laboratories. In the biology department we have developed VI’s for such instruments as spectrophotometers, syringe pumps, pH meters, respirometers, and various other instruments commonly used in the undergraduate laboratory. All these virtual instruments control a particular piece of equipment, and acquire, store, and analyze the data. Some virtual instruments take the students step-by-step through particular experiments. In addition, we are using LabVIEW® VIs to model such processes as enzyme kinetics, species interaction, and carbon exchange rate. Each of these VIs has been designed in such a manner that a student is able to vary the input parameters conveniently and is able to observe the resulting response immediately. The LabVIEW® software is used extensively to develop virtual instruments for use in student research projects

Keywords:  software

University of Calgary (1997)