Using the Robot Simulation Toolkit to simulate OI Controls

[JimGRobot]

Thanks for all of the above posts, using this information I was finally able to get my USB-6009 running (I didn't have VISA installed). Now that the build season is over I should have time to play some more.

One thing that I want to try is using LabVIEW to simulate the operator control panel. It should be pretty easy using the digital outputs, but we also use switches with a resistor array to put multiple momentary switches into a single joystick input. I think I can use a 6009 analog output as a joystick input to the OI, but I haven't tried it yet.

I would like to graphically model the look of Omron industrial control switches. Does anyone know if I can put my own "skins" on the graphical components in LabVIEW?

Thanks again for the help...

Jim Greenhaw
Mentor, Team 1388

[Danny Diaz]

One thing that I want to try is using LabVIEW to simulate the operator control panel. It should be pretty easy using the digital outputs, but we also use switches with a resistor array to put multiple momentary switches into a single joystick input. I think I can use a 6009 analog output as a joystick input to the OI, but I haven't tried it yet.

Well, then don't. Remember that the 6009 analog output provides a voltage output, not a resistance output, and the OI reads resistance, not voltage. The two systems are not compatible.

However, if you use the simulation toolkit to model your robot, you can use LabVIEW to simulate your OI controls just fine. This would allow you to use the LabVIEW controls to modify the dashboard data you would get from the robot before your model picked them up, thus bypassing the need for plugging anything but drive sticks into the OI.

I would like to graphically model the look of Omron industrial control switches. Does anyone know if I can put my own "skins" on the graphical components in LabVIEW?

Most of the controls on the front panel can be skinned to create custom looks for buttons and the like. What you end up having to do is "customize" a control by creating your own control with an imported graphic, and then using that within LabVIEW. I do this all the time when I need a button or indicator that doesn't quite look like what I want or have the right look and feel for what I want.

-Danny