LINX 3.0 – Features, Improvements and How to Get Started

As you may have heard from a previous blog post,the latest LabVIEW MakerHub LINX release is here! Complete with support for both the Raspberry Pi and Beaglebone Black, as well as tons of bug fixes and added support for new sensors. The latest version of LINX also adds support for the LabVIEW Interaction Parts Kit which includes an LED matrix, the 4 digit 7 segment display, and the DHT11 sensor, thanks to some firmware changes.

Today we will not only recap the excellent features,but we will also delve more into depth with some applications of this new release.

Here’s an Instructable on getting started with the Raspberry Pi and LabVIEW. If you’re interested in what you can do with LabVIEW and the Raspberry Pi, check out this Instructable for an example project! LabVIEW MakerHub also has a video series on getting started with both the Raspberry Pi and the BeagleBone Black. Check out the first video in the series below!

Adding LabVIEW support for your Raspberry Pi (RPi) or BeagleBone Black (BBB) is extremely easy using the built-in installer that connects to your board and automatically installs all dependencies LabVIEW needs to run. This means you can be up and running with your RPi or BBB in just a matter of minutes. If you’re interested, check out the getting started Instructable, or you can watch the LabVIEW MakerHub video series.

Personally, my favorite feature is that the LabVIEW code you write is actually deployed out to the board (similar to the NI myRIO). This means that your loop rates will be astronomical, and if you have the application builder addition to LabVIEW, you can actually have your LabVIEW project run on startup! You no longer need to have your board connected to your computer at all times… just apply power to your board with a startup VI loaded and you’re good to go!

LabVIEW_Interaction_Parts_Kit

If you have the LabVIEW Interaction Parts Kit, you can generate firmware for your chipKIT WF32 and upload it to your board. This special firmware includes functions that execute between LabVIEW commands with the board, which allows the board to use LED displays that utilize persistence of vision like the LED matrix and the 4 digit 7 segment display.

LINX now comes with built-in libraries for the PmodACL, PmodACL2, PmodALS, PmodBT2, PmodCMPS, PmodGPS, PmodGYRO, PmodISNS20, PmodJSTK, PmodMAXSONAR, PmodMIC3, PmodTC1, and PmodTMP3, which means you can add the functionality you need for your project without needing to be a ninja at the various communication protocols like SPI and I2C.

If you’re having any issues, please post on the LabVIEW MakerHub Forums!

Please feel free to show us what you make by linking your projects in the comments below!

 

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