Emerson at NI Connect : A Deep Dive into Intelligent Test Strategies

The year is and the evolution of technology waits for no one. Emerson, a titan in the realm of automation, knows this all too well. Their Test and Measurement division, born from the legacy of National Instruments (NI), took center stage at NI Connect to showcase its unwavering commitment to, well, intelligent testing. (It’s in the title, folks!)

Gone are the days of clunky interfaces and siloed workflows. Emerson’s message at the conference was clear: they’re not just keeping pace with the industry, they’re setting the pace. The company emphasized its holistic approach to testing, one that seamlessly integrates cutting-edge hardware with intuitive software to, as they put it, “empower engineers to do what they do best: innovate.”

Emerson’s Vision: The Future of Test is Collaborative, Modular, and Definitely AI-Powered

Taking the stage with the confidence of a tech visionary, Ritu Favre, Group President, laid out Emerson’s grand plan for the future of testing. The keyword? Collaboration. (Okay, maybe “AI” was a close second). Favre stressed the power of a software-centric, modular hardware approach – a concept that had engineers in the audience nodding in agreement.

But let’s be real, the buzzword on everyone’s mind (and in every tech blog) these days is AI, and Favre didn’t shy away from it. She painted a picture of a world where AI isn’t just a buzzword, but a fundamental tool in the test engineer’s arsenal, revolutionizing the way products are designed, validated, and brought to market.

And what about the OG heroes of the NI world, LabVIEW and TestStand? Fear not, loyal users, Emerson reaffirmed its dedication to these platforms, promising a steady stream of improvements and updates. Because in the ever-evolving landscape of technology, you can’t just rest on your laurels, even if those laurels are shaped like a really cool waveform graph.

NI LabVIEW Updates: Collaboration is King (and Queen)

Let’s face it, engineers love nothing more than a good collaborative coding session (well, maybe except for a perfectly calibrated oscilloscope). Emerson clearly understands this, as evidenced by the slew of collaborative features baked into the latest LabVIEW updates.

First up, enhanced diff and merge functionalities. Remember those late-night coding sessions where you swore you merged everything correctly, only to be met with a barrage of merge conflicts the next morning? Yeah, those days are gone. With the new LabVIEW, collaborating on code is as smooth as a well-oiled, uh, robot arm? (We’re engineers, not poets.)

And because keeping track of different project versions can feel like herding cats, Emerson has supercharged version management in LabVIEW. Think intuitive branching, clear version histories, and a system that makes collaborating on complex projects a walk in the park. (A park with really fast Wi-Fi, of course.)

But wait, there’s more! LabVIEW now boasts support for calling .NET Core Assemblies (.NET ). Why is this a big deal, you ask? Well, it’s like giving LabVIEW a VIP pass to the .NET ecosystem, opening up a world of possibilities for developers who want to integrate the power of LabVIEW with the flexibility of .NET. It’s a beautiful partnership, really.

NI LabVIEW Updates: AI is Here to Stay (and Code)

Okay, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, or rather, the artificially intelligent compiler in the software. AI is everywhere these days, and Emerson is making sure it’s right at home within LabVIEW. The goal? To make you, the engineer, even more productive (and maybe even a little bit lazy, but in a good way).

During the conference, Emerson demoed some seriously cool AI capabilities within LabVIEW. Imagine this: you’re staring at a chunk of inherited code, written by someone who apparently thought comments were for the weak. Suddenly, AI swoops in to save the day, generating concise, accurate code descriptions and documentation on the fly. It’s like having a super-smart coding buddy looking over your shoulder, explaining everything in plain English (or whatever language your code is in).

But hold on, it gets even better. Emerson announced that they’ve been experimenting with even more powerful AI technology for LabVIEW, hinting at a broader program launching in the near future. While details are still under wraps, the rumour mill is buzzing with talk of AI-powered code generation, debugging, and maybe even the ability to predict what you want to code before you even know it yourself. Okay, that last one might be a bit far-fetched, but hey, with AI, anything is possible.

NI LabVIEW Updates: Sharing is Caring (and Open-Sourcing)

In the spirit of open-source collaboration (and maybe a little bit of nostalgia for the days of sharing floppy disks), Emerson announced a major shift in its approach to LabVIEW. Get ready for this: they’re opening up parts of NI LabVIEW to the community, starting with the beloved (or maybe just tolerated) Icon Editor.

That’s right, the power to shape the visual identity of LabVIEW is now in the hands of the people. This move signals a commitment to fostering community-driven innovation, allowing developers to contribute to the evolution of a tool that’s been a cornerstone of the test and measurement world for decades. It’s like a global hackathon, but with fewer energy drinks and more virtual high-fives.

And for all you students out there who are just dipping your toes into the vast ocean of LabVIEW, Emerson has a gift for you: the NI LabVIEW Community Edition is now completely free. Yes, you read that right, FREE. This means that anyone with a passion for engineering and a laptop can now experience the power and versatility of LabVIEW firsthand, without breaking the bank (or having to borrow their roommate’s credit card).

Test Beyond the Horizon: Where We Go From Here

As the curtains closed on NI Connect , one thing was abundantly clear: Emerson isn’t just keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advancement, they’re actively shaping it. By embracing AI, prioritizing collaborative workflows, and empowering engineers with robust, modular hardware, Emerson is setting a new standard for the future of test and measurement.

The message resonated deeply with the attendees, many of whom were already brainstorming ways to integrate these groundbreaking technologies into their own workflows. From seasoned engineers to bright-eyed students, the energy at the conference was palpable – a collective excitement for a future where intelligent testing isn’t just a possibility, it’s the reality.

So, what’s next for Emerson and the world of test and measurement? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: the journey will be filled with innovation, collaboration, and maybe even a few more robot arm metaphors (because hey, we can’t resist a good engineering cliché).