Coined by National
Instruments, Instrumentation 2.0 refers to a software-based approach to
instrumentation that lets users
create their own end measurement outcomes from raw measurement data. Instrumentation 2.0 is virtual instrumentation (VI), where the instrument is a
PC with software that defines
the measurement capability. It's flexible, and in many ways,
it's a better fit to the world of
electronics test today than previous T&M methods.
Instrumentation 1.0 is what we've been doing all along. It defines T&M equipment that's in a fixed hardware configuration with vendor-defined measurements and a fixed user interface. And I don't mean that in a negative way. The fixed-instrument method has been successful for many decades.
But times are changing. Optional PC connectivity and
embedded PCs with software measurement suites have
helped Instrumentation 1.0 cope with the changes. It's possible we're at the tipping point where virtual instrumentation is
about to become the dominant method of T&M.
VI is a fabulous idea. It is now widely implemented, but it has
been restricted primarily to low-frequency and lower-data-rate
applications for three reasons: sampling rate limitations, bus
architectures, and processing speed (). Now these
limitations are slowly abating.
For example, take sampling rate. Analog-to-digital converter
(ADC) speeds have increased significantly from a few megasamples per second at best to well over 1 Gsample/s today. Also, resolutions now extend well beyond the typical 8 bits of the past.
Even with reasonably priced commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)
ADCs, it's possible to digitize signals well into the low microwave
region, with a resolution that permits accurate measurements.
That really opens the door to VI across the board.
But with fast ADCs, you have to process all that data to make
your measurement. Processors have kept pace with faster clocks
and new architectures, but they offer even more potential now
that affordable dual-core (and even quad-core) processors are
commonplace in PCs, laptops, and VI boxes.
All that's needed is a better way to program these chips to
take advantage of the processing power to manipulate the signals and produce the measurements. And don't forget the
impact of computer bus technology. Thanks to PCI Express and
other fast serial buses, data can be moved fast enough to make
VI very practical.
What makes Instrumentation 2.0 so desirable is that the user
can define the measurements
that need to be made. The availability of the raw measurement
data streaming from the ADC in
the instrument to the software lets
engineers create measurements
and outcomes specific to their
needs. The VI hardware is usually
modular and can be configured to
the exact application. With the
appropriate software, the user can
create just about any type of test
or measurement situation and
user interface to fit the problem.
One of the main reasons why
flexibility and programmability
are important is the "Long Tail" effect. Put forth by Chris Anderson in Wired magazine in 2004, this concept says that in the
past, most products were broader in application. Today, more
and more products and applications don't target general purposes. Instead, they suit niches.
This is the long tail, that huge body of lower-volume niche
products and applications that force electronic product developers and manufacturers to constantly change and update
their T&M capability. This will be easier with Instrumentation 2.0 because modular and programmable instrumentation will
address a greater variety of needs and niches.
Other factors at work include the software-based instrumentation mandated by the Department of Defense. Known as the
synthetic instrumentation (SI) movement, it seeks to reduce
the logistics footprint of military electronics T&M gear while
reducing costs and solving the perpetual obsolescence problem. As military radars, radios, and other gear are constantly
upgraded, the T&M equipment can keep pace with minimal
extra cost and time delay.
While SI is still being defined and developed, one definition
dubs it a subset of VI because it has more fixed hardware and
software modules while VI overall is more modular and fully
programmable. But SI is definitely Instrumentation 2.0.
The older-style fixed instruments of Instrumentation 1.0 will
never go away. They will continue to be updated and enhanced. It
appears likely that Instrumentation 2.0 in its VI and SI forms will
become more widespread, though, as the technologies improve
and the variety of new niche products increases. Eric Starkloff,
director of product marketing at National Instruments, says that
sales and usage of Instrumentation 2.0 may account for 50% of
the overall T&M market. We're already living the dream.
National Instruments Inc.
www.ni.com