A virtual instrument is a computer-based hardware and software testing platform that can replace traditional measuring instruments such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, signal generators, and spectrum analyzers . It can be integrated into automatic control and industrial control systems and can be freely constructed into proprietary instrument systems. It consists of a computer, application software, and instrument hardware. Regardless of the specific type of virtual instrument system, it is constructed by mounting the instrument hardware on various computer platforms (such as laptops, desktop PCs, or workstations, and even handheld computers) along with application software.
Virtual instruments organically integrate computer hardware resources with instrument hardware through software, combining the powerful computing capabilities of computers with the measurement and control capabilities of instrument hardware. This significantly reduces the cost and size of the instrument hardware, and enables data display, storage, and analysis through software. Historically, electronic measuring instruments have evolved from analog instruments to intelligent instruments to virtual instruments. Due to the rapid development of computer performance at Moore's Law (doubling every six months), traditional instruments have been far surpassed, leading to a continuous high rate of technological updates for virtual instrument manufacturers.
The advantages of virtual instrument technology lie in its ability to allow users to define their own dedicated instrument systems. Its flexible functionality and ease of construction make it extremely versatile, with a wide range of applications. It is an invaluable tool, especially in fields such as scientific research, development, measurement, testing, metrology, and measurement and control. Virtual instrument technology is advanced and aligns perfectly with the international trend of "hardware-to-software" integration, hence it is often referred to as "software instrument." It is powerful, capable of performing all the functions of various common instruments such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators. With dedicated probes and software, it can also detect parameters of specific systems, such as automotive engine parameters, gasoline octane ratings, furnace temperatures, blood pulse waves, and electrocardiogram parameters. It is flexible to operate, featuring a fully graphical interface with a simple style that conforms to the usage habits of traditional equipment, allowing users to quickly master the operating procedures without training. It is easy to integrate, not only forming automatic measurement systems with high-speed data acquisition equipment but also automatic control systems with control equipment.
In the field of instrumentation systems, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, logic analyzers, and voltmeters/ammeters are essential measuring equipment for research institutions, enterprise R&D laboratories, and universities. With the widespread application of computer technology in surveying systems, traditional instruments lack corresponding computer interfaces, making data acquisition and processing extremely difficult. Moreover, traditional instruments are relatively bulky, often proving inadequate for various data measurements. We often see hardware engineers' workbenches cluttered with instruments, tangled cables, and numerous devices under test. However, integrated virtual measurement systems offer a clean desktop and organized operation, freeing measurement personnel from the burden of cumbersome instruments and enabling automatic measurement, recording, and data processing. The convenience is self-evident, and the significant reduction in equipment costs is undeniable. A complete set of experimental measurement equipment costs anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan. Under the same performance conditions, the price of corresponding virtual instruments is half or even less. The powerful functionality and price advantage of virtual instruments give them strong vitality and a very broad prospect in the field of instrumentation.
In the realm of specialized measurement systems, virtual instruments offer even broader development potential. Looking at today's society, the rapid development of information technology is driving all industries towards intelligent, automated, and integrated systems. The ubiquitous application of computers provides a solid foundation for the promotion of virtual instruments. The concept of a virtual instrument is to use dedicated hardware and software in conjunction with a computer to realize the functions of specialized equipment, automating and intelligently transforming it. Therefore, virtual instruments are suitable for any metrological application requiring computer-aided data storage, processing, and transmission. The disconnect between measurement and processing, and between results and analysis, will be greatly improved. Data acquisition, storage, processing, and analysis will be a streamlined and rapid process. Furthermore, any technically feasible metrological system can be replaced by a virtual instrument, demonstrating the vast scope of its applications.
Virtual instruments are also widely used in the fields of automatic control and industrial control. Most closed-loop control systems require precise sampling, timely data processing, and rapid data transmission. Virtual instrument systems perfectly meet these characteristics, making them ideal for integrated measurement and control designs. Especially in manufacturing, the superior computing power and massive data throughput of virtual instruments will undoubtedly enable them to play a greater role in industrial control fields such as temperature control systems, online monitoring systems, power instrumentation systems, and process control systems.
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