NI System-on-Module (SOM) Technology to Play a Critical Role in Shaping the Future of Embedded Design

SINGAPORE -- National Instruments has introduced theNI SOM. The first global product launched from India, with NI introducing a major transformation in embedded technology for the world, the NI SOM combines the Xilinx Zynq All Programmable system on a chip (SoC) with supporting components such as memory on a small PCB and features a complete middleware solution and ready-to-go Linux-based real-time operating system (RTOS) already integrated. The NI SOM gives design teams the customizability of a SOM without the increased time and risk of developing custom software.

Joel Shapiro, Leader for Marketing, Emerging Markets Region, NI said, "The NI System on Module (SOM), combined with powerful LabVIEW libraries, enables engineers to transform their ideas into embedded products faster than any other tool available on the market. Healthcare devices, smart machines, and other applications that require embedded technology will benefit as the NI SOM not only speeds up, but also bridges design, prototyping, and deployment with a single platform."

The NI SOM enables design teams to deploy reliable, complex embedded systems faster because it is based on and has the same rigorous design standards as the LabVIEW reconfigurable I/O (RIO) architecture. This architecture has already been used in high-reliability applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles and cataract surgery machines. NI, with this technology, aims to create a world of fresh possibilities for engineers, scientists and innovators -- across life sciences, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing and energy sectors.

We have evaluated several SOMs and embedded SBCs, and there is no comparison to the software integration offered by NI," saidSebastien Boria, R&D mechatronics technology leader at Airbus. "We estimate that our development costs with the NI SOM are a tenth of the costs of alternative approaches because of the productivity gains of NI's approach to system design, in particular to NI Linux Real-Time and LabVIEW FPGA."

Key Benefits

• Complete Middleware Solution: The NI SOM is shipped with a complete middleware solution out of the box to remove the time and risk associated with developing an embedded OS, custom software drivers and other common software components.
• LabVIEW FPGA Integration: LabVIEW FPGA eliminates a design team's need for hardware description language expertise, making powerful FPGA technology more accessible than ever before.
• NI Linux Real-Time: The NI SOM offers a robust Linux-based RTOS, which gives design teams access to an extensive community of applications and IP.
• Shorter Prototyping Phase With CompactRIO: Design teams can use CompactRIO to quickly prototype their applications and then deploy them with the same code used for prototyping, which saves significant time and effort.

For more information about the NI SOM, visit http://www.ni.com/som