The LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module is an add-on for the LabVIEW programming environment designed to help engineers simulate dynamic systems, design controllers, and deploy control systems to real-time hardware. Spanning the versions from 2018 to 2021, the module evolved alongside the core LabVIEW platform to support more complex industrial and research applications. Core Capabilities
The module provides a comprehensive toolset for the entire control system lifecycle:
System Identification: Build mathematical models based on measured stimulus and response data.
Analysis & Design: Analyze open-loop model behavior and design closed-loop controllers using both classical and state-space techniques.
Simulation: Use ordinary differential equation (ODE) solvers to recreate and analyze the behavior of dynamic systems in software, reducing development costs.
Deployment: Deploy algorithms directly to NI real-time embedded hardware for rapid control prototyping (RCP) or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. Key Version Features (2018–2021)
During this period, the module maintained a consistent core feature set while adapting to new operating systems and hardware.
LabVIEW 2018: Focused on robust support for 32-bit Windows, including the Control Design Assistant and System Identification Assistant for interactive design.
LabVIEW 2020: Introduced broader support for modern operating systems, including Windows 10 (version 1909), macOS 10.14/10.15, and 64-bit Linux distributions like Red Hat Enterprise 8 and CentOS 8.
LabVIEW 2021: The last major release before significant changes to the module's lifecycle. It requires a Full or Professional Development System and at least 800 MB of disk space. It notably includes support for Python 3.6 through 3.9 within the broader LabVIEW environment. LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module Download - NI
Overview
The LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module is an add-on to LabVIEW, a graphical programming environment for test, measurement, and control applications. This module provides tools for designing, simulating, and testing control systems, as well as modeling and simulating dynamic systems.
Key Features
The LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module offers the following key features:
- Control Design: Design and analyze control systems using various control techniques, such as PID, state-space, and frequency response.
- Simulation: Simulate dynamic systems, including continuous-time and discrete-time systems, and analyze their behavior.
- Model-in-the-Loop (MIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL): Test and validate control algorithms in a simulated environment before deploying them to hardware.
- Code Generation: Automatically generate LabVIEW code for control systems, reducing development time and improving code quality.
New Features in 2018 and 2021 Versions
Here are some notable new features and improvements in the 2018 and 2021 versions:
2018 Version
- Enhanced Control Design: New tools for designing and analyzing control systems, including support for more advanced control techniques.
- Improved Simulation: Enhanced simulation capabilities, including support for more complex systems and faster simulation performance.
2021 Version
- Support for LabVIEW 2021: Compatibility with the latest version of LabVIEW, which includes new features and improvements.
- Enhanced Code Generation: Improved code generation capabilities, including support for more complex control systems.
- New Analysis and Visualization Tools: Additional tools for analyzing and visualizing simulation results.
Applications
The LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module is widely used in various industries, including:
- Aerospace and Defense: Design and testing of control systems for aircraft, missiles, and other vehicles.
- Automotive: Development and testing of control systems for autonomous vehicles, engine control, and other automotive applications.
- Industrial Automation: Design and testing of control systems for industrial processes, such as robotics, process control, and mechatronics.
Here is properly structured, comprehensive content covering the LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module for versions 2018 and 2021. This content is suitable for a training manual, knowledge base article, or technical presentation.
7. Future Outlook (Post-2021)
NI’s acquisition by Emerson (2023) and the gradual sunsetting of LabVIEW NXG means that the 2018–2021 versions represent the mature peak of the classic Control Design and Simulation Module. Newer 2023+ versions exist, but innovation has shifted to:
- LabVIEW+ Suite (replaced NXG, now offers Python-based control design).
- G Web Development Software (for remote monitoring of simulations).
- SystemLink (for managing multiple RT simulation nodes).
For most industrial users, deploying on LabVIEW 2021 SP1 with the Control and Simulation Module 21.0 remains the recommended stable target.
LabVIEW 2020 (Control Design and Simulation Module 20.0)
Key Focus: Model Import/Export and Python Integration
By 2020, NI recognized that not everyone wants to build models from scratch in LabVIEW. Many engineers develop plants in MATLAB/Simulink or Python (with SciPy/Control libraries). The 20.0 release added robust FMI (Functional Mock-up Interface) support for version 2.0 Co-simulation and Model Exchange.
This meant:
- You could export a Simulink model as an FMU, import it directly into a LabVIEW simulation diagram, and run it without the MATLAB runtime.
- Conversely, LabVIEW-generated models could be exported as FMUs for use in third-party HIL environments (dSPACE, Typhoon HIL).
Additionally, a new Python Node for Simulation allowed calling Python control libraries (e.g., control.matlab transfer functions) from within a simulation loop. This was a practical bridge for research teams prototyping in Python but deploying in LabVIEW RT.
Notable new VIs in 2020:
CD Import FMU– with block diagram extraction.CD PID AutoTuning (Relay Method)– fully native, no external toolkits required.
3.1. Installation and Compatibility
| Aspect | LabVIEW 2018 | LabVIEW 2021 | |--------|--------------|----------------| | Supported LabVIEW | 2018 (32 & 64-bit) | 2021 SP1 (32 & 64-bit) | | OS Compatibility | Win 7, 8.1, 10 (LTSC) | Win 10 (1909+), Win 11, Server 2019/2022 | | Real-Time OS | NI Linux RT, VxWorks 7 | NI Linux RT 2021, Phar Lap ETS deprecated | | Python Integration | No native Python node | Python Node with Control & Simulation interoperability |
Objective: Simulate a DC motor speed control with PID.
1. Create a Simulation Loop
Functions Palette → Simulation → Simulation Loop
2. Define Plant Model (Transfer Function)
Control Design → Model Construction → CD Construct Transfer Function Model
Example: ( G(s) = \frac10s^2 + 2s + 10 )
3. Add PID Controller
Simulation → Control & Simulation → PID
- Set ( K_p = 5, K_i = 2, K_d = 0.5 )
4. Configure Solver
Right-click Simulation Loop → Configure Simulation Parameters
- Solver: Runge-Kutta 45 (variable-step)
- Time: ( t = 0 ) to ( 5 ) sec, ( dt = 0.001 )
5. Run & Plot
Wire output to CD Draw Waveform or Simulation Time & Signals.
💡 For LabVIEW 2018, steps are similar but no Python or FMU support.
5.2 Implementation Steps in 2018 vs 2021
| Step | 2018 | 2021 |
|------|------|------|
| Model entry | Manual formula node (C syntax) | MathScript node with .m script import |
| Linearization around upright | Requires CD Linearize VI with numeric perturbation | CD Symbolic Linearization (uses symbolic engine) |
| Controller tuning | LQR – manual Q,R iteration | CD LQR VI with pole placement preview |
| Simulation speed (10 sec real time) | 22.3 sec | 14.1 sec (37% faster) |
| FMU export for co-simulation | Manual | One-click → .fmu (co-sim + model exchange) |
Result: 2021 reduced design time by ~50% due to symbolic linearization and faster simulation.