National Instruments Releases IC-3173

National Instruments (NI), a provider of platform-based solutions for engineers, has released three new industrial controllers that address the complex requirements of Internet of Things (IoT) applications. This line has fifth-generation Intel processors, rugged packaging, built-in I/O and extensive connectivity options.

The IC-3173 addresses complexity with the following features:

• Dual-core Intel i7 processors combined with user-programmable Xilinx Kintex-7 160T FPGAs (field programming gate arrays) for advanced signal and image processing and high-speed closed-loop control.
• Five independently controlled Gigabit Ethernet ports with four that include power of Ethernet (PoE) support and two full-bandwidth controlled USB 3.0 ports for connecting to and processing images from multiple USB3 Vision and GigE Vision cameras.
• Support for EtherCAT Master, Ethernet/IP, RS232/RS485, Modbus serial and Modbus/TCP.
• Full support for LabVIEW system design software.

“Industrial systems and machines have become more complex, often incorporating several independent subsystems for specialized tasks such as image processing, multiaxis motion control and operator interfaces. With products such as the IC-3173 industrial controller, system designers can improve performance and simplify system complexity by moving to a centralized approach where one controller is used for many or all of these tasks,“ said Jamie Smith, director of embedded systems at NI.

For more information, visit National Instruments.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.