Presentation Summary LabVIEW is a graphical dataflow programming environment from National Instruments Corp. (NI). The relative ease with which complex software can be developed using graphical programming techniques, combined with the hardware devices offered by NI and others, has made LabVIEW a popular programming tool with scientists and engineers for decades. Typical applications for LabVIEW are data acquisition and control systems for manufacturing and laboratory testing. The LabSocket system, developed by Bergmans Mechatronics LLC (BML), enables remote access to LabVIEW applications using desktop or mobile web browsers. The system operates in two stages: First it automatically creates HTML and JS web browser client code; then, the system dynamically synchronizes the LabVIEW user interface with the browser client through an HTML5 WebSocket interface. Just as LabVIEW has enabled non-expert programmers to create sophisticated applications for science and engineering purposes, the combination of LabVIEW and LabSocket could also permit non-expert web developers to readily create dynamic web applications. This presentation provides an overview of the system theory of operation, several existing applications for the system, and live demonstrations.  Additional information about LabSocket is available at http://labsocket.com. The following article provides additional information about the use of the LabSocket system as a web-authoring tool: http://labsocket.com/engineer_crunch_solution.html About John Bergmans Mr. John Bergmans, Principal Engineer and owner of Bergmans Mechatronics LLC since 2003, has developed control and data acquisition systems for rocket and oxy-fuel combustion system test stands, and instrumentation and automatic test equipment applications, typically using LabVIEW.  In addition to the LabSocket system, Mr. Bergmans has also developed a number of browser-based applications that demonstrate the capability of the WebSocket interface, including the collectdVIewer remote server monitoring system: http://collectdviewer.com.   For more information about BML visit: http://bergmans.com.  Contact John at jbergmans@bergmans.com or @jbergmans.

1. LabSocket
A New Web Application Development Tool
John Bergmans
Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
Remote Presentation to OC Hackerz Meetup Group, Orange County, CA
Apr 3 2014
B e r g man s M e c hat r on i c s LL C

2. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
LabVIEW Development Environment
• Developed by National Instruments (http://ni.com)
• Popular for science and engineering applications
Rocket motor test stand control software created by BML using LabVIEW
(Developed for AirLaunch LLC as part of US Air Force/DARPA FALCON program)
Software User Interface Hot Firing

3. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
LabVIEW Development Environment
• Uses graphical data flow language
• Each program or subroutine known as a “Virtual Instrument” or VI
User Interface (“Front Panel”)
Interface)
Program Logic (“Block Diagram”)

4. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
LabSocket System
• Remote viewer client for LabVIEW applications
• Browser-based clients, no special client side requirements
• Data transmission to/from browser via HTML5 WebSocket
Browser
LabSocket Server
Platform
HTTP Server
ActiveMQ
Message Broker
“Target VI”
LabSocket
Support VIs
LabVIEW Host Platform
Browser
Browser
WebSocket
Interface
(Over TCP-IP)
TCP-IP
Socket
Interface
LabSocket Support VIs
Startup
- LabVIEW Front Panel screenscrape, send HTML and JavaScript code to HTTP server
Continous Operation
- Transmit updates of LabVIEW front panel to browser
- Update LabVIEW front panel when user generates events in browser

5. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
Demo Configuration
Browser
LabSocket Server
HTTP Server
Message Broker
“Target VI”
LabSocket
Support VIs
MacBook Pro
Browser
Browser
WebSocket
Interface
(Over TCP-IP)
TCP-IP
Socket
Interface
San Jose, CA Huntsville, AL
labsocket.com
Anywhere

6. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
Element Test VI
LabVIEW Front Panel Browser Representation

7. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
LabSocket-MultiClient
LabSocket for Dynamic Web Applications

8. browser
(Target VI 1)
LabVIEW
HTTP Server
ActiveMQ
Message Broker
LabSocket
Support
VIs
LabVIEW Host PC
Server VI
Target
VI 2
Target VI
Prototype
(inactive)
Data exchange via
Functional
Globals or Queues
browser
(Target VI 2)
browser
(Target VI n)
…
LabSocket Server
Virtual Machine
Target
VI 1
Target
VI n
Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
LabSocket-MultiClient
…
• Each browser connects to unique instance of Target VI
• Each Target VI instance is a copy of an inactive Target VI prototype
• LabSocket Support VIs automatically start and stop Target VI instances
• Useful for applications in which users need to enter or retrieve user-specific information
Copyright © 2014 Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
• NB: With LabSocket-MultiClient, LabVIEW is now a dynamic web application authoring tool

9. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
LabSocket-MultiClient
Copyright © 2014 Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
Target VI Three browsers, each connected
to unique instances of Target VI
Same Timestamp Unique Quiz States

10. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
LabSocket-MultiClient
Copyright © 2014 Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
“Server VI” Monitoring in the Browser using LabSocket-Basic and LabSocket-MultiCllient
LabSocket-MC Start.viLabSocket Start.vi

11. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
LabSocket-MultiClient
Copyright © 2014 Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
Server VI Monitoring in the Browser – Messaging via Queues
Three browsers, each connected
to unique instances of Target VI Server VI in Browser

12. browser
(Target VI 1)
LabVIEW
HTTP Server
ActiveMQ
Message Broker
LabSocket
Support
VIs
LabVIEW Host PC
“Quiz Server” VI
Target
VI 2
Target VI
Prototype
(inactive)
browser
(Target VI 2)
browser
(Target VI n)
…
LabSocket Server
Virtual Machine
Target
VI 1
Target
VI n
Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
Proposed: Auto Quiz Posting
…
Copyright © 2014 Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
WebSocket
Interface
Development PC
Target VI Target VI automatically
transmitted to and installed on
LabVIEW Host PC

13. Bergmans Mechatronics LLC
Thoughts
• LabVIEW / LabSocket as a system for rapid developent of dynamic web applications
(eg. Web app rapid prototyping)
• Download LabVIEW demo: http://www.ni.com/trylabview/
• Download LabSocket demo: http://labsocket.com/download.html
• LabSocket is an example of an application enabled by HTML5 WebSocket
• What other new type of applications can be enabled by WebSockets?
More Information
w: http://labsocket.com
t: @jbergmans
e: jbergmans@bergmans.com