International Conference on Advancement in Engineering Studies & Technology, ISBN : 978-93-81693-72-8, 15

th
J ULY, 2012, Puducherry
41

Advantages of LabVIEW over Embedded System
in Home Automations


B V Sumangala & K Bhargava Ram
Dean Academic, Professor and HOD, Dept. of EEE, Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Bangalore, India
E-mail : sumangala_bv@yahoo.com & kbhargavram1990@gmail.com

Abstract LabVIEW is the future of hardware and software designing platform. Hardware and Software designing is complex using
Embedded System. Programming concepts to hours to analyse and frame. Thus in the paper we discuss the LabVIEW advantages
and how and why it should be used in home automation by taking example of a simple low cost temperature control system and
water tank filling system. The temperature control systemapplication is used to analyse the programme comparison between
assembly language program and LabVIEW GUI programming platform. And water tank filling system application is used to
compare the hardware complexities. At the end of the paper the disadvantages of LabVIEW are highlighted.
Keywords: Temperature Control System, Water Tank Filling System, LabVIEW, GUI, Embedded System.

I. INTRODUCTION
Home Automation
In simple terms home automation is defined as the
automatic control of all appliances at home. Its
something like this: when you get up from bed, the
pressure sensor kept under your bed mat sends the signal
to the coffee maker which makes the coffee and heater
in your bathroom switches on simultaneously
[1]
. Lights
and fans switch ON and OFF based on the humans
presence in the room all by itself. These technologies
are no more the dream but are now becoming the reality
around us.
Introduction to LabVIEW
LabVIEW stands for Laboratory Virtual
Instrumentation Engineering Workbench. It started in
1983 by a company National Instruments which
famously stands for NI. NI LabVIEW is a graphical
development platform designed for engineers and
scientist. Like C, J AVA, the LabVIEW software is
known as G language
[2]
. Its interfacing is GUI
(Graphical User Interfacing) i.e. the complete program
is represented in block diagrams instead of having
syntaxes. This makes the programming language more
easily understandable. LabVIEW application is majorly
in Industrial Automation. This paper will be focussing
on making use of LabVIEW in Home Automation.
Before we go on to know what is LabVIEW, firstly we
will discuss on what is the previous technology being
implemented in Home Automation i.e. embedded
system (microcontrollers, PCB designing and assembly
language software) which are being used in the Home
Automation and the problems being faced in them, so
that we will better picture of why the future should be of
LabVIEW.
Embedded System
Embedded system is into every electronic
appliance. For home automation, its functioning i.e.
programing is done by Assembly language, C, C++, etc.
and then fed into a microcontroller. The hardware
interfacing is done by making a circuit connection as per
application and then the necessary parts are soldered on
to a PCB. If any changes or modifications are to be
made, the PCB should be remodelled.
Let us now compare Embedded System and LabVIEW
to understand the aspects more clearly.
II. COMPARISON BETWEEN THE
TECHNOLOGIES
A. Software
Let us consider an example to understand about
difference between LabVIEW and Embedded system.
Consider a temperature control system, where the input
to the system is thermostat (digital input) and it is
compared to a reference value. If the temperature is
below the reference value, it should display green
coloured LED (safe) as the output (analog). If it is in
region where temperature is above safe temperature
limit and little less than the danger limit, then is should
display yellow coloured LED (caution) and if high i.e.
International

danger it wi
alarming.
Firstly we wil
using Embedd
--------- Progra
mov R0,#50h
mov A, P2;
CJ NE A,@R0
Back: LCALL
SJ MP Here;
Skip: J C Back
SUBB A, @R
CJ NE A, #20H
LCALL SAFE
SJ MP Here;
Front J C Skip;
LCALL DANG
Here: SJ MP H
Skip: LCALL
SJ MP Here
---------- End o
The progr
have to create
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Now let us tr
Control System
Figure 1: Tem
Fig 1, sho
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A
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, Skip;
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;
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of program ----
ram does not e
e a sub routine
e the program
mplex.
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mperature Con
LabV
ows LabVIEW
as Fig 2 shows
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software solut
Assembly lang
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guage
[3]
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& Technology, IS
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[4]
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Advantages of LabVIEW over Embedded Systemin Home Automations

International Conference on Advancement in Engineering Studies & Technology, ISBN : 978-93-81693-72-8, 15

th
J ULY, 2012, Puducherry
43

Water tank filling guard system is developed to

check the amount water being filled in the tank. It
displays the level of the tank with different coloured
LEDs and when water level exceeds the restricted level
the Buzzers is ON. This system can be implemented at
homes to monitors the overhead tanks so that water
doesnt go wasted.
Now let us look into how the systems Hardware
will be designed in LabVIEW and Embedded System.
Starting with embedded system, fig 3 shows the
circuit diagram of water tank filling guard system.
As it is observed, the hardware circuit connections
are very tedious for such a simple application. A
problem with designing an Embedded Systems being
that, hardware gets complicated if software is easy and
hardware gets easy if software is complicated. In the
below circuit diagram as we are not required to develop
an program for this as an IC is being used but not a
controller device like microcontroller. As we cannot
directly solder this on to the PCB board without testing,
so we first simulate this system is simulation software
like Proteus. Then do test run by building on the
breadboards and then if everything works out well, the
system is build on a PCB board by soldering all the
components. This complete process consumes a lot
amount of time and also if any changes are to be made
in the future to upgrade the system the entire board will
have to be replaced.

Figure 3: Circuit Diagram of Water Tank Filling System
[5]

Whereas in case of LabVIEW, it can analyse the
data as follows:
LabVIEW can command plug-in data acquisition,
or DAQ devices to acquire or generate analog or
digital signals.
LabVIEW also facilities data transfer through your
computers built-in USB, Ethernet or serial port.
Once you have acquired or received your data, you
can use LabVIEWs many analysis VIs to process
and manipulate it.
For example application, Water Tank Filling Guard
System, USB 6009
[6]
a LabVIEW hardware interfacing
device which can connect via USB to the system will be
sufficient. The interfacing unit was developed by
National Instruments.
The input to the LabVIEW port will be water level
detector sensors signal which will be a analog data. The
LabVIEW build in ADC converters converts the analog
input into its digital form. Then the program to run the
water tank filling guard system is interfaced with the
device by USB which is connected to the system. The
program is written with the same principle as explained
in the previous section. The output of the USB 6009 will
be connected to the LEDs and Buzzer.
The ground and supply are given to the interfacing
unit. So water level is indicated by the different Buzzers
and when water level goes above the restricted level the
Buzzer is switched ON.

Figure 4: USB 6009
[6]
LabVIEW Interfacing Unit
In this manner many other systems can be
connected to the USB 6009 like may be temperature
sensor to monitor room temperature, PIR sensors for
motion detection, piezo sensors for pressure detection
and so on
[7]
. All these system can be connected to other
inputs of the unit and run simultaneously. In future if
any upgradations are to be made the specific circuit
inputs or output only has to be changed.
Less time consumption and any new modifications
can be done to the system, as the software itself is the
complete circuit.
III. DISADVANTAGES OF LABVIEW
The question arises that, even though there are so
many advantages of LabVIEW over Embedded
Systems, why is that its not still into application.
Advantages of LabVIEW over Embedded Systemin Home Automations

International Conference on Advancement in Engineering Studies & Technology, ISBN : 978-93-81693-72-8, 15

th
J ULY, 2012, Puducherry
44

The major reason for LabVIEW not into application

is its cost. If the designer wishes to add security system
to home using simple LDR Laser security system, the
entire budget will be reaching to max. 5000 INR. In
case of LabVIEW the simple interfacing unit will cost
6000 INR itself and when rest of the equipment are
included cost raises to almost 15000 INR. LabVIEW
programming software is also costly, full version of the
software costs around 125000 INR. Thus presently
LabVIEW application are restricted to only high scale
applications in industrial levels and yet to shift on the
home level.
CONCLUSION
LabVIEW into home automations not only makes it
easier to design but also increases the accuracy and
speed of the system. At the end of the discussion, we
can conclude LabVIEW has many advantages over
embedded system but it is the cost which has restricted
LabVIEW to only large scale applications. In the
coming future when cost of LabVIEW products reduces
it will perfect replacement for present automation
designing systems. Its a simple idea, once up on a time
a touch screen mobile cost was Rs.30000, but now in
2011 we can get a touch screen mobile for even
Rs.6000.
REFERENCES
[1] Sheikh Izzal Azid, Sushil Kumar, Analysis and
Performance of a Low Cost SMS Based Home
Security System International J ournal of Smart
Home Vol. 5, No. 3, J uly, 2011.
[2] LabVIEW for Everyone- Graphical
Programming Made Easy and Fun 3
rd
Edition by
J effery Travis, J im Kring
[3] The 8051 Microcontroller and Embedded
Systems Using Assembly and C 2nd Edition by
Muhammad Ali Mazidi, J anice Gillispie Mazidi
and Rolin D. McKinlay,
[4] Inderpreet Kaur, Microcontroller Based Home
Automation System With Security, International
J ournal of Advanced Computer Science and
Applications (IJ ACSA), Vol. 1, No. 6, December
2010
[5] Electronics For You Magazine, Smart Homes
Technology Vol. 43, No. 10.
[6] http://www.tau.ac.il/~electro/pdf_files/computer/
ni_6008_ADC_manual.pdf
[7] Sadeque Reza Khan, Ahmed Al Mansur, Alvir
Kabir, Shahid J aman, Nahian Chowdhury.
Design and Implementation of Low Cost Home
Security System using GSM Network.
International J ournal of Scientific & Engineering
Research Volume 3, Issue 3, March -2012.