LabVIEW Based Embedded Design [First Report] Sadia Malik Ram Rajagopal Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712 malik@ece.utexas.edu ram.rajagopal@ni.com Abstract LabVIEW is a graphical programming tool that allows the description of programs using a dataflow based language denominated G. Recently, runtime support for a hard real time environment has become available, making LabVIEW an option for embedded systems prototyping. Due to its diverse nature, the environment presents itself as an ideal tool for both the design and implementation of embedded software. In this project we study the design and implementation of embedded software, using G as the description language, and the LabVIEW RT real time platform. One of the main advantages of this approach is that the environment leads itself to a very smooth transition from design to implementation, allowing for powerful cosimulation strategies (e.g. hardware in the loop, runtime modeling). In order to evaluate the effectiveness and possible improvements on G as an embedded software description language, we characterize its semantics and formal model of computation. We also compare G to other models of computation, such as synchronous dataflow, process networks, and finite state machines. We prove that, under certain conditions and semantic restrictions, a non-terminating G program is strictly bounded in memory. We provide a mechanism to always determine a valid G schedule. The theory formalizes the current behavior of the G execution system, and provides insights in how to use G for embedded processing. Also we present an O(N 3 ) algorithm for detecting non-determinism in a G program. Finally we propose the development of a state of the art embedded motion control algorithm using LabVIEW as the design, simulation and, implementation tool.