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The atmosphere at National Instruments (NI) Connect was electrified as Ritu Favre, NI’s president and the newly appointed president of Emerson’s test and measurement group, welcomed attendees to a landmark event following the recent acquisition of NI by Emerson. Her speech set an inspiring tone for the days to come—emphasizing innovation, legacy and the future of automation in testing.
Favre expressed her excitement and gratitude for the warm reception, noting the importance of this new chapter in NI’s storied history. “We are now part of Emerson, and this acquisition opens up exciting possibilities for us,” Favre said. She reassured the audience that the NI brand and what it stands for remains unchanged, promising that the legacy of innovation and quality will continue under the new ownership. “Our goal is to expand on the vision of boundless automation in testing, and I am thrilled to be part of this journey.”
Favre’s speech paid homage to NI’s nearly 50-year history of pioneering in the field of test and measurement. She highlighted the company’s origins, envisioning that PC-based technology could revolutionize the industry. This vision birthed NI’s culture of intense innovation, exemplified by the introduction of LabVIEW in 1986. LabVIEW, a graphical programming language, became a cornerstone of NI’s software-centric approach to testing—achieving a cult-like status for its role in data acquisition and test automation.
“LabVIEW has been instrumental in helping engineers and enterprises achieve their goals, powering everything from data acquisition devices to robots and complex test systems,” Favre said. “Its significance to NI is so profound that the words ‘software instrument’ are literally engraved on the streets of our Austin campus.”
Looking ahead, Favre emphasized the importance of continuing this legacy of innovation. She outlined NI’s commitment to a software-centric approach that simplifies measurement tasks for engineers, whether they are working on small-scale projects or managing extensive test stations. She also highlighted the critical role of ongoing product investment, including advancements in hardware, software and human resources.
“We have created an amazing team here, some of the smartest people I’ve ever worked with,” she said. “Their dedication to you, our customers and partners, and their ability to help you solve your toughest challenges is truly inspiring.”
The NI Connect event marks a significant milestone for NI and its community, as it embarks on a new era under Emerson’s leadership. Favre’s speech not only honored NI’s rich history, but also set a clear vision for its future, promising continued innovation and commitment to excellence in the field of test and measurement.
Ritu Favre’s roadmap for tech industry leadership
I had the pleasure of speaking directly with Favre at the conference. With over 30 years in the industry, she offered a wealth of knowledge on the evolution and future of technology.
Reflecting on her career, Favre highlighted significant technological milestones, from transistors to ICs, PCs, the internet, and now the AI revolution. She identified key trends shaping the industry: advancements in wireless technology (5G/6G), sustainability efforts, AI integration, and the growing intersection of semiconductors with automotive software.
In discussing strategies to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving market, Favre emphasized the importance of a flexible, modular and software-centric approach. This allows customers to adapt quickly to new technologies. She stressed investing in emerging trends like wireless connectivity and sustainability while ensuring current customer needs are met.
Favre is also a champion of diversity and leadership in technology. She actively supports the Global Semiconductor Association’s Women Leadership Initiative, aimed at encouraging women to pursue and sustain careers in the semiconductor field. Favre noted the historical challenges women face in engineering, advocating for initiatives to inspire girls to embrace math and science, pursue engineering degrees, and remain in demanding semiconductor careers.
Offering advice to young women in technology, Favre underscored the importance of resilience and patience. She encouraged women to find their voice and persist in their careers, despite the challenges.
She also stressed the critical role of universities in preparing the next workforce. She advocated for dynamic partnerships between academia and industry, with universities adapting curriculums swiftly to keep pace with technological advancements. Apprenticeships and internships are vital in bridging the gap between education and industry.
Watch the full video interview with Favre below:
Software-centric solutions in engineering and testing
George Kaehler, development lead at Siemens Mobility, began by highlighting the challenges Siemens faces in integrating test software and hardware in their complex, software-defined train systems. Siemens, known for inventing the electric train, now deals with trains as continuously evolving systems with various components that need reliable testing without incurring high costs.
Kaehler introduced the company’s solution, which consists of thousands of digital models representing every train component. This system allows for flexibility and continuous updates, facilitating the design and testing processes. The digital twin infrastructure, including signaling and multiple unit configurations, enables comprehensive simulation and testing of components in various scenarios.
A key feature of the solution is its UI, which allows engineers to interact with the system and see how their designs impact the entire train system. This real-time feedback is crucial for efficient product design and iteration.
To bridge the gap between digital models and physical hardware, Siemens manages 500 test racks across different locations, integrating thousands of modules and interfaces. They chose a platform that supports various tools and modules, emphasizing the importance of a broad hardware I/O portfolio and tight software integration.
Kaehler concluded by celebrating the team’s achievements in reducing the design-to-train timeline from six months to a few weeks, saving thousands of engineering hours. This success demonstrates Siemens’ commitment to a software-centric approach and their ongoing investment in a robust platform ecosystem.
In response to Covid-19 disruptions, the world embraced an ecological approach to enhance agility, commented Michael O’Sullivan, VP at Analog Devices. By leveraging best practices in design and testing, ADI adopted a hybrid model with standardized and automated validation in hybrid labs, boosting efficiency and IP reuse globally. Selecting the right software framework involved partnering with an ISV platform for flexibility and standardization. The key lesson learned is that new tools must be effectively utilized to unlock potential. Testing, as a strategic differentiator, requires individual leadership to drive change and improve workflows from design to validation. This software-centric approach can significantly impact enterprise success.
Eli Kerry, software community director at NI, commented that the company’s focus is on empowering experts in various fields by integrating real data into complex automation systems to foster innovation. NI is investing in new features, enhancing lab integration and strengthening community support. Key improvements include better code readability, collaborative tools and enhanced measurement workflows. Instrument Studio Pro will streamline configuration and automation, available in July. The company is also integrating advanced hardware, like the new power supplies and vector signal transceivers, ensuring our software pairs with cutting-edge technology. Finally, NI is committed to elevating its passionate community to drive continuous improvement.
Jim Kring, CEO and founder of JKI, emphasized the importance of LabVIEW in the aerospace industry, showcasing its utility in rocket engine testing. He highlighted the company’s commitment to open-source software, starting with the icon editor, to foster innovation and collaboration. Kring encouraged the LabVIEW community to contribute to these open-source projects and announces free access to LabVIEW for students, enhancing educational outreach. He underscores the value of community events, urging members to participate and collaborate—ultimately strengthening the relationship between LabVIEW developers and users.
The automotive industry is undergoing a significant shift towards software-centric architectures, commented Lee Bauer, VP of mobility architecture at Magna International. Moving away from traditional hardware-centric approaches, Magna introduced a holistic vehicle approach with a focus on software. The company’s “smart bridge” platform revolutionizes vehicle design by organizing it into zones, each with high-performance computers—fostering flexibility and customization over the vehicle’s lifecycle. Smart bridge simplifies integration across domains, utilizing open standards and a 10 Gb Ethernet backbone for communication. The project resulted in a flexible, vehicle-level system, showcasing collaborative innovation across global teams. The Smart bridge platform garnered widespread interest, demonstrating its impact beyond automotive.
Raytheon’s Test Engineering team revolutionized data management and utilization across manufacturing sites using SystemLink. Through pilots and training, as highlighted during the keynote, they centralized test data, enabling real-time analysis and visualization, as well as enhancing efficiency and reliability. SystemLink’s dashboards offer insights into system status, downtime and utilization, helping to optimize operations. Moving forward, Raytheon aims for widespread adoption, aligning processes for streamlined operations and leveraging SystemLink’s capabilities for enhanced productivity.
Steve Xie, CEO and founder of Lightwheel AI, highlighted AI’s transformative impact on product design and testing. He emphasized AI’s integration into software, evolving from lines of code to data-centric models. Addressing the challenge of testing AI systems, he advocates for comprehensive data sets and introduces generative AI to enhance testing efficiency. Xie reaffirms the crucial role of test engineers in bridging digital and physical realms, leveraging their expertise to ensure AI’s efficacy in real-world applications. His insights herald a future where engineers adeptly navigate AI’s integration, fostering higher product quality and reliability.
NI unveils the future of intelligent testing
In a resounding finale to NI Connect 2024, Kevin Schultz, NI’s VP of Technology and Innovation, illuminated the path forward in tackling tomorrow’s challenges. The cornerstone of his keynote was NI’s commitment to evolving alongside technological shifts, particularly in the realm of software-defined systems and AI integration.
Charting NI’s trajectory of innovation, Schultz showcased how the company has consistently empowered customers to push boundaries. Today, this legacy continues with NI spearheading the Intelligent Test Revolution. By harnessing AI, NI aims to redefine test and measurement paradigms, promising expedited time-to-market, cost efficiencies and heightened quality standards.
Central to NI’s approach are three guiding AI principles: expert-led engineering, AI-enhanced intelligence for engineers, and unwavering industry-grade data security. Collaborations with industry giants like Microsoft further underscore NI’s dedication to setting the gold standard in AI deployment.
Live demonstrations by NI experts Shruti Shirhatti and Michael Phillips vividly illustrated the transformative potential of AI in streamlining engineering workflows. From condensing days of work into mere minutes to showcasing the prowess of AI-powered chatbots for seamless collaboration, NI showcased a future where innovation knows no bounds.
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