Case Study: the Royal Dutch Navy modernizes naval computer testing with National Instruments PXI and LabVIEW FPGA

Deploying Portable PXI Systems on Naval Vessels for Testing Proprietary Computer Hardware

The Royal Dutch Navy faced the challenge of replacing approximately 50 obsolete and outdated PICO systems used to test and maintain proprietary mainframe computer hardware across its fleet. These specialized systems were critical for communication and program loading but were failing with no available spare parts. They needed a rugged, portable, and cost-effective replacement solution.

National Instruments implemented a solution using commercial off-the-shelf PXI hardware, including a PXI chassis and a portable monitor/keyboard, controlled by the LabVIEW FPGA Module. This system emulated the proprietary bus protocols, enabling communication with the mainframes and the emulation of peripheral devices. The solution from National Instruments was five times more cost-effective than a laptop alternative, substantially reduced test time, and provided new capabilities for real-time data logging and analysis, such as during weapon system test firings.

Royal Dutch Navy

Richard Van Der Weide

Royal Dutch Navy