The software and hardware tools can simulate all of Pickering's PXI and LXI switching products and most of the company's PXI simulation products, enabling rapid code development independent of application hardware.
With these simulation tools, test engineers can:
- Mitigate supply chain risks: Applications can be designed and developed without physical hardware, allowing engineers to begin work on a test system immediately while waiting for hardware to ship.
- Accelerate development time: Engineers can speed up the traditional waterfall development process and complete multiple development steps simultaneously.
- Debug code without physical hardware: Engineers can prequalify equipment and test software code early in the development process. Switching paths that previously could only be verified and subsequently debugged when the hardware was available can now be verified before the hardware arrives. By simulating switching modules and simulations before using physical components, engineers also minimize the risk of damaging expensive test system hardware during verification.
“We want to eliminate all the barriers engineers face when setting up their test systems,” says Noman Hussain, Vice President of Software at Pickering Interfaces. “With Pickering simulation tools, engineers can begin evaluating hardware or testing code immediately. They can use these tools to easily select the optimal Pickering products for their test application. Then, the moment the hardware arrives, they’re ready to deploy their test system.”
The PXI simulation software is now part of the standard installation of the Pickering PXI driver, while the LXI simulation software is a standalone Windows application that can emulate Pickering's switching and simulation products in a virtual environment. Engineers can use both the PXI and LXI simulation software to interface with their test programs.
The LXI simulation tool (model 60-901) is a plug-and-play device, and engineers typically have it up and running in minutes. By simply connecting the power and Ethernet cables, downloading and installing the free Pickering drivers, and selecting the appropriate Pickering modules to test, engineers can run a simulation and then easily reprogram the tool to simulate different modules. These capabilities allow engineers to access thousands of modules with just a few clicks.
