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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteEmerson used NI Connect 2025, held April 28–30, 2025, at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas, to announce changes across NI software, modular instrumentation, data acquisition and its partner ecosystem. The headline was Nigel AI Advisor for LabVIEW and TestStand, but the event also covered wider RF bandwidth, new DAQ hardware, Python and .NET connectivity, Docker workflows, and third-party integration.
The practical distinction is availability: Nigel was announced at the conference and Emerson confirmed its LabVIEW and TestStand availability on July 22, 2025. Other capabilities remain dependent on the exact release, hardware configuration, license and deployment model.
What NI Connect 2025 covered
NI Connect is both a customer conference and a product-announcement event for Emerson’s NI test-and-measurement business. Emerson described more than 90 technical sessions spanning LabVIEW, NI DAQ, PXI, hardware-in-the-loop and early AI integrations, alongside a community of more than 80 user groups. The strategy was an integrated stack: development software, test executives, modular hardware, operations software and partners rather than isolated instruments.
Emerson’s event announcement is available at Emerson’s NI Connect 2025 announcement.
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- PXI-4472 24-Bit 8-Channel Dynamic Signal Acquisition Module is a dynamic signal acquisition module designed for sound and vibration measurements.
- Input channels incorporate integrated electronic piezoelectric (IEPE) signal conditioning for accelerometers and microphones, and built-in antialiasing filters that automatically adjust to the user's sample rate.
- User can synchronise multiple PXI-4472 modules with each other for high-channel-count applications, or with other devices using the RTSI bus.
- PXI‑4472 is a dynamic signal acquisition module designed for sound and vibration measurements.
- You can synchronise multiple PXI‑4472 modules with each other for high‑channel‑count applications, or with other devices using the RTSI bus.
Nigel AI Advisor: useful assistant, not an autonomous test engineer
Nigel is an AI assistant designed around NI test software. Its initial integrations were LabVIEW and TestStand, where users can ask natural-language questions about NI functions, code, debugging, documentation and test workflows. Emerson describes the service as using a secure cloud platform and positions it as an advisor rather than a replacement for engineering judgment.
Emerson later confirmed Nigel’s availability in LabVIEW and TestStand on July 22, 2025, as reported in its availability announcement. That confirmation does not establish that every capability demonstrated at the conference is present in every release or license.
Why teams may value it
- Legacy LabVIEW VIs and TestStand sequences often contain undocumented assumptions; an advisor can help engineers locate relevant functions and explain unfamiliar logic.
- Natural-language assistance may shorten first-pass debugging, documentation and onboarding work.
- TestStand users can apply the idea across sequence maintenance and support, not only source-code generation.
Questions to resolve before deployment
- Which LabVIEW or TestStand release and LabVIEW+ Suite tier includes Nigel?
- Does use require internet access, and what prompts, source code, metadata or test data are transmitted?
- Can it be disabled for air-gapped, regulated, classified or safety-critical systems?
- Does it understand custom libraries, FPGA code, drivers and third-party APIs?
- Are suggestions retained in an auditable, reproducible way?
A syntactically correct suggestion can still be electrically, mathematically or procedurally wrong. Source control, peer review, regression testing and formal change approval remain necessary.
LabVIEW and TestStand workflow changes
| Announcement | Likely benefit | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Improved wire and probe debugging | Faster diagnosis of dataflow problems | Exact LabVIEW release and supported targets |
| Better VI comparison | Clearer review of changes in large codebases | Comparison limits and version compatibility |
| .NET 8.0 support | Integration with current Microsoft runtimes | Desktop, real-time and deployed-application support |
| Python 3.12 support | More current scripting and analysis integration | Supported operating systems, targets and packaging model |
| Docker connectivity | Connection to containerized services and tools | Whether the workflow connects to containers or runs LabVIEW itself in a container |
| LabVIEW Community Edition on macOS | Lower-barrier education and prototyping | Commercial rights and feature parity with paid editions |
Event coverage of these changes appears in Embedded Computing and All About Circuits. The announcements did not provide a complete compatibility matrix, so installation advice should wait for the applicable release notes.
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- 80-channel, 16-bit analog inputs with 1.25 MS/s sampling for accurate data acquisition and analysis.
- 2 analog outputs and 24 digital I/O channels support versatile control and measurement applications.
- Dual 32-bit counters/timers enable precise timing and synchronization across various systems.
- Analog and digital triggering enhances functionality for design verification, automation, and research.
- Compatible with NI-DAQmx driver for easy setup, configuration, and seamless integration with SCC or SCXI modules.
TestStand’s particular importance
TestStand is the production and validation test-executive layer. Its value is sequence reuse, operator and station control, documentation and repeatable deployment across many stations. Nigel could be especially helpful in older, heavily modified sequences, but it does not validate limits, fixtures, safety interlocks or product requirements.
PXI and software-defined RF
Emerson highlighted a 4 GHz bandwidth option for its PXI Vector Signal Transceiver platform and coverage describing up to 7 GHz performance in particular configurations or operating modes. Those figures must not be treated as one unconditional specification: usable instantaneous bandwidth depends on the exact module, aggregation method, channel arrangement and measurement mode.
RF updates also included enhancements to the NI 5660 Vector Network Analyzer and RFmx capabilities for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 7 measurements. Protocol support can involve separate waveform, demodulation, analysis, firmware and licensing components; support for a named standard does not automatically mean every certification test or Wi-Fi 7 feature is included.
Who benefits
- Wireless and semiconductor teams validating 5G, Wi-Fi 7 or emerging 6G designs.
- Radar, aerospace and electronic-warfare groups needing wideband generation and analysis.
- Organizations using FPGA processing, synchronized channels or reusable PXI test architectures.
The PXI trade-off
PXI offers modularity, synchronization and software control, but performance and maintainability depend on the complete chassis, controller, modules, FPGA resources, drivers, measurement packages and storage path. A fixed-function bench instrument can be simpler when requirements are stable and narrow.
Rank #3
- The slots on the NI PXIe-1071 can accept 3U PXI Express and CompactPCI Express, as well as PXI and CompactPCI modules.
- The maximum total usable power is 230 W for the PXIe-1071.
- The PXIe-1071 is designed for a wide range of test and measurement applications and provides a high-bandwidth backplane.
- Its compact and lightweight form factor is ideal for minimizing the footprint of your installation, making it ideal for desktop or portable use cases.
- SOHO Instruments PXI modules and connects them with a high-performance backplane that offers timing and synchronization capabilities.
DAQ hardware for laboratories and field systems
The event featured rugged FieldDAQ hardware described as IP67-rated and USB-C CompactDAQ products. FieldDAQ targets distributed or harsh-environment measurements; CompactDAQ is a modular architecture for laboratory, mobile and networked sensing. The IP rating and supported configurations are model-specific, as noted in Electronic Design’s coverage.
An enclosure rating does not remove the need to validate connectors, cable protection, grounding, sensor excitation, calibration, thermal conditions, synchronization and installation. USB-C describes a connector and interface family, not guaranteed throughput, isolation, power delivery or field suitability.
SystemLink, InstrumentStudio and ecosystem changes
Emerson announced a broader SystemLink base offering and custom-plugin support intended to bring third-party signal sources, and potentially other third-party hardware, into InstrumentStudio workflows. This can reduce fragmentation in mixed-vendor labs, but a plugin may not expose the functionality, validation, performance or support level of native NI integration. Available instruments, APIs, versions and licensing require product-level confirmation.
Emerson also highlighted open-source FlexLogger plugin activity, macOS Community Edition access for university students and community expansion. Open repositories can lower integration costs, while still requiring security, license, maintenance and compatibility review.
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Rank #4
- PXI-6529 is a Channel-to-Channel, Isolated, 48-Channel PXI Digital I/O Module with Sink/Source Inputs.
- This module is a parallel industrial input interface, which is considered an ideal solution for a broad range of applications, including: industrial factory automation, automotive design, machine control, biomedical applications, etc
- This module features change detection, digital filtering, and Real-Time System Integration capabilities.
- NI PXI-6529 offers a PXI start trigger line and eight lines for output. The PXI trigger can be utilised for input only, while the input Port 0 and Output Port 3 can be configured to route signals and receive signals from the RTSI port respectively.
- PXI-6529 is run using the NIDAQmx driver software which is compatible with software packages or application development environments (ADEs) such as LabVIEW or LabWindows/CVI.
What was available when?
| Item | Conference status | Availability qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Nigel for LabVIEW and TestStand | Announced April 2025 | Emerson confirmed availability July 22, 2025; verify release and tier |
| LabVIEW debugging, runtime and Docker updates | Announced or reported at NI Connect | Tie each feature to an exact release, target and operating system |
| PXI bandwidth and RFmx updates | Announced | Confirm model, configuration, measurement mode and license |
| InstrumentStudio plugins | Announced or planned | Verify supported third-party hardware and plugin support responsibility |
| FlexLogger open-source plugins | Announced | Check repository maintenance and current compatibility |
Who should care most?
RF and semiconductor teams
Evaluate instantaneous bandwidth, synchronized channels, dynamic range, FPGA processing, RFmx measurement packages and Wi-Fi 7 or Bluetooth requirements against the complete PXI bill of materials.
Aerospace and hardware-in-the-loop groups
Emerson cited Archer Aviation and other customer examples involving eVTOL validation. Treat these as application illustrations, not guaranteed outcomes for another organization.
Field and distributed measurement teams
FieldDAQ may fit remote or exposed installations, while CompactDAQ suits modular lab and mobile systems. Environmental qualification remains a system responsibility.
Production-test organizations
Assess TestStand sequence reuse, throughput, parallelism, station scaling, driver stability, SystemLink operations and operator training.
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- PXI-2585 is a 12 A, 1-Wire, 10-Channel Multiplexer Switch Module. This high-power module is an ideal solution for various control applications and automotive, battery, and power supply testing.
- The NI PXI-2585 can be configured as a 10x1 multiplexer offering both high isolation voltage and low contact resistance.
- With this module, the user can acquire 300 V channel-to-channel and 300 V channel-to-ground maximum switching voltage.
- The PXI-2585 comes equipped with a Positronic GMCT series plug I/O connector featuring 20-positions.
- By design, this module is a compact one slot, 3 U PXI module and its physical dimensions are 21.6 cm × 2.0 cm × 13.0 cm
Universities and prototyping teams
macOS Community Edition, community resources and open plugins can lower the entry barrier, but Community Edition is not a substitute for commercial deployment rights.
Upgrade and migration checklist
- Record current LabVIEW, TestStand, driver, RFmx, SystemLink and operating-system versions.
- Map each desired feature to an exact release, target, hardware generation and license.
- Classify AI use by data sensitivity; pilot Nigel on a non-sensitive codebase before production use.
- Confirm cloud, retention, residency, administrator-access and offline-operation policies.
- For RF, calculate required instantaneous bandwidth and channel synchronization rather than relying on an “up to” figure.
- For DAQ, validate sensors, connectors, grounding, calibration, temperature and cable routing.
- Run regression tests, sequence validation and rollback rehearsals before changing production stations.
- Price lifecycle items: chassis, controllers, modules, software entitlements, support, calibration, training and migration labor.
Bottom line for buyers
NI Connect 2025 signals a platform strategy: AI assistance in development tools, more software-defined instrumentation, broader runtime connectivity and a more open ecosystem. The announcements are most compelling for organizations already invested in LabVIEW, TestStand, PXI or NI DAQ and facing complex code, high-throughput validation or distributed assets.
The buying decision should turn conference language into verified engineering facts: exact software release, license, model, configuration, cloud behavior, supported protocol features and lifecycle obligations. Feature count alone is not a business case.
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