National Instruments Corporation 781313-01 cRIO-9025, Real-Time PowerPC Embedded Controller for CompactRIO, 800 MHz, 4 GB storage, 512 MB DRAM

The programmable NI WSN-3226 measurement node adds resistance-based measurements, such as those from RTDs and potentiometers, to the NI wireless sensor network (WSN) platform. With this node, you can combine temperature and voltage measurements on a single device. The WSN-3226 provides four analog input channels that you can configure on a per-channel basis for 10 V measurements or resistance-based measurements. The device also features two bidirectional digital channels with industrial voltage ranges that you can configure on a per-channel basis for input, sinking output, or sourcing output. The digital channels can also be programmed to respond to digital value change events. The 18-position screw-terminal connector delivers direct connectivity to sensors, and the device offers a 12 V, 50 mA sensor power output that you can use to drive sensors requiring external power. You can power the measurement node with four 1.5 V, AA alkaline or lithium battery cells, with operation up to three years on battery power, or you can externally power the node with a 5 to 30 V supply (not included).

The WSN-3226 also features 50/60 Hz filtering and two operational modes, high speed and high resolution, so that you can optimize power and throughput trade-offs for your application. Additionally, the device supports battery backup; in the event external power is lost, the device automatically switches over to battery power.

With the LabVIEW Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) Module, you can use graphical programming to customize the nodes behavior, adding intelligence to extend battery life; increase analog and digital input performance; perform local control, analysis, and data reduction; and interface with custom sensors. The default behavior of an NI measurement node is to transmit every sample acquired to the gateway; however, this is not a requirement for many applications. You can use LabVIEW WSN to average samples over time and provide threshold or deadband logic, so you can extend battery life by transmitting only meaningful data. Additionally, you can increase acquisition rates on the node by not incurring the overhead of transmitting each sample after acquisition. Using LabVIEW WSN, you can then perform processing and data reduction on the node. LabVIEW WSN applications are downloaded wirelessly to NI WSN measurement nodes, allowing seamless updates to deployed nodes.

A 2.4 GHz radio is used to wirelessly transmit data to the WSN gateway, where you can connect through Ethernet to other network devices. NI-WSN software delivers easy network configuration in NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) and data extraction with LabVIEW software.

You can configure the WSN-3226 as a mesh router to increase network distance and connect more nodes in your WSN system. You can connect eight end nodes (star topology) or up to 36 measurement nodes (mesh topology) to a single WSN gateway, with outdoor range up to 300 m with line of sight. The device also offers industrial temperature and shock and vibration ratings.

Wireless products require certification based on the geographic region of use. Consult the Wireless Product Certifications document linked from the Resources tab to determine which products are certified in your region.