Development platform features over 100 I/O channels

With its combination of a Simulink-programmable real-time processor and high-performance Kintex FPGA, MicroLabBox provides the versatility required for research and development. The laptop-sized MicroLabBox, with over 100 I/O channels of various types, lets engineers develop applications in robotics, medical engineering, electric drives, renewable energy, consumer appliances, industrial products, automotive engineering, and aerospace.

This compact, powerful, and cost-effective system is also a comprehensive teaching and experiment aid for universities and training institutions that want to use the latest industry standard technology to equip their students with the skills necessary for innovation.

MicroLabBox features a 2GHz dual-core real-time Freescale PowerPC QorIQ P5020 processor, capable of achieving fast closed-loop cycle times of less than 15µs, depending on the application. For extremely fast control applications, the integrated FPGA can be used for high-speed computation, allowing for parallel, exact and fast I/O processing. MicroLabBox includes over 100 I/O interfaces of not only conventional types, such as analog I/O and digital I/O. It also features specialised interfaces like CAN, Ethernet, and position encoders.  Additionally, MicroLabBox's integrated sensor supply provides power for sensors without any additional laboratory devices.

MicroLabBox is available in two panel variants. The top-panel variant provides Sub-D and BNC connectors, making wiring easy when the unit is used on a laboratory desk, whilst the front-panel variant provides Sub-D connectors, making it easy to integrate MicroLabBox in a stack of laboratory devices. The connector information is printed on each MicroLabBox and is also included in the I/O blockset of the device's implementation software.

MicroLabBox can be used with or without a host PC. In autonomous mode, the real-time application is loaded from the on-board flash memory when MicroLabBox is started. A programmable buzzer and programmable set of LEDs provide real-time application status information, and a USB connector allows users to save data to a mass storage device.

MicroLabBox is supported by a dSPACE software package including Real-Time Interface (RTI) for model-based I/O integration into Simulink and ControlDesk Next Generation. Graphical instruments within ControlDesk Next Generation provide access to the real-time application variables and parameters during run time.  In addition to these tools, dSPACE offers further software modules that complement MicroLabBox in various use cases.