Starter- and Development Kits

- What is the Development Kit and what can I do with it ?
- Can I re-use the ZMobile plugged into the developmentkits ?
- Can I port software between development kits and operational systems ?
- The 30 day trial period is over, then what ?
- What are the next step from evaluation to professional application development ?

What is the development kit and what can I do with it ?

The ZMdevkit is an industrial grade, complete starterkit, development environment and testbench for standalone measurement and control applications based on LabVIEW on Blackfin . The kit provides 4x Analog and 2x Digital Inputs, 8x Digital Outputs, 14x Debounced Inputs and 5 configurable high-speed UARTs . The I/O can be scaled to 16x Analog and 32x Digital Inputs, 8x Analog and 32x Digital Outputs, 12x Encoder Inputs and 16x Power Switches.
Several mixed signal circuits allow you to simulate all I/O's to test your software framework, algorithms and test strategies long before the HW/SW is applied to the real world. Included are: 4 integrated potentiometers, 14 switches, 8 LED's, 1xRS232, 1xRS485/422, 1xUSB, 1xBuzzer, 1xBattery interface, 1xCompact Flash slot and 1x optional TFT display with Touch. Thanks to additional I/O connectors and jumpers, you can easily switch back and forth between the real-world environment and simulation signals. After completion, the ZMobile can be plugged out and re-used in the operational system.

Can I re-use the ZBrain plugged into the development kits ?

Yes, the plugged-in ZMobile is fully functional and ready for real world applications.

Can I port software between development kits and operational systems ?

Yes. See more details in chapter “re-using software”.

The trial period is over, then what ?

If you're a registered LabVIEW user(Version ?), the first investment to carry on with application development with the FAST DEBUG MODE is to buy “ZBrain BSP for NI LabVIEW”, the Board Support Package from Schmid Engineering. For real-time and standalone applications see the next question.

What are the next steps from evaluation to professional application development ?

Four components are required to generate and debug deployable embedded code: a National Instruments LabVIEW License (Full or Professional), the “LabVIEW Embedded Module for ADI Blackfin”, Schmid Engineerings full version of the “ZBrain BSP for NI LabVIEW” and a high-speed Incircuit Emulator (ICE). This ICE is required to quickly download, run and graphically debug LabVIEW Embedded code. The whole package or part of it can be purchased from Schmid Engineering AG or its sales representatives.