National Instruments cRIO-9036 CompactRIO Controller

The National Instruments cRIO-9036 (Part number: 783849-01) is a CompactRIO Controller that features a Real-Time Processor and a reconfigurable Xilinx Kintex-7 FPGA. This versatile controller boasts an Intel Atom E3825 CPU with a frequency of 1.33 GHz, offering plenty of operating power for testing applications. Designed for diverse connectivity, the controller is equipped with a variety of ports; including a mini display port, a USB host port, a USB device port, a power connector port, an SD card port, two RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and one RS-232 Serial port. The USB ports of the cRIO-9036 have a Hi-speed USB 2.0 interface with a maximum data rate of 480 Mb per second.

The various rebooting options of the cRIO-9036 allow the user to configure the startup of the CompactRIO controller themselves. One possible reboot option is Enable Embedded UI Mode, which allows the device to edit and browse files within a graphical functioning environment. By connecting input and display devices to the cRIO-9036 controller with these settings, the user can network with the front panels of Virtual Instruments (VIs). The NI cRIO-9036 is equipped with an RS-485/422 (DTE) serial port, compatible with an RJ-50, 10-position modular jack.

The cRIO-9036 CompactRIO Controller operates using the NI-RIO device driver software (February 2015 or later), which is compatible with software packages/application development environments such as LabVIEW and Microsoft C/C++. In terms of power, the controller requires 46 W at maximum.

In order to troubleshoot network connectivity, the NI cRIO-9036 provides a convenient reset button which can retunes the processor in a way that is similar to cycling power. In addition, the controller utilizes a general purpose reset button labeled “USER1”. The mode of this button can be read from a LabVIEW FPGA application.

In terms of physical specifications, the cRIO-9036 utilizes screw flanges to secure connections. Built for indoor use only, it should be operated in temperatures ranging from -40 °C to 70 °C. When unloaded, the cRIO-9036 controller measures dimensions of 328.8 mm × 88.1 mm × 109.2 mm (12.94 in. × 3.47 in. × 4.30 in.) and weighs in at 2,250 g (4 lbs, 15 oz).