MicroLabBox
Compact prototyping unit for the laboratory
With MicroLabBox, dSPACE introduces a fully new system category: an all-in-one development system for the laboratory that combines compact size and low system costs with high performance and versatility.
- 2 GHz dual-core real-time processor and user-programmable FPGA
- More than 100 channels of high-performance I/O with easy access via integrated connector panel
- Dedicated electric motor control features and interfaces for Ethernet and CAN bus
At a Glance
Application Areas
MicroLabBox lets you set up your control, test or measurement applications quickly and easily, and helps you turn your new control concepts into reality. More than 100 I/O channels of different types make MicroLabBox a versatile system that can be used in mechatronic research and development areas, such as robotics, medical engineering, electric drives control, renewable energy, vehicle engineering, or aerospace.
Key Benefits
High computation power combined with very low I/O latencies provide great real-time performance. A programmable FPGA gives you a high degree of flexibility and lets you run even extremely fast control loops, as required in applications such as electric motor control or active noise and vibration cancellation.
MicroLabBox is supported by a comprehensive dSPACE software package, including, e.g., Real-Time Interface (RTI) for Simulink® for model-based I/O integration and the experiment software ControlDesk® Next Generation, which provides access to the real-time application during run time by means of graphical instruments.
Technical Details
| Parameter | Specification 1 | Specification 2 | Specification 3 |
| MicroLabBox Variants | Front Panel Variant | Top Panel Variant with BNC Connectors | Top Panel Variant with Spring-Cage Terminal Blocks |
| Processor | Real-time processor | Real-time processor | Real-time processor |
| NXP (Freescale) QorlQ P5020, dual-core, 2 GHz 32 KB L1 data cache per core, 32 KB L1 instruction cache per core, 512 KB L2 cache per core, 2 MB L3 cache total | NXP (Freescale) QorlQ P5020, dual-core, 2 GHz 32 KB L1 data cache per core, 32 KB L1 instruction cache per core, 512 KB L2 cache per core, 2 MB L3 cache total | NXP (Freescale) QorlQ P5020, dual-core, 2 GHz 32 KB L1 data cache per core, 32 KB L1 instruction cache per core, 512 KB L2 cache per core, 2 MB L3 cache total | |
| Host communication | Host communication | Host communication | |
| NXP (Freescale) QorlQ P1011 800 MHz for communication with host PC | NXP (Freescale) QorlQ P1011 800 MHz for communication with host PC | NXP (Freescale) QorlQ P1011 800 MHz for communication with host PC | |
| Memory | Memory | Memory | |
| 1 GB DRAM 128 MB flash memory | 1 GB DRAM 128 MB flash memory | 1 GB DRAM 128 MB flash memory | |
| Boot time | Boot time | Boot time | |
| Autonomous booting of applications from flash (depending on application size), ~5 s for a 5 MB application | Autonomous booting of applications from flash (depending on application size), ~5 s for a 5 MB application | Autonomous booting of applications from flash (depending on application size), ~5 s for a 5 MB application | |
| Interfaces | Host interface | Host interface | Host interface |
| Integrated Gigabit Ethernet host interface | Integrated Gigabit Ethernet host interface | Integrated Gigabit Ethernet host interface | |
| Ethernet real- time I/O interface | Ethernet real- time I/O interface | Ethernet real- time I/O interface | |
| Integrated low-latency Gigabit Ethernet I/O interface | Integrated low-latency Gigabit Ethernet I/O interface | Integrated low-latency Gigabit Ethernet I/O interface | |
| USB interface | USB interface | USB interface | |
| USB 2.0 interface for data logging (“flight recorder”) and booting applications via USB mass storage device (max. 32 GB supported) | USB 2.0 interface for data logging (“flight recorder”) and booting applications via USB mass storage device (max. 32 GB supported) | USB 2.0 interface for data logging (“flight recorder”) and booting applications via USB mass storage device (max. 32 GB supported) | |
| CAN interface | CAN interface | CAN interface | |
| 2 CAN channels (partial networking supported) | 2 CAN channels (partial networking supported) | 2 CAN channels (partial networking supported) | |
| Serial interface | Serial interface | Serial interface | |
| 2 x UART (RS232/422/485) interface | 2 x UART (RS232/422/485) interface | 2 x UART (RS232/422/485) interface | |
| LVDS interface | LVDS interface | LVDS interface | |
| 1 x LVDS interface to connect with the Programmable Generic Interface PGI1 | 1 x LVDS interface to connect with the Programmable Generic Interface PGI1 | 1 x LVDS interface to connect with the Programmable Generic Interface PGI1 | |
| Programmable FPGA1) | Programmable FPGA1) | Programmable FPGA1) | |
| Xilinx® Kintex®-7 XC7K325T FPGA | Xilinx® Kintex®-7 XC7K325T FPGA | Xilinx® Kintex®-7 XC7K325T FPGA | |
| Analog input | Resolution and type | Resolution and type | Resolution and type |
| 8 14-bit channels, 10 Msps, differential; functionality: free running mode 24 16-bit channels, 1 Msps, differential; functionality: single conversion and burst conversion mode with different trigger and interrupt options | 8 14-bit channels, 10 Msps, differential; functionality: free running mode 24 16-bit channels, 1 Msps, differential; functionality: single conversion and burst conversion mode with different trigger and interrupt options | 8 14-bit channels, 10 Msps, differential; functionality: free running mode 24 16-bit channels, 1 Msps, differential; functionality: single conversion and burst conversion mode with different trigger and interrupt options | |
| Input voltage range | Input voltage range | Input voltage range | |
| -10 … 10 V | -10 … 10 V | -10 … 10 V | |
| Analog output | Resolution and type | Resolution and type | Resolution and type |
| 16 16-bit channels, 1 Msps, settling time: 1 µs | 16 16-bit channels, 1 Msps, settling time: 1 µs | 16 16-bit channels, 1 Msps, settling time: 1 µs | |
| Resolution and type | Resolution and type | Resolution and type | |
| 16 16-bit channels, 1 Msps, settling time: 1 µs | 16 16-bit channels, 1 Msps, settling time: 1 µs | 16 16-bit channels, 1 Msps, settling time: 1 µs | |
| Output voltage range | Output voltage range | Output voltage range | |
| -10 … 10 V | -10 … 10 V | -10 … 10 V | |
| Output current | Output current | Output current | |
| ± 8 mA | ± 8 mA | ± 8 mA | |
| Digital I/O | Digital I/O | Digital I/O | |
| 48 bidirectional channels, 2.5/3.3/5 V (single-ended); functionality: bit I/O, PWM generation and measurement (10 ns resolution), pulse generation and measurement (10 ns resolution), 4 x SPI Master 12 bidirectional channels (RS422/485 type) to connect sensors with differential interfaces | 48 bidirectional channels, 2.5/3.3/5 V (single-ended); functionality: bit I/O, PWM generation and measurement (10 ns resolution), pulse generation and measurement (10 ns resolution), 4 x SPI Master 12 bidirectional channels (RS422/485 type) to connect sensors with differential interfaces | 48 bidirectional channels, 2.5/3.3/5 V (single-ended); functionality: bit I/O, PWM generation and measurement (10 ns resolution), pulse generation and measurement (10 ns resolution), 4 x SPI Master 12 bidirectional channels (RS422/485 type) to connect sensors with differential interfaces | |
| Electric motor control I/O functionality | Separate interfaces | Separate interfaces | Separate interfaces |
| 2 x Resolver interface | 2 x Resolver interface | 2 x Resolver interface | |
| Functionality on digital I/O channels | Functionality on digital I/O channels | Functionality on digital I/O channels | |
| 6 x Encoder sensor input | 6 x Encoder sensor input | 6 x Encoder sensor input | |
| 2 x Hall sensor input | 2 x Hall sensor input | 2 x Hall sensor input | |
| 2 x EnDat interface | 2 x EnDat interface | 2 x EnDat interface | |
| 2 x SSI interface | 2 x SSI interface | 2 x SSI interface | |
| Synchronous multi-channel PWM | Synchronous multi-channel PWM | Synchronous multi-channel PWM | |
| Block commutational PWM | Block commutational PWM | Block commutational PWM | |
| Sensor supply | Sensor supply | Sensor supply | |
| 1 x 12 V, max. 3 W/250 mA (fixed) 1 x 2 … 20 V, max. 1 W/200 mA (variable) | 1 x 12 V, max. 3 W/250 mA (fixed) 1 x 2 … 20 V, max. 1 W/200 mA (variable) | 1 x 12 V, max. 3 W/250 mA (fixed) 1 x 2 … 20 V, max. 1 W/200 mA (variable) | |
| Feedback elements | Feedback elements | Feedback elements | |
| Programmable buzzer | Programmable buzzer | Programmable buzzer | |
| Programmable status LEDs | Programmable status LEDs | Programmable status LEDs | |
| Theft protection | Theft protection | Theft protection | |
| Kensington® lock | Kensington® lock | Kensington® lock | |
| Cooling | Cooling | Cooling | |
| Active cooling (temperature-controlled fan) | Active cooling (temperature-controlled fan) | Active cooling (temperature-controlled fan) | |
| Physical connections | Physical connections | Physical connections | |
| 4 x Sub-D 50 I/O connectors | 2 x Sub-D 50 I/O connectors 48 x BNC I/O connectors | 2 x Sub-D 9 I/O connectors 27 x spring-cage terminal block connectors with 8 pins each 3 x RJ45 for Ethernet (host and I/O) | |
| 4 x Sub-D 9 I/O connectors | 4 x Sub-D 9 I/O connectors | USB Type A (for data logging) | |
| 3 x RJ45 for Ethernet (host and I/O) | 3 x RJ45 for Ethernet (host and I/O) | 2 x 2 banana connectors for sensor supply Power supply | |
| USB Type A (for data logging) | USB Type A (for data logging) | ||
| 2 x 2 banana connectors for sensor supply Power supply | 2 x 2 banana connectors for sensor supply Power supply |
