Data Acquisition Toolbox

Connect to data acquisition cards, devices, and modules

Data Acquisition Toolbox provides apps and functions for configuring data acquisition hardware, reading data into MATLAB and Simulink, and writing data to DAQ analog and digital output channels. The toolbox supports a variety of DAQ hardware, including USB, PCI, PCI Express^®, PXI^®, and PXI Express^® devices, from National Instruments™ and other vendors.

The toolbox apps let you interactively configure and run a data acquisition session. You can then generate equivalent MATLAB code to automate your acquisition in future sessions. Toolbox functions give you the flexibility to control the analog input, analog output, counter/timer, and digital I/O subsystems of a DAQ device. You can access device-specific features and synchronize data acquired from multiple devices.

You can analyze data as you acquire it or save it for post-processing. You can also automate tests and make iterative updates to your test setup based on analysis results.

Voltage and Current

Get Started with Data Acquisition Toolbox to configure, read, write, queue, and log data from data acquisition (DAQ) hardware. Use analog input and output subsystems of DAQ devices to acquire (foreground or background) and generate both voltage and current signals.

Setting a World Speed Record with a Student-Designed Solar Electric Vehicle

Documentation | Examples

Sensors and TDMS Files

Collect and process data directly from thermocouples, RTD devices, IEPE accelerometers and microphones, current-based sensors, and bridge-based sensors. Import data from NI™ TDMS format files and analyze the data in MATLAB.

Reading and Writing TDMS-Files in MATLAB (7:00)

Documentation | Examples

Data Acquisition for AI and Predictive Maintenance Applications

Use Data Acquisition Toolbox to access real-world data, verify, validate, and expedite design and development phases for machine learning applications.

Applying AI to Real-World Sensor Data using MATLAB and NI Tools (27:39)

Solutions | Examples

Hardware devices from National Instruments supported by Data Acquisition Toolbox.

Data Acquisition Hardware Vendors

Data Acquisition Toolbox enables hardware discover and setup of devices from National Instruments and other vendors. Access subsystems common to different devices, as well as device-specific features.

NI-DAQmx Support from Data Acquisition Toolbox

Documentation | Examples

Plot showing temperature and voltage data acquired from two devices simultaneously at different rates.

Simultaneous and Synchronized Operations

Acquire data and generate signals simultaneously and synchronously. Synchronize operations with shared start triggers and shared scan clocks. Simultaneously start all devices in a session and synchronize operations on all connected devices.

Documentation | Examples

Digital Signals

Read and generate digital input and output signals. Use counters to count events or to measure frequency, pulse width, or position. Generate pulse trains with counter outputs.

Counter and Timer Input and Output

Documentation | Examples

Analog Input Recorder App

Apps enable interactivity without writing code and automate generation of equivalent MATLAB code. Configure device channels, preview signals, and record analog input data in the foreground or background.

Acquire Data with Analog Input Recorder

Documentation | Examples

Analog Output Generator App

Configure device channels, define and preview signals, and generate analog output signals in the foreground or background.

Generate Signals with Analog Output Generator

Documentation | Examples

Wired headphones and microphone depicting support for sound cards.

Audio Input and Output

Design audio test systems, acquire multichannel audio data, and analyze and generate signals using built-in or external sound cards.

Sound Card Support from Data Acquisition Toolbox

Documentation | Examples

Product Resources:

Documentation Examples Videos Technical articles Functions Blocks Hardware support Requirements Release notes

Comparing positional deviations using MATLAB after one hour of testing (top) and after eight hours at steady state (bottom).

"Data from an eight-hour test run previously took us a week to analyze. Using MATLAB with Data Acquisition Toolbox and Instrument Control Toolbox, this time was reduced to 10 minutes."

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Data Acquisition Toolbox FAQs

Data Acquisition Toolbox provides apps and functions for configuring data acquisition hardware, reading data into MATLAB and Simulink, and writing data to DAQ analog and digital output channels.

The toolbox supports a variety of DAQ hardware, including USB, PCI, PCI Express, PXI, and PXI Express devices from National Instruments and other vendors, as well as built-in and external sound cards.

You can interactively configure hardware devices using apps such as the Analog Input Recorder app and Analog Output Generator app, then generate equivalent MATLAB code to automate your acquisition. You can also configure hardware programmatically using MATLAB functions.

Yes, you can analyze data as you acquire it or save it for post-processing, and you can also acquire data and generate signals simultaneously and synchronously.

The toolbox supports direct data collection from thermocouples, RTD devices, IEPE accelerometers and microphones, current-based sensors, and bridge-based sensors.

Yes, the toolbox enables reading data into Simulink models and writing data to DAQ analog and digital output channels.

Yes, you can synchronize operations with shared start triggers and shared scan clocks, simultaneously start all devices in a session, and synchronize operations on all connected devices.

The toolbox supports reading and writing NI TDMS format files for analysis in MATLAB.