LabVIEW-based Human Machine Interface for an Automated Incubator

Microorganisms are temperature sensitive and as such they are usually kept in temperature-controlled chambers. Many existing incubators use Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) as temperature monitors which does not give users full monitoring and control of the incubator. This research develops a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) for an automated microbial incubator to enhance user’s experience by allowing them full temperature monitoring and control without having to open the incubator from time to time. The HMI is developed with the National Instruments Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW). Temperature acquisition and control were achieved using the Atmega 328 microcontroller on an Arduino board which was interfaced with LabVIEW. Tests performed reveal that the incubator was able to maintain a temperature between 23o C and 30o C while providing information for users through LCD, Arduino serial, and the developed LabVIEW-based user interface. The LabVIEW interface was able to provide a graphical display of incubator temperature rise and fall on a real-time basis thus enhancing users’ experience more than LCD or serial monitor. This work will add value to microbial study enabling researchers’ efficiency and productivity.