Leuven, Belgium - LMS, the engineering innovation company, has integrated an interface for the National Instruments LabVIEW Real-Time module into the latest LMS Imagine.Lab AMESim platform release. This new interface extends the AMESim real-time hardware and software interface portfolio giving the end user more options to control the design process.

With this integrated interface, LMS Imagine.Lab AMESim users will be able to export AMESim models into National Instruments LabVIEW real-time test benches - creating an actual physical system around the AMESim model. Users in the automotive, aerospace and off-highway industries will appreciate this new feature when designing and validating engine control unit (ECU) strategies using hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test benches.

LabVIEW is a graphical programming platform and development environment from National Instruments. LabVIEW applications range from control design and real-time control to graphical interfaces, data management and data acquisition cards for industrial processes.

LMS Imagine.Lab AMESim simulations can be started directly from the LabVIEW program, known as the LabVIEW virtual instrument. Values can be exchanged between the LabVIEW virtual instrument and the AMESim models during the simulation. Common components, such as buttons and other graphic elements, can be used to develop appropriate graphical user interfaces.

''This new real-time interface in Rev 8A takes LMS Imagine.Lab AMESim a step further. It is a simple but powerful way to export a model to real-time targets and lets users take advantage of NI software features such as the LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation module and LabVIEW Real-Time module,'' explained Denis Fargeton, Product Development Director at LMS Imagine.

''The new interface makes it easy to transfer complex mechatronic models developed with LMS Imagine.Lab AMESim into the LabVIEW software platform and then deploy these models to National Instrument real-time targets,'' commented Javier Gutierrez, Product Marketing Manager at National Instruments.

About LMS:

LMS is an engineering innovation partner for companies in the automotive, aerospace and other advanced manufacturing industries. With approximately 30 years of experience, LMS helps customers get better products to market faster and turn superior process efficiency into key competitive advantages. With a unique combination of 1D and 3D simulation software, testing systems and engineering services, LMS tunes into mission critical engineering attributes, ranging from system dynamics, structural integrity and sound quality to durability, safety and power consumption. With multi-domain solutions for thermal, fluid dynamics, electrical and mechanical system behavior, LMS can address the complex engineering challenges associated with intelligent system design. Thanks to our technology and dedicated people, LMS has become the partner of choice of more than 5,000 manufacturing companies worldwide. LMS is certified to ISO9001:2000 quality standards and operates through a network of subsidiaries and representatives in key locations around the world.

For more information on LMS, visit www.lmsintl.com.

About National Instruments:

National Instruments (www.ni.com) is transforming the way engineers and scientists design, prototype and deploy systems for measurement, automation and embedded applications. NI empowers customers with off-the-shelf software such as NI LabVIEW and modular cost-effective hardware, and sells to a broad base of more than 25,000 different companies worldwide, with no one customer representing more than 3 percent of revenue and no one industry representing more than 10 percent of revenue. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has more than 4,800 employees and direct operations in nearly 40 countries. For the past nine years, FORTUNE magazine has named NI one of the 100 best companies to work for in America. Readers can obtain investment information from the company's investor relations department by calling +1 (512) 683-5090, e-mailing nati@ni.com or visiting www.ni.com/nati. LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI and ni.com are trademarks of National Instruments.