M-Target for Simulink®

Both process (controlled system) as well as controller and control programs are modeled in Simulink^®. Using application specific toolboxes reduce the time spent developing the system. Numerous domain-specific products for physical modeling, such as Simscape Electrical^TM, Simscape Fluids^TM, Simscape Multibody^TM etc. make it easier to the respective process expert to create intuitive, reusable models of the multidomain physical system. For mathematical modeling, MATLAB^® and Simulink^® also offer a range of ready-to-use algorithms. Established service companies offer additional expertise in all domains.

The resulting complete model is now simulated offline on the computer. Comprehensive test series of all possible operating conditions or error situations are played through. Iterative model adjustments and new simulations follow seamlessly. The high-quality process/solver for numeric calculation of differential equations also prove themselves outside of simple analytical systems. Outstanding graphic depiction possibilities, such as curves and surface plots and even animated 3D CAD models, optimize the work sequence.

In this step, the process model is first separated from the actual control part. Then a mouse click triggers automatic code generation and preparation of the application program for the real-time system. This can be loaded directly from the Simulink^® user interface into the controller. Optionally, libraries can be generated for IEC 61131-3 programs or for C/C++, which are used in the respective development environments in order to create application programs.

The generated real-time program now runs in the controller. But it can exchange data directly with the Simulink^® user interface on the PC through the communication interfaces integrated during code generation. Then, in the so-called “external mode”, the actual process values (variables, channel values) are available directly online in Simulink^®. At the same time, variable values or internal parameters of the Simulink^® blocks can also be changed from there in the real-time program. In this mode, the Simulink^® model created by the developer is only the graphic front end for visualization of process values and assignments of parameters. The algorithms are executed on the control system. Using the real process environment, the discovered solution can be verified and further optimized. If necessary, users can switch to a prior process step and make changes there (iterative improvement).

As soon as a satisfactory result is achieved, the project planning PC can be separated from the controller – which continues to run autonomously in real time. All interfaces to parallel-running application programs on the same (or other) controller(s) remain in place. The published process variables can be depicted through the general engineering tool SolutionCenter or in visualizations.