Simulink Real-Time introduced by MathWorks into its Simulink product family provides a complete end-to-end real-time simulation and testing solution to engineers by allowing them to build, test and run real-time applications from Simulink models on dedicated target computer hardware connected to their physical systems.
Available with the company’s Release 2014a (R2014a), Simulink Real-Time combines the functionality of xPC Target and xPC Target Embedded Option to support real-time simulation and testing including rapid control prototyping, DSP, vision system prototyping, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation.
Using Simulink Real-Time, engineers can extend their Simulink models with driver blocks, automatically generate real-time applications, define instrumentation, and perform interactive or automated runs on a dedicated target computer equipped with a real-time kernel, multicore CPU, I/O and protocol interfaces, and FPGAs. The addition of a high-resolution real-time target display as a new feature within Simulink Real-Time allows for a fully integrated user experience.
Stephane Marouani, Sales and Service Manager, MathWorks Australia explains that Simulink Real-Time is the latest step forward by MathWorks in delivering a complete software and hardware system for these applications. Engineers benefit from the ability to perform continuous real-time testing of their entire system without interruption; and build an integrated simulated system that realistically responds to its environment, resulting in reduced costs and improved quality of physical and control systems, including their software.
Simulink Real-Time was recently used by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works during the end-to-end design, analysis, simulation, testing, and deployment of the X-56A, a research aircraft built for the Air Force Research Lab’s Multi-Utility Aeroelastic Demonstrator program. The X-56A’s communication interfaces, signal conditioning, mode logic, navigation, and closed-loop flight controls were all designed in Simulink and prototyped and deployed using Simulink Real-Time. Independent researchers were also able to copy their flight control design directly into the Skunk Works’ Simulink model and build a new OFP with Simulink Real-Time.