Tip #11: MBD Toolbox - Change position/speed/current controller gains in real-time
Using FreeMASTER you can change the variables in real-time for any running system.
A good example is the the need for tunning the controllers (position/speed/current).
By default the Simulink PID controller block uses constant values that can not be changed from outside during simulation or execution. But, if you change the Controller Parameters SOURCE to EXTERNAL you can overcome that limitation and you may change the gains on the fly.
The Simulink model will become:
Now, you can add the gains in the FreeMASTER tool and tune your controller in real time.
This way you have no excuse for obtaining a "perfect: system response.
Tip #10: MBD Toolbox - Timings & Interrupts
Did you know that all the blocks that are not coupled with a specific function call/event are still executed on a default interrupt based routine called Model Step Function?
This ***_step() that is triggered based on the settings from Solver/Fixed-Step size
This is a code snippet:
There is a conversion mechanism between Simulink Fixed Step Size value to the MCU System Tick that takes into consideration the MCU Clock Frequency.
Next time you design your model, keep in mind that all the generated code is called on a interrupt. Only FreeMASTER callback for data visualization is called on main() infinite loop.
Tip #9: MBD Toolbox - Write to/Read from any address within the microprocessor address space
Do you need fast access to any memory mapped register of a particular peripheral within the microprocessor address space ? Do you need to perform an initialization of any specific peripheral register ?
With MBD Toolbox and DataMemWrite/DataMemRead Simulink blocks these tasks are very easy. Just check the Reference Manual for the address you need to set and give a try with MBD Toolbox dedicated blocks. No extra code is needed.
Hi,Daniel,
I have some problems again! please help me.I use 'Automotive Math and Motor Control Library' in simulink to add a module such as 'GMCLIB_SvmStd_F32',and then compile in simulink,and my compiler Selection is 'S32 Design Studio',but it could not complie,the error code as below picture:
what's the reason?Please!
Yuyuan Wang.
Tip #8: MBD Toolbox - Use Atomic Subsystem to create stand-alone callable functions
Have you ever faced a situation where you had to read and understand a large amount of C-code generated from a large Simulink model where all the code is inline? Then you probably spend a lot of time to figure out that are the input/output and local data.
Did you know you can transform parts of the model into Atomic Subsystems and then configure the Code Generation to call Reusable Functions ?
Let's consider the following example that consists in a PI Speed Controller and a Speed Estimator:
Choosing to model the MotorSpeedController as an Atomic Subsystem gives you access to Block Parameters (Subsystem)/Code Generation where you can set different code generation behaviors
Selecting Reusable Function option the generated code will become much more clear.
Here is the snapshot of the reusable function call (on the left) vs Inline Code (on the right):
Tip #7: MBD Toolbox - Measuring Code Execution Time
Using Model Based Design Toolbox, measuring the execution time of any routine is easy. Just drag-and-drop the Profiler Function block into your models or subsystems you want to check for execution time and read that output values in real time with FreeMASTER or send it over UART/CAN/etc
You can find the block within the Utility Blocks group:
Tip #6: MBD Toolbox - Use build_exception.mat to find out why the model failed
Have you ever faced issues when trying to build your Simulink models and the build console reported something like "Error: Errors occurred - aborting" without any other additional information? Isn't this frustrating?
Did you know you can navigate to the build folder and search for the build_exception.mat file that offers you very detailed information about the error stack, cause and messages that were catch during the build procedure.
By simply loading this build_exception.mat file into the MATLAB workspace you could save a lot of time.
Here is a snapshot of what to expect when loading this file.
Tip #5: MBD Toolbox - Use S-Function to call your custom code anywhere in the model
Using the S-Function Builder and the Mode Based Design Toolbox - Add Custom Code capabilities (Tip #3) you can call your hand written functions in any place within your models.
This way you can enhance the Simulink model with multiple capabilities that may not be fully covered by Toolbox Blocks.
Using this approach you can interlace Simulink automatically generated C with your own legacy code.
Here is an example how to achieve this task: https://community.nxp.com/thread/450048
Are you using legacy code in the Simulink modelling ? Leave a comment below with the issues you have faced and how you resolved it.
Tip #4: MBD Toolbox - Show Block Execution Order
In case you want to enable/disable the display of the Simulink Execution Order (discussed in Tip #1) there is an easy way to do that: Display -> Blocks -> Sorted Execution Order
Why would someone hide the execution order number ? Can you think of such scenario ? Leave a reply below.
Hello,
It does not matter were you place the actual file. All that matters is the MATLAB has that path into it's default search paths. You can add the path to the default ones in MATLAB using:
Tip #2: MBD Toolbox - Model Workspace vs. Matlab Workspace
Have you ever faced this kind of Simulink errors ?
Usually, the Simulink models refers some parameters that are present in the Matlab workspace. If the workspace is cleared then you need to reload the parameters again form m-file or mat-file.
For some cases it is easy to keep these parameters in the model workspace. This way you can share the Simulink model without any additional m-files/mat-files
Just right click on the Simulink canvas and select Explore:
Then, add any parameters in the Model Workspace.
Tip #1: MBD Toolbox - Block Priorities
Did you know that each MBD Toolbox/Simulink block have a Priority field - where you can specify the order of block/generated code execution?
You can use this option to alter the program flow and optimize the application.
E.g. From this: reading input data one by one as 8.0, 8.3, 8.6
to this: reading input data one of the other 8.0, 8.1, 8.2
