Tuning and optimizing a MATLAB/Simulink Model - matlab

I would like to optimize output signals, by tuning some of the input parameters with ease (preferably in real-time) by looping the simulation of the model again and again at a speed where the speed of simulation can be controlled.

You have various options as far as I can see.
The first one is to have the parameters of interest defined as workspace variables, and then write a MATLAB script looping over those variables, with the use of the sim command to run the Simulink model programmatically. You can control the "speed" of the simulations with things such as step size used by the solver. If you want to combine this with optimizing parameters, you can put the call to sim in a cost function, and then pass this to the optimization routine.
The second option is to use an add-on product called Simulink Design Optimization, which provides a nice interface and uses optimization routines under the hood to loop over the parameters. This requires the Optimization Toolbox.

If you want to invest nothing in the creation of your user interface, you might want to use cell evaluation. Check out this link.
Increment Values in Code Sections
You can increment numbers within a section, rerunning that section
after every change. This helps you fine-tune and experiment with your
code.
To increment or decrement a number in a section:
Highlight or place your cursor next to the number. Right-click to open
the context menu. Select Increment Value and Run Section. A small
dialog box appears.
Input appropriate values in the / text box or / text box. Click
the , , , or button to add to, subtract from, multiply, or divide
the selected number in your section. MATLAB runs the section after
every click.

Related

Set step-time as a variable in Simulink exported code

I've developed a controller in Simulink and am trying to export it as a pure C class using Simulink coder for deployment on our microcontroller. We are using a fixed step solver in simulation, however, when the exported code gets used on our actual plant, the actual step size may change depending on load of the processor.
My concern is this: say I have set the fixed time step as 0.05s in simulation (and therefore the exported code assumes it is being executed every 0.05s), but then the microprocessor sometimes executes after 0.1s, and sometimes after 0.03s, etc. I think this would cause some unwanted behaviour.
Is there a way to have Simulink coder create a variable for step-time that we can adjust during run time? That is, measure how long it has been since the last execution, and then fill in the variable during each execution.
For an analogy, in videogame programming the update functions usually include a dt parameter so we know how long its been since the last frame.
The only solution I can find is to manually search and replace the step size in all the integrator blocks after the code has been generated. This, however, seems error prone.

import a continuous bitsream from workspace into simulink using "In" block and then buffer it using "buffer" block

how to import a bitsream form binary vector from workspace into simulink.Actually I have found that I can use simin block or In block but my binary vector is independant of time. I tried to use Const block and it works but afer that when I wanted to put my output in the Buffer block in simulink, it didn't work because the input is continuous and not discrete. So I am asking if it's a way to add time to my binary uni-dimensional without having any influence on the result?and how can I do it?
Or is there another way to import this date to avoid this problem with Buffer block?
Your screenshot shows your constant block to have a sample time of Inf. As the error message suggest, you need to change that to a discrete sample time. In addition, you should also:
check your model is using a fixed-step solver
check what time step you are using for your chosen fixed-step solver (ideally the same as your constant).
You can have multi-rate models, but you need to manage the rate transitions with Rate Transition blocks. For more details on sample times, see the documentation, in particular how to view sample time information in a Simulink model. You should probably also have a quick look at the Choose a Solver section.

Any Tic Toc function in Simulink for embedded blocks

I have a system with some embedded Matlab blocks where I'd like to perform some actions after a certain amount of time, in this case turn on lights and switches in an interface to which I send signals from Simulink.
The problem is that I thought I'd use "tic"-"toc" and "while" in a Matlab function block to perform these actions, say one parameter becoming 1 after 5 seconds, the following parameter becoming 1 after 12 seconds and so on, but I noticed that tic-toc apparently doesn't work in Simulink for embedded functions.
Is there any similar functions that could be used in Simulink for embedded functions or is there any other way to do this?
Edit: I've tried to get the clock's time as well, but it's a growing value. Is there any way to "lock" the time as a parameter when the block's function is executed?
You shouldn't be using absolute time in an embedded system, which is at least one of the reasons why tic-toc and clock from MATLAB don't work with Simulink Coder.
You should create your own counter, which you start and stop when you need to.
This is pretty easy to do using a Unit Delay and Summation block.
If you need to be able to enable and/or reset the counter then use the appropriate block from the Additional Discrete library.

Simulink From Workspace: can't use timestamps from matrix

I'm using the simulink block From Workspace to read in some audio data provided by a script. I have formatted the data in a matrix with 2 columns, the first is the timestamp and the second is the data.
In the configuration paramaters, I have specified Fixed-Step and Discrete solver. The Start time and Stop also need to be configured manually and don't seem to come from the data.
Also, in the From Workspace block configuration, I need to specify the sample time (1/44100) or I get a warning if I specify -1, to inherit from the data and then get strange sample times.
So, how can I get simulink to use only the sample times in the matrix and use the first and last timestamps as the start and stop time of the simulation?
You should be able to do what you want by doing the following:
Firstly note that your problem is by definition not fixed step, hence you cannot use a fixed-step solver, which by definition is ... fixed-step.
You must use a variable step solver.
Assuming your (2 column) input data is called simin then set the start and stop times to be simin(1,1) and simin(end,1) respectively.
In your From Workspace block set the sample time to be 0 (which should have been the default).
Also de-select the Interpolate data option; and set "Form the output after final data value by:" to zero (you won't be using anything past the end of your data set so this should be OK.
Then you need to tell the solver to take additional steps to those that it would naturally want to take.
Do this on the Data Import/Export pane of the Model Configuration Parameters.
Near the bottom of the pane there is a selection box and an edit box for doing this.
Note however that this does not prevent the solver from taking steps at other time points, it just forces it to take additional steps at the times you specify.
But because you have your From WOrkspace block to not interpolate this shouldn't be a problem either. You should put simin(:,1) in here so that the solver is guaranteed to take steps at the time points in your input data.
Note that if you want an input block that only samples at the time points in the simin time vector then the only way to do this is to write an S-function that uses the mdlGetTimeOfNextVarHit method to tell the solver what the next sample time (for this block) should be.

is there a way in Simulink to use the same set of blocks on multiple signals (without copying those blocks)?

I am implementing some head tracking and I get 2 matrices of horizontal velocities. (A vector field decomposed into vertical and horizontal velocities). For each of these matrices I do some math to calculate the actual head tracking.
My question is, is there a way to do that math (which is a set of blocks) on both matrices without copying the math blocks onto each signal?
It's hard to explain so here's a screen shot of my model:
You can see that the "complex to real-imag" block has 2 outputs (this is the little one in the middle). The mean block and the integrator circuit then calculate the head velocity and position for the real matrix (horizontal position). I want to do exactly the same routine on the imaginary matrix (vertical direction). Obviously I can just copy the blocks, but surely there must be a better way of doing it? In a way I'm looking for an analogue of a loop in "normal programming" like C or something, where a block of code is executed several times on different inputs.
You can create a Library in Simulink that contains code you can reference multiple times.
Go to File -> New -> Library. In the model window that opens, you can create any number of subsystems with whatever code you want. Then, just drag a subsystem from the library into your model. The subsystem will now appear in your model with a little arrow icon in the lower left. This indicates that the subsystem in the model is a link. You can drag as many instances of the library subsystem into your model as you wish, just as you can call a function as many times as you wish in any other programming language.
If you right-click on the subsystem in your model, you can select "Link Options -> Go To Library Block" to get back to the library. You can make changes in your model and propogate them back to the library as well.
One way to easily reuse a set of blocks is to create a subsystem out of them. In your case, you can create a subsystem by grouping existing blocks, then simply copy and paste your subsystem to use it for your imaginary output.
Although potentially more complicated, you could also look into using mux signals to avoid having to copy parts of your model.