User`s guide

1 Introduction to the Real-Time Workshop
1-10
You can monitor signals using Scope blocks while running external mode.
Simply connect Scope blocks to signals that you want to monitor. You can then
view signals changing as you tune parameters on-the-fly.
Rapid Prototyping for Control Systems
Rapid prototyping for control systems is similar to digital signal processing,
with one exception: in control systems design, it is necessary to develop a model
of your plant prior to algorithm development in order to simulate closed loop
performance. Once a simulation has been developed that models the plant with
sufficient accuracy, the rapid prototyping process for control system design
continues in much the same manner as digital signal processing design.
Rapid prototyping begins with developing block diagram plant models of
sufficient fidelity for preliminary system design and simulation. Once
simulations show encouraging system performance, the controller block
diagram is separated from the plant mode and I/O device drivers are attached.
Using automatic code generation, the entire system is immediately converted
to real-time executable code. The executable can be automatically loaded onto
target hardware, allowing the implementation of real-time control systems in
very short time.
Modeling Systems in Simulink
You can use MATLAB and Simulink to design, test, and analyze a model of
your system. The first step in the design process is to develop a plant model.
You can build models involving plant, sensor, and actuator dynamics using the
Simulink collection of linear and nonlinear components. Because Simulink is
customizable, you can further simplify modeling by creating custom blocks and
block libraries from continuous and discrete-time components.
You can also use the Systems Identification Toolbox to analyze test data to
develop an empirical plant model, or the Symbolic Math Toolbox to translate
the equations of the plant dynamics into state-variable form.
Analyze Results of the Simulation
You can use MATLAB and Simulink to analyze the results produced from the
model you developed in the first step of the rapid prototyping process. It is at
this stage that you can design and add a controller to your plant.