Putting MATLAB in the loop
What this project is all about
The objective of this project was to include MATLAB/Simulink in the control loop. The aim is to use MATLAB/Simulink to design a system controller in a real-time application. Even though the MATLAB/Simulink is a commonly used tool, special hardware is required to allow external connection and real-time performance. In this website we describe the simulink interface board we designed for this purpose. Our board is an affordable solution for any engineer or researcher that wishes to connect a real-world system with a MATLAB/Simulink controller.
The use of the Simulink Interface Board allows:
- an easy and affordable way to implement experimental demostrations of the control theory
- to get experimental results of an algorithm designed in Simulink
- to have real-time observation of your system
- to implement a prototype
In this page you will find what you need to create your own low-cost Simulink Interface Board. To demonstrate the use of Simulink Interface Board, we built a real system (Aero-Thrust Pendulum) as an attempt to design its real-time controller in Simulink.
Simulink Interface Board
The figure illustrates how the Simulink Interface Board interacts with a real-time, real system. The board is indipendent of the system actuators and sensors. It can be customized to much the specific hardware of the system. More information on the board here
Aero-Thrust Pendulum System
In the following figure, the Aero-Thrust Pendulum System is illustrated. This is the system we attempt to control, in an effort to show the usage of the board. In general, the system is a pendulum equipped with a propeller at the end. The propeller is powered by a motor. In such a system, the angle of the pendulum (system output) is altered by the propeller thrust, generated by the motor (the system input). Therefore, the controller has to constantly adjust the motor power in an effort to keep the pendulum at a desired angle. More information on the system here
