The Mathworks is releasing Simulink Control Design 3.0, which is equipped with new features that automate the process of tuning proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers. These features are being released together with new PID Controller blocks in Simulink. Engineers can use these blocks to create PID controllers quickly, select a PID structure, include integrator anti-windup logic, convert from continuous-time to discrete-time domain, and prepare the controller for implementation on a processor using fixed-point arithmetic.
A new tuning algorithm in Simulink Control Design 3.0 automatically calculates PID controller gains based on desired phase margin and system bandwidth. A new user interface supports visual tuning of PID controllers for all types of plant models without requiring expert knowledge of control theory. The resulting design can then be verified through simulation in Simulink, which reduces the time needed for tuning and testing on expensive hardware prototypes. Engineers can then use Real-Time Workshop to generate code automatically for implementation on target microcontrollers.
Additional new features in Simulink Control Design 3.0 include:
* New functionality for advanced linear analysis: users can now compute the frequency response of Simulink models using simulation. This helps engineers more easily linearise Simulink models that have strong discontinuities or event-based dynamics, with no model modification required.
* Ability to specify custom linearisation for Simulink blocks and subsystems: engineers can, for example, mark a gain block as uncertain and linearise the model to create a corresponding uncertain system. Using the Robust Control Toolbox with this system, users can then design a controller that meets stability and performance requirements in the presence of uncertainty.
Simulink Control Design is available now for Microsoft Windows, Solaris, Linux and Macintosh platforms. USA list prices start at US$1000, with international pricing available via the website.
For more information, visit www.mathworks.com/products/simcontrol
