Model-Based Design Development for Embedded Systems

In today market where devices and systems are smart, compact, durable, customizable, and maintainable. The race for developing first to market intelligent systems that have enhanced and smarter features  is the key to stay ahead on the competition game and deliver added value products .

These systems are usually embedded with powerful microchips or formally know as embedded system.  Let’s get a quick look at embedded systems.

A Quick Look at Embedded Systems

Before we understand the model-based design approach for the embedded system, let us have a quick discussion on Embedded Systems.

Today, this is not possible finding a smart device without embedded systems inside. Any device equipped with an embedded system is always different from another in terms of features and functionalities. However, the difference comes with affordable prices. As demand for the compact device is increasing, the size of chip or processor inside is also getting small. This is necessary for monitoring the entire embedded control systems and design processes too for optimizing the overall design of a system.

Here, the model-based design approach is proven effective to understand the working of different parts of the embedded system like microcontrollers, algorithms, processors, code of control systems etc. The approach also helps in addressing complex issues that may arise later during the lifecycle of embedded systems through prototyping and model simulation.

Further, the model-based design approach helps to verify or validate through continuous testing within a simulation environment. It includes various parameters like system behavior, cost of the product, functional behavior, optimizing product deployment process and more. However, many organizations are taking the benefit of modeling or simulation in an ad hoc manner to enjoy potential verification benefits.

Why s-hould you adopt a model-based design approach?

Traditionally, the design information was managed or transferred in text format only. Engineers need to design an embedded control system manually and it was highly time-consuming and error-prone too. There was only a little scope that changes could be implemented correctly. This is the reason why embedded model-based design approach came into existence that is quite maintainable, customizable, recyclable etc.

With embedded model-based designing, engineers need to focus on modeling, simulation, and virtual prototyping where the whole system can be visualized clearly even before it is manufactured and available for testing. Here are a few advantages of the model-based design approach when it is used along embedded control systems.

• The team can verify the overall system functional requirements that are necessary for the system design in a shared simulation environment.
• The controllers could be positioned quickly on the PLC hardware.
• New opportunities are given for engineering low-power control products.

In a few cases, the system functional requirements are not clear when migrating from traditional approach to current model-based design approach for embedded systems. However, the appropriate planning, analysis, and the proper allocation of resources always help in addressing all the design issues for an effective model-based design implementation.

How Model-based design works?

Establish the mechatronic system V-Model Technique

Leveraging the advanced processor functionalities to ease the system designing in the market of embedded systems, embedded software systems can always be developed using the mechatronic system V-Model in digital motor controllers, aircraft avionics, medical devices, and more. A model-based design typically involves the steps as shown in the diagram above. Let us understand the concept better with multiple terms that are used frequently for the embedded system designing.

Modeling – The system modeling activities for an embedded model involves the creation of mathematical representation and functional behavior of a system. It helps in designing complex control systems with ease and makes signal processing easy within a model-based design framework. It is further divided into two categories. These are Functional Modeling and the Implementation Modeling.

For the Functional Modeling, a model will describe the various system functional requirements of an embedded system or the subsystem associated with the main system. On the other hand, the implementation modeling will describe the control algorithms, systems, sub-systems, components, and a particular environment in which an embedded system will be designed.

Simulation – With continuous testing and control algorithms, the real-time computational model can be designed or refined. Simulation is the process of designing virtual prototyping for testing purpose. Here, the complex system integration is managed by numerical integrations. Ideally, there are two types of environments in the simulation. These are –

In fixed-step solvers, you could use explicit methods to compute the next continuous state at fixed time intervals. The variable-step solvers don’t lend themselves well to deterministic real-time situations, so they should be used carefully.

Rapid Prototyping – Here, you could create a prototype faster in a cost-effective manner. It makes the signal processing easy, verifying the design of a system at early stages, and evaluating the design trade-offs too.

Embedded Deployment – This is a detailed software designing activity performed to convert the controller model to an executable embedded deployment.

In-the-loop Testing – This is necessary to compare the dynamic outputs of a model with data collected by multiple sources and here software-in-loop testing is taken more effective.

Embedded model-based Design tools

Moving ahead, let us discuss the model-based design tools to provide greater flexibility to engineers.  A few popular names are MATLAB or Simulink etc. These tools are responsible for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of an embedded system and minimizing the overall design time in a simulation environment.

How are these tools helpful?

• They help in streamlining the verification or testing workflows.
• They help in solving design issues with complicated prototypes.
• They help in accelerating the product developments.
• They help in reducing the overall deployment time too.

What is the tool for modeling?

Simulink is a tool for modeling with an interactive graphical environment. The primary objective of this tool is designing graphical block diagrams, drawing models, and a customizable set of libraries etc.

What is the tool for simulation?

MATLAB is the tool for simulation that is needed for running a group of simulation. It is based on the mathematical integration method for efficient technical computing where complicated problems and their respective solutions are presented in the form of mathematical notations.

Verdict

With this discussion, we come to an end of this article. Now, you know everything about embedded model-based design approach, its benefits, techniques, and tools etc. with a smoother adoption of the model-based design, engineers can always perform at maximum levels of speed, they could be more competent and able to add extra quality in embedded control systems.