matlab expo 2019 · matlab expo 2019 creating an embedded product with a very small development...

2Infinity Control Solutions

MATLAB EXPO 2019Creating an embedded product with

a very small development team

Neil RutlandPrincipal Consultant

Brendan JoinerSenior Control Applications Engineer

30 May 2019


Overview

• Personal experience creating embedded products

• MATLAB and Simulink experience

• What next?

– Design embedded products that seem simple because they

just work

– Sophisticated algorithms under the hood

– With a small team…

30 May 2019Proprietary

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Past - Embedded products

• Control of vibration in flexible rotors

– Using Active Magnetic Bearings

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• Submarine autopilots

• Real-time simulator


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• MBDA Meteor Air-to-Air missile

– G&C lead autopilot & homing guidance

– Large teams

– Model based design and auto-code generation

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• Auto-steering agricultural vehicles

– Model based design

– Medium size team

– No auto-code generation


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https://www.geosurf.net/products/pf/


Past - MATLAB & Simulink

• Numerical analysis and plotting data

• FEM flexible rotor

• Control system design

• Requirements specification

• Vehicle modelling

– Underwater, air and on ground

• Actuator modelling


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Past - MATLAB & Simulink

• Hydraulic modelling

• Sensor modelling, e.g., IMUs, seekers, GNSS

• Trials analysis

• GUIs visualising system performance

• Symbolic calculations

• Timesheets…anything and everything


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Past – MATLAB & Simulink

• Meteor project

– Modelling – auto-code generation for Simulink models

into Development Model (DM)

– G&C – algorithm design plus Algorithm Development

Model (ADM)

– G&C specified algorithms using STATEMATE by I-Logix

• Auto-coded into DM

• Duplicating algorithms running in ADM

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Past – MATLAB & Simulink

• Next MBDA project

– See MATLAB EXPO 2015

• Accelerating FASGW(H) / ANL Image Processing with Model-

Based Design

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Now – small team

• MATLAB & Simulink established and mature tool for

developing algorithms in embedded products

• Previously had multiple large teams

– 10’s G&C, Modelling and Software engineers to develop a

product

• Now one small team can do the same

– Using MathWorks tools…


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Now – small team

• Another view is allowing development

without Systems Engineering

– Why do we use Systems Engineering?


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Now – small team

• Simulator Mk1

– Simulink Desktop Real-Time

– Simulink Coder

– Vehicle Network Toolbox

– Running in Windows 10 with USB adapters

• Mk2 ported to ARM embedded platform

– Embedded Coder

– Initially M3 and now using M7


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Now – small team

• Simulator used for HWIL development of RotoMate

product


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Now – small team

• Return On Investment (ROI) – Country Maths

– Annual cost for The MathWorks tools $12K AUD

• MATLAB & Simulink

• MATLAB Coder, Simulink Coder and Embedded Coder

– Use existing target with GNU Tools

– Development effort for drivers, e.g. CAN, LED, USB

– One s/w engineer $70-120K AUD depending on experience

– ROI = $(70K+120K)/2 - $20K - $12K = $63K per year


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S/w engineer Driver

dev

MathWorks

tools


Future directions

• Develop algorithms using MathWorks tools

– Sell in embedded products

– Sell software modules/libraries for customers to use in their

products

– Keep the team small using the right tools

– Focus on the algorithms


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THE END


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matlab expo 2019 · matlab expo 2019 creating an embedded product with a very small development...

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