Modeling & Simulation of Dynamic Systems – a Tutorial

A brief overview of modeling and simulation (m& s) technology is presented, describing the development of m&s in a variety of industrial contexts, such as aerospace, manufacturing, and process industries. Typically this occurs in phases: introduction of m& s, shaping m&s to meet an industry’s needs, and maturation. It is demonstrated that in industry after industry m& s has become increasingly sophisticated, increasingly utilized, and increasingly important – to the point that in industries where m&s is mature it is one of the keys to product development, product improvement, and, in the end, increased competitive position and profit margin. The technical side of m& s is also discussed, in detail. Important points include the selection of modeling and simulation methods for various application areas, and the state-of-the-art in simulating dynamic systems. Emphasis is placed on rigorous techniques and selecting the most appropriate method for a given problem. The final goal is to aid in making m&s an effective tool for achieving the benefits mentioned above for agricultural and bio-industrial systems.