Real-Time Debugging and Testing a Control System Using Matlab

In this paper two methods for real-time debugging and testing of a control system are proposed. The basic instruments used are personal computers, a Visual C++ compiler and MATLAB including the GUI Design Environment, Simulink, real-time workshop, xPC target, and some relevant hardware. For the first method, MATLAB functions are used to build a control system debugging and testing environment. This method is flexible and only one RS-232 serial cable is used. Limited programming is used for the second method and ready-made blocks in MATLAB/Simulink are used to build the simulation environment and communication channel. In both methods, the parameters of the emulation system can be modified online, important graphs can be drawn in real time and relevant data can be easily saved for the later analysis. As can be seen from the presented examples, both techniques are easily realized.