Simulink Basics: Blocks, Signals and the Library Browser

Hi all. So now we are going to discuss about the Simulink. Earlier we discussed about the MATLAB. So we'll have a small recap about what are the things which we have discussed in the MATLAB. In the case of MATLAB, we discussed about the different windows and its applications, how we can be able to use the windows in the MATLABs. And we saw about the different syntax and symbols which are being used in the MATLAB. And we discussed how we have to declare the variable and how we need to declare the vector and how we need to declare the array.

And moreover, we discussed about how we can be able to do the indexing in the vector as well as array. And followed by that, we discussed about the conditional statements like IF and switch case and loops like for loop and while loop. And we saw some examples for those things and we discussed about the functions. What is the role of the function? How we have to declare the function in the MATLAB? And using plots, how we can be able to make a plot in the MATLAB for the values which we have obtained after the processing.

Now, we are going to move on to the Simulink. So, in the Simulink, let's see what are the things which we are going to learn. At first, we should know what is mean by the Simulink and how we can be able to develop the Simulink models. And in the case of the Simulink, we can be able to solve the linear equations as well as differential equations. So, the differential equation, linear equation can be solved with them by developing the models. So, how it is possible for us to develop the models for the equations, that also we are going to understand.

And we are going to discuss about how the solver is going to involve in the operation of the Simulink. So, what is the role of the solver and how it will work? So, those things we will study in this Simulink. And what is mean by the masking, about the masking also we are going to discuss. And we are going to discuss about the different types of signal connections which are available in the Simulink. So, let's start with the Simulink. So, Simulink actually, whatever things which we have learned in the MATLAB, the same programming which are pre-inbuilt and the program is converted into your blocks.

And what we can able to do, we can able to simply drag the box and paste it in the working window. And we can simply connect the blocks to the different inputs. And during the runtime even, if you want means, we can change the input and correspondingly the output will be varied. So, if we are going to use the blocks which are available in the Simulink, from where we will get means, we will get all the blocks from the library browser. There will be a browser called Simulink library browser.

And in that Simulink library browser, we will have many blocks which used to be there. And from those blocks, we will get the required blocks. And behind every block, there will be a set of codings. And that set of codings will be executed whenever we are just importing the blocks to our working window. Now, why this have came? What is the purpose of having this Simulink in the sense? If you are going to use the Simulink, the pre-existing programs which are being created by the MATHWORKS, you can able to import directly.

Instead of typing the programs and creating a motor model or instead of typing a program and creating a converter model, what you can do, you can simply import the motor block from the Simulink. And when you are importing this motor block itself, they will have the provision to change the parameters which are applicable for the motor. So if you are going to change the parameter with the graphical user interface, it will automatically change the program. And correspondingly, it will show the performance of the motor. So actually, even though if you are going to look over the Simulink in a user interface manner, behind each block, there will be a set of codes only.

Let's see how we need to open the Simulink in the MATLAB and how we can be able to access the library browser and how it is possible for us to create the models using the Simulink. So we will see some examples. Based on the examples, we will get better understanding from the Simulink. Now, we will see how we can be able to open the Simulink model and how we can be able to create the models using the Simulink. So as you can be able to see, I have shown you the home screen of the MATLAB.

So in the home screen of the MATLAB, we are having the option like Simulink, right? So if I am going to click this option, I will have the options like Simulink, blank model, blank subsystem, blank library and blank project. So now I would like to create only a simple model. So I am just going for this blank model. So when I am clicking the blank model, it will create the model and it will open a window like this. See, so this is the model window and this is my workspace.

Okay. So in this workspace only, what we are going to do, we are going to create our Simulink model. So how we can be able to create the Simulink models means there are two possibilities are there. Either if I know what are the components which I require and what are the components which is already available in the library, then what I need to do, I can simply double click the screen and start typing like source. So if I am going to type the source itself, see what are the source which are available, it is showing.

So suppose if I am going to select the voltage source, it will load and it will load that component. Okay. This is one of the options. The source has been loaded, right? So like this, I can be able to load the source or else what I can be able to do is, I can go and click this library browser. As you can be able to see this library browser, if I am going to click this, it will open the library browser for me. So under this library browser, you can be able to see several libraries and several blocks which are being grouped under a different, different common name.

So this all blocks will come in the Simulink. Let's have a glance over what are the different things, different blocks which are available over here. So the first is going to be the commonly used blocks. Under commonly used blocks, we will have the bus creator, bus selector and constant block. So the constant block, we will use it as like a source. And data type conversion block is there to convert the data. And a delay block is there. Then dmux is there. And discrete time integrator is there.

And gain block is there. Ground. Then input port. This IN1 is the input port, integrator, logical operator, mux and output port. And similarly, for doing the arithmetical operations, we are having the product block. So like this, we are having several blocks which we use often. So such kind of frequently used blocks will be grouped together in the commonly used blocks. So when you are going to move to the next, so that will be the continuous block. So in the case of continuous block, these blocks were used for analyzing the continuous signals.

The signals which used to vary in continuous to the time. So such kind of signals we will use over here. And if you are going to click over the dashboard, in the case of dashboard, if you are going to use the graphical user interface like this customizable blocks or else if you want to use any lamps or push button or if you want to insert any image like that case means you can go and look over the dashboard. For creating the dashboards for the users, we can able to use this dashboard blocks.

And like the continuous block, if the signal is going to be a discontinuous or discrete, in that case, I have to go for this discontinuous block. And specifically for the discrete alone, using the Z transform, if I want to play something means I can use these blocks. And if I want to go for the logical operation or bitwise operation, logical operations like and, and you can able to use the relation operations like greater than or less than or equal to like that, you can able to use.

And many bitwise operations can be also performed. So these things can be available over the logical and bit operation. And up to up next, we are having the lookup tables. So in the lookup tables, you can enter the data in a data set manner and that data can be accessed easily and followed by that. You are having the math operations in the math operations for doing the basic mathematical operations like squaring and add and dot is for the multiplication division is there. So like this, many blocks will be there.

So whenever you are going to place your cursor over a block, it will show what are the purpose where we can able to use this block and what. It used to serve. So these details will be available. So this math operation will be completely used for doing the mathematical operation and followed by that. If you are going to do the matrix operations for that matrix operation, we are having the separate blocks. So if I'm going to, if I just, for example, I'm showing you if I want to add this transpose block to my workspace.

So what I have to do, either I can double click this or else I can simply right click and add block to that specific model. So if I'm going to click that. So if I'm going to click that. So if I'm going to click that. Automatically it will be added over here to this model block. Okay. So these are the methodology we can able to use for adding the blocks. See, the transverse block have been added. So like this, I can able to add any blocks from the library browser. Okay. Then if I want to show some intimation to the user like messaging or else if I want to show something or receive something from the user means I can use the message and events blocks.

And if I want to verify or evaluate certain models that I can able to use the blocks which are available under the model verification. And if I want to verify complete things or if I want to give the data of the model completely means I have to go for this model-wise utilities. And just in case if I want to use the output port or input port or if we want to produce a subsystem in a user interface manner or else if I want to create a predefined in a subsystem also I have to use this.

And if I want to use the signal. So in the case of signal processing if I want to do the process signal then I can able to use these signal attributes and signal routing is for channelizing the signals. So in which way the signal has to move and in which flow the signal has to flow. So those things will be given in the signal routing and things are the blocks where we can able to terminate. So the major and important block which we always use is going to be the scope. So if I am going to double delete the scope the scope will be coming.

So for what purpose we will use the scope means we will use the scope for displaying the output. Okay. And apart from that we are having the display also. Then we are having the sources. Different sources are there. So these sources are the signals which are used to generate the other signals. Like clock pulses are there. Clock pulse is there. Then constant is there. And if I want to produce some repeating sequence I can able to use the repeating sequence. These two things are there. Interpolated repeating sequence is there. And normal repeating sequence is there. And if I want to produce a pulses and I can be able to use the pulse generator.

And for string if I want to process a string like words I can use the string process. Suppose if I want to create my own block I don't want to depend on any other blocks means I can be able to use these user different blocks too. So let us see one example in a simple manner. So I am going to take a constant block. So if I am going to take the constant block in a symlink it is showing like this. So I can double click this block.

So if I double click this block I can able to enter the constant value. Say if I am going to give 100. So I am just giving the value of the constant block as 100. And I just want to know whether it is having the value of 100. So what I have to do I have to take one display. Since I know the blocks I am just typing and taking. If you don't know what is the block name what you can do you can simply go to the library browser and take the blocks.

Okay. Suppose if you want to connect these two blocks. See like this I can able to connect. This is one methodology. Otherwise what I can able to do is with control I can select this block. Then with this holding the control. If I am going to select the next block automatically the connection will be reduced. And if I want to just look if I am going to click over the workspace the label that is which block is this. That is unknown to me. So if you want to know and I want to show what is this block means I can able to click over this. So if I click over this it will show the block name full time.

So all time this block name will be visible. And suppose if I don't want to run this block means I can comment it out. Actually we have seen the comment in the MATLAB with the percentage right. In the same way we can able to comment this also using this comment out. If I am going to click this this block will not work. So how I can able to check whether this symlink model is proper and it is working or not means I am having the option for running this model.

So if I am going to click this run it will undergo the debugging. As you can able to see here it will verify whether the model is correct or not. After doing the verification it will run. See I have given the value as an input to the constant and I have got the output in the display as 100. So whatever value which I have given over here it will be reflected over this thing. So like this I can simulate any sort of models and I can simulate any sort of equations using the symulink.

So I think you got a familiarization over the symulink model through the demonstration. Now let's see what are the things which we have covered in this video. So in this video we have seen what is mean by the symulink and how we can able to create the symulink model. And we learned how we can able to import the different components to the workspace and how we can able to use the workspace in the symulink model. And we learned about what are the different components which are available in the symulink library browser.

Now in the next video we are going to discuss some examples for the symulink.