How to Run an AMESim model with the RT-LAB Platform

Transcription

1 How to Run an AMESim model with the RT-LAB Platform This document will describe how to run an AMESim model in real-time with the RT-LAB platform, or integrate it as a part of RT-LAB real-time model. 1. Software and Operation System Requirement: 1.1 Mandatory Software: MATLAB: R2008a, R2008b, or R2009b (Simulink and Realtime Workshop are required) RT-LAB: V or later AMESim: R9b SL1 Microsoft Visual C 6.0 (For the interface between AMESim and Simulink) Note: MATLAB is a product from the MathWorks. RT-LAB is a product from OPAL-RT Technologies. AMESim is a product from LMS International. 1.2 Optional Software: It is also tested that AMESim can work properly with some other toolboxes from Opal-RT Technologies: Artemis: or later RT-Events: or later 1.3 Operation System: Host Computer: Windows XP SP3 Target Computer: QNX Software Installation: 2.1 On the host computer: Please refer to the Installation Guides, or the User Manuals of software for detail procedures of installation, but there are a few things that would raise user s attention: It is recommended that MATLAB should be installed in a path without any path (i.e. C:\MATLAB\R2009b) Two folders from the AMESim lib need to be manually added into the MATLAB path. Figure1 shows the two folders that are required in the MATLAB path. On the Windows operation system, Microsoft Visual C++ is the only compiler that can generate S-Function for Simulink. The compiler must be set as Microsoft Visual C++ for the sub-platform type in the AMESim, Tools/Options/AMESim Preference/Comilation, as shown in the Figure 2.

2 Figure 1 MATLAB Path Setting for AMESim Figure 2 Compiler Setting for the AMESim

3 2.2 On the target computer Both RT-LAB and AMESim require some components to be installed on the target computer. It can be done easily if the host computer and target computer are connected by Ethernet. RT-LAB components can be directly installed on the target computer from the RT-LAB interface. AMESim components can also be installed on the target computer from the host computer via FTP and using Telnet Command. First, amesim_r910_for_rtlab.tar, located in C:\AMESim\v910\misc\qnx, needs to be transferred to the target computer via FTP. (Please refer to our Knowledge-base Article for the FTP operation at Second, the tar file should be unzipped into a folder called /usr/amesim on the target computer. Figure 2 shows the commands that are required to conduct such operations. 3. Model Preparation Figure 3 QNX Command to Install AMESim An AMESim model can be integrated into the RT-LAB real-time platform by generating a Simulink S-function in C. Normally, the user usually has to optimize their AMESim model, so that the model can run with a fixed step-size solver. 3.1 AMESim Model Add Simulink Interface in the AMESim Model In the AMESim, the user should first create a Simulink interface icon by selecting Modeling/Interface Block/Create Interface Icon. The type of interface must be configured as Simulink, and the number of input and output along with their names can be specified accordingly Run the AMESim Model off-line It is imperative to run the AMESim Model offline by letting the model pass from both the Parameter Mode to the Simulation Mode. This operation is required at every time any parameter is changed in the AMESim model, so that the modification on parameters can be updated to the data file that Simulink and RT-LAB model will read. Figure 4 shows the buttons used in the AMESim to execute the model in Parameter Mode and Simulation Mode.

4 Figure 4 Buttons to Execute the Model in the Parameter Mode and the Simulation Mode Generate Files for Real-time Simulation When selecting Files/Generate Files for Real-Time, All files required for real-time simulation will be generated. 3.2 RT-LAB Model An AMESim model can be integrated into a RT-LAB model using the C S-function block. The S-function name must be the same as the name of the C source file generated in step For the S-Function Parameters, normally the first parameter specify if the AMESim result file is created (1) or not (any other number), while the second parameter determine the interval that AMESim prints its result. The S-Function can stay either independent in a computation subsystem (SM_, or SS_), or with other Simulink blocks. The user has to run the full RT-LAB model offline, and make sure that the model produces acceptable results with selected time-step and solver. 4. Compilation for Real-time Execution using RT-LAB 4.1 Environment Variable Setting A few environment variables have to be set correctly in the Variables tab. Figure 5 shows an example setting of environment variables for a Single CPU (One Computation Subsystem) model. AME = % the path where AMESim is installed% AMESIMModel = %AMESim Model Name Integrated into the RT-LAB model% Figure 6 shows an example setting of environment variables for multiple CPU (One Computation Subsystem) model. AME = % the path where AMESim is installed% AMESIMModelx = %the name of each AMESim Model Integrated into the RT-LAB model, x=1,2,, 5%

5 AMESUBSYSNAMEx = % the name generated during RT-LAB compilation for each computation subsystem that contains S-Function generated by RT-LAB% Figure 5 Environment Variable Setting for a single-cpu model Figure 6 Environment Variable Setting for a multi-cpu model 4.2 TMF file configuration In the Simulation Tools tab, the User TMF file must be specified as shown in Figure 7. Single-CPU Model: C:\AMESim\v910\lib\ame_rtlab8.tmf Multi-CPU Model: C:\AMESim\v910\lib\ ame_rtlab8_multi_cpu.tmf

6 Figure 7 The TMF file used for a Multi-CPU Model 4.3 Files required to be transferred to the target In the Files tab, a few files have to be transferred to the target before compilation. Those files were generated during step and can be normally found in the folder of the AMESim Model that is integrated into RT-LAB. Table 1 lists all types of files that are required to be transferred to the RT-LAB target, and Figure 8 shows an example of such a setting. Table 1 Files required to be transferred to the RT-LAB Target Name Mode Step Importance %AMESim Model Name%_.c Acsii Before Compilation Mandatory %AMESim Model Name%_.rtmake Binary Before Compilation Mandatory %AMESim Model Name%_.*.h Acsii Before Compilation Mandatory %AMESim Model Name%_.data Acsii Before Load Optional %AMESim Model Name%_.ga Acsii Before Load Optional Figure 8 An Example of Files that need to be transferred to the RT-LAB Target

7 4.4 Building the Real-time Executable Before press the build button in the RT-LAB, the AMESim model must be opened and stays in Simulation model. Afterwards, the RT-LAB model integrated with AMESim model should be able to build, load and executed as usual.