© 2011 Maplesoft

The Potential for Maple and MapleSim to Energize the Curriculum to Meet Emerging Needs of 21st Century Engineering

Derek Wright PhD

MapleSim Product Manager, Maplesoft

December 6, 2011

© 2011 Maplesoft

Assertions1. Even with a technology strategy, we are currently

not getting to the conceptual core of engineering modeling

2. Industry is undergoing a major transformation and we stand to fall behind in our pedagogy

3. New software promises to reconcile theory with application and design in industry, research, and ultimately in the classroom

© 2011 Maplesoft

Things oscillateand blow up

Things justblow up

Nothingmuch happens

Things blowup faster

Things oscillateand die down

Things justdie down

Things diedown faster

Things oscillatemore violently

Things oscillate

Let’s explore this a bit …

© 2011 Maplesoft

Why is this important?

Roots

Transferfunctions

Differentialequations

DEsolution

Time response

Eigenvalues?

Frequencyresponse?

Convolution?Root locus?

?

?

??

??

© 2011 Maplesoft

Observations• Things blow up because of the positive exponential

• Things oscillate because complex roots in Laplace lead to sinusoids in time

• If you have real roots only on the LHP, things are steady and stable

• Etc.

© 2011 Maplesoft

Some desirable conclusions• We like DEs because they predict physical behavior• We like Laplace transforms because make it easier to

manipulate the math• The art of engineering is about choosing the

parameters that will avoid things blowing up or oscillating violently

• Engineering modeling makes much more sense when mathematics and visualization are placed in the right context– Thank goodness for computers

© 2011 Maplesoft

Prevailing practice

MATLAB snippet forcomputing time responsegiven the coefficients ofthe transfer function

© 2011 Maplesoft

Assertions1. Even with a technology strategy, we are currently

not getting to the conceptual core of engineering modeling

2. Industry is undergoing a major transformation and we stand to fall behind in our pedagogy

3. New software promises to reconcile theory with application and design in industry, research, and ultimately in the classroom

© 2011 Maplesoft

The curriculum disconnect

Freshman calculus + Algebra

Ordinary differential equations

Linear systems + Control systems

© 2011 Maplesoft

The conceptual core

Roots

Transferfunctions

Differentialequations

DEsolution

Time response

Engineering mathematics exists only to model real systems

The purpose of modeling is insight and design • not numbers• not math• not necessarily even “applications”

© 2011 Maplesoft

The computing disconnect• Basic usability

• Role of the computer in a professional curriculum– Teach the tool or teach the concepts?– In math, the answer is clear. In engineering?

• Push for standardization of technology

• Industry, the great arbitrator

© 2011 Maplesoft

Assertions1. Even with a technology strategy, we are currently

not getting to the conceptual core of engineering modeling

2. Industry is undergoing a major transformation and we stand to fall behind in our pedagogy

3. New software promises to reconcile theory with application and design in industry, research, and ultimately in the classroom

© 2011 Maplesoft

Emerging challenges in Model Based Design

Task

s Capacity

Number of functions (Complexity)

“Taking countermeasures may be delayed due to hesitation for the investment and the subjective impression that we have done well.”

A. Ohata TMC, PMC Meeting Aug. 2007

© 2011 Maplesoft

Physical/Plant Modeling Consortium (PMC)

ToyotaDaimlerGMAudiVolkswagenFordRenaultFiatHondaJaguar & Rover

OEM

BoschDensoHitachiFujitsuMagnaJATCO

Suppliers

MaplesoftIAVEmmeskaydSpaceETASModelonAVL

Solutions

U WaterlooUC BerkeleyLund UTU BerlinU MichiganU BirminghamMcGill U

Universities

Partial list of members

© 2011 Maplesoft

Conclusions from PMC1. Need more effective plant modeling tools. Need to

decrease the time it takes to produce good plant models.

2. Need to increase the practicing engineer’s ability to produce more formal “correct” models.

3. Need a modern balance between rigor and practice– Something called “Physical modeling” is a big part of this.

© 2011 Maplesoft

Assertions1. Even with a technology strategy, we are currently

not getting to the conceptual core of engineering modeling.

2. Industry is undergoing a major transformation and we stand to fall behind in our pedagogy.

3. New software promises to reconcile theory with application and design in industry, research, and ultimately in the classroom

© 2011 Maplesoft

Physical Modeling and MapleSim

• Assemble models with meaningful components

• Complete set of simulation solvers

• 2D and realistic 3D visualization

• Full display of model equations

• Powered by Maple• Professional tool with

connectivity to industrial toolchains

© 2011 Maplesoft

My ‘Wow’ Moment

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My ‘Wow’ Moment

© 2011 Maplesoft

My ‘Wow’ Moment

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Demonstration

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Motivation for physical modeling

You still need to manually derive DEs

Computer implementation is abstract

Are you teaching the concept or the tool?

Are you making the connections?

© 2011 Maplesoft

Benefits of physical modeling

Physical model diagrams map directly to the system

Can we see the math?

© 2011 Maplesoft

Pedagogical goal

Concepts Science Math Requirements Systems Theory ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

Experiments Validation Reality Intuition RT simulation∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

Models Virtual Simulation Visualization Parameters Design ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙An effective bridge between theoretical concepts and

realistic design applications

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Electrical Mechanical

Signal Flow/Control

Bonus benefit: multidomain modeling

• Easily connect mechanical with electrical, hydraulics, thermal systems

• Mix physical components with signal flow • Mathematical consistency ensured by symbolic engine

© 2011 Maplesoft

Bonus benefit: Real-time simulation and control

Plant modelAnalysisController design

MapleSimequation and

code generation

Controller implementationReal-time management

Embedded controllerData acquisition

Model development from months to days

Highly optimized (fastest) models for RT research

Extended analysis

Gateway to research and industry

SystemHIL Simulation

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Conclusions

• Reduce model development time from months to days

• Realize previously infeasible models

• Quickly test new model formulations

• Maximum speed for real-time

• Natural fit with Simulink

Research• Bring theory to life

without sacrificing rigor

• Respond to emerging trends in industry

• Control, engineering modeling, robotics, mechatronics, machine design, etc.

Education

© 2011 Maplesoft

Teach the concept or the tool?• Teach the concept and the toolchain (a methodology)

• Take every opportunity to extend the conceptual boundaries (theoretical or practical)

• Individual tools should be easy enough so that particulars need minimal instruction

• Build bridges not walls

© 2011 Maplesoft

Questions?