User-defined blocks in Xcos

User-defined blocks in Xcos

June 29th 2011

Clément DAVID & Bruno JOFRETScilab Consortium

The free and open source software for numerical computation

Scilab/Xcos: Modeling dynamical systems

● Configurable subsystems use

● Conditionally executed

subsystems creation

● Signals and blocks parameters

adaptation

● Scilab algorithms and hand-

written code integration


Outline

● Model Building and Edition:

– User-defined palettes,– Configurable subsystems use.

● Xcos toolbox skeleton

● Future external modules:

– User defined blocks enabling Scilab and Modelica algorithms calls.


Model Building and Edition


Example to mimic a Simulink® block

● Emulate an integrator which triggers a state reset on an input signal

Simulink is a registered trademark of The Mathworks, Inc.

Scilab / Xcos Matlab / Simulink

1s

x o

I n t e g r a t o r


The Simulink® diagram

S c o p eP u l s e

G e n e r a t o r

1s

x o

I n t e g r a t o r

0

C o n s t a n t 1

1

C o n s t a n t


The Simulink® diagram results


The Xcos diagram


The Xcos diagram results


With a SuperBlock


Customize it


With exact input mapping


With exact input mapping (2)


Adding to the palettes


Using masked SuperBlocks

● Define variables in the parent context

● Use context on the blocks

● Create and customize the mask

● Remove variable in the parent context


The masked SuperBlock


Xcos toolbox skeleton


Xcos toolbox skeleton

● Included into the Scilab distribution (Development tools) with:

– Documentation (how to write your own help pages),

– Examples,

– Demos.

● Quick start to deploy an Xcos module through ATOMS.

● Interface your own libraries:

– Native ones (C, C++, Fortran, …),

– Interpreted (Scilab, Modelica).


External modules distribution

● ATOMS – http://atoms.scilab.org

– Package your business logic

● Scilab File Exchange – http://fileexchange.scilab.org

– Upload sample files

● Forge – http://forge.scilab.org

– Public or private collaboration platform

http://atoms.scilab.org/

http://fileexchange.scilab.org/

http://forge.scilab.org/


Future External Modules


UDP Blocks

● Implement blocks to handle remote data access using the UDP protocol:

– http://forge.scilab.org/index.php/p/udp-blocks/– not yet packaged in ATOMS.

http://forge.scilab.org/index.php/p/udp-blocks/


UDP Blocks

● UDP Send:

– C function to send UDP packet● UDP Receive:

– C function to receive UDP packet


Network

UDP Blocks

● Example: Scilab ↔ Scilab


Network

UDP Blocks

● Example: Scilab ↔ ???


Network

UDP Blocks

● Example: ??? ↔ Scilab


UDP Blocks

● UDP Blocks:

– Based on ToolBox Skeleton,– C Simulations function,– Available through ATOMS (coming soon),– Encode/Decode your own UDP packet,– Easy communication with hardware devices.


COSELICA

● COSELICA (Modelica)

Standard Modelica Library in Xcos

– Use more Modelica features:● Electrical,● Thermal,● Mechanics.

– Advanced Xcos UI features (port colors, SVG blocks, etc... )


COSELICA


COSELICA


COSELICA


COSELICA


COSELICA

● COSELICA (Modelica):

– Based on ToolBox Skeleton,– Modelica Equations,– Generated C Simulation functions,– Available through ATOMS (coming soon),– Extends Xcos on other scientific domains.


Future FunctionalityAvailable with Scilab 5.4.0


Block wizard● Common UI for user blocks generation

● Ease new blocks integration

Thanks for your attention

www.scilab.org

Documents

User-defined blocks in Xcos