The New Dimension Cluster

8/2/2019 The New Dimension Cluster

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ControlDesk

The New Dimension ofExperimenting

nnnnn One integrated tool for the control, monitoring, and

automation of real-time experiments

nnnnn Virtual instrument panels

nnnnn Advanced automation features

nnnnn Consistent , central data management

With ControlDesk, dSPACE presents a new generation of experiment

software that will make controller development easier than ever.

No matter whether you want to validate controller models in real time

with rapid control prototyping or verify control units in hardware-in-

the-loop simulation the variety of different user interfaces during

development has come to an end. From now on, you can perform all

imaginable experiment tasks with just one tool.

For specification and design, you can use standard modeling tools

such as MATLAB/Simulink. As soon as your application is implemented

on the real-time hardware, for example, by means of the dSPACE Real-

Time Interface, ControlDesk takes over. From the interactive control of

real-time applications to even the most complex test automation tasks

everything is integrated under one roof. Integrated Hardware and

Experiment Management with central data storage enable Control-

Desk to meet the most professional demands. State-of-the-art GUI

techniques such as drag & drop, context menus, floating windows, and

comprehensive online help will make your experiments a pleasure.

AD DA

Release

Planned for the

beginning of 1999

Platforms

Windows NT, 95, and 98

ControlDesk


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Why ControlDesk?

ControlDesk makes your experiments more effective.

n One integrated tool for all experiment tasks

n Real-time data acquisition and online parameter tuning

n Automation of your complete experiments

ControlDesk makes building instrument panels easier than ever.

n Comprehensive set of virtual instruments

n Intuitive and powerful instrument configuration

n Automated instrument panel setup

ControlDesk shortens your development cycles dramatically.

n Perfect connection to Simulink and SystemBuild

n Macro Recorder for automation of most ControlDesk features

n Stimulus Editor for graphical test scripting

ControlDesk gives you control over your experiments any time.

n Comprehensive Experiment Management features

n Central, consistent data storage

n Graphical Hardware Management

How Do I Get the ControlDesk I Need?

You can tailor ControlDesk to your specific needs by choosing from a

variety of ControlDesk Kits.

Basic ControlDesk The foundation of your experiments

n Includes Experiment Management, Hardware Management, and

Source Code Editor

n Delivered f ree of charge with every dSPACE system

Instrumentation Kits Building impressive instrument panels

n Base Instrumentation Kit including the most important

instruments and Parameter Editor (required for all other kits)

n Animation Instrumentation Kit including 3-D animation,

Automotive Instrumentation Kit for building car dashboards,

Avionics Instrumentation Kit for building aircraft cockpits

(require Base Instrumentation Kit; all in preparation)

Automation Kits The key to automated experiments

n ControlDesk Automation Kit for t he automated operation ofmost ControlDesk features (requires Base Instrumentation Kit)

n Test Automation Kit for advanced test automation tasks

(requires ControlDesk Automation Kit)

Basic

Cont rolDesk

(page 52)

AnimationInstrumentation

Kit(page 55)

AutomotiveInstrumentation

Kit(page 55)

AvionicsInstrumentation

Kit(page 55)

ControlDesk

Automation

Kit(page 56)

TestAutomation

Kit

(page 58)

BaseInstrumentation

Kit

(page 53)

ControlDesk Kits and their

interdependencies

ControlDesk


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How Do I Work with ControlDesk?

Choose a control or plotter

instrument from the Instrument

Selection Bar and place it on the

workspace. Double-click the

instrument to open the

instrument property sheet.

Choose from various pre-

configured instrument settings

or powerful configuration

options. To assign a real-time

variable, drag it from the

Variable Browser onto the

instrument. Repeat the above

steps for any other instrument.

Required ControlDesk Kits

n Base Instrumentation Kit

n Additional Instrumentation

Kits for building specific

panels (in preparation)

2. Build a virtual instrument panel.

1. Create a new experiment and download your application.

By creating a new experiment,

ControlDesk keeps track of all

data that will be generated

during this experiment,

including your models,

instrument panels, automation

scripts, etc. All registered boards

of the system are displayed in

the Hardware Navigator. Todownload your model, simply

drag your application from the

File Selection Bar to a board

icon. Alternatively, use Real-Time

Interface or CodeLink to

download your Simulink or

SystemBuild model directly.


n Basic ControlDesk

ControlDesk


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4. Automate your experiment.

With the graphical Stimulus

Editor, you can create real-time

stimuli including loops and if-

else-conditions. The automation

features are based on a

powerful scripting language,

which can also be used for test

report generation with office

tools or for more advanced

applications. Furthermore, the

Macro Recorder allows you to

record and replay most of the

ControlDesk actions you

perform.


n Test Automation Kit

for real-time sequencing

n ControlDesk Automation Kit

for automating ControlDesk

3. Start your experiment.

Click the Animation Mode

button to put your instrument

panel into operation. To change

parameter values, operate sliders

or other input instruments.

Observe the effects with plotters

and save the results to disk. You

can operate the instruments

with a mouse and keys.



n Additional Instrumentation

Kits for building specific

panels (in preparation)

ControlDesk


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ControlDesk

Basic ControlDesk

n Easy-to-use Hardware Management features

n Experiment Management with central data storage

n Intelligent Source Code Editor

n Automated configuration of management utilities possible

(see ControlDesk Automationon page 56)

Hardware Management

n Graphical Hardware Navigator to keep track of system setup

n Comfortable registration of new boards

nProgram loading with drag & drop

n Program start and stop

n Memory size and processor clock determination

n Error check utility and error message logging

n Viewer for configuration data base and log file

Experiment Management

n Experiment administration including version and author

information

n Central data storage of experiment data, including experiment

description, model data, instrument panel configurations,

simulation results, automation scripts, and external data

n Basic consistency checks

Source Code Editor

n Intelligent built-in editor for the manual programming of

Cprograms or automation scriptsn Syntax coloring

n Direct compile, link and download of C programs per mouse click

Central Experiment Management

including consistency checks.

Hardware Navigator and board

registration dialog.


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ControlDesk

Designing Instrument Panels

n Various Instrumentation Kits (see page 55):

Base, Automotive, Avionics, Animation

n Comprehensive configuration options for instrument properties,

such as min/max values, size, position, colors, fonts

n Instrument auto-labeling possible (variable name, unit)

n Instrument Selection Bar for fast access to all instruments

n User-definable instrument hierarchies and groups

n Re-use of user-configured instruments

n Grouping operations for moving and alignmentn Test Mode for checking the instrument functions without a

connection to the real-time hardware

Instrumentation

n Building virtual instrument panels with drag & drop

n Interactive control and monitoring of real-time applications

n Application-specific instrument kits for dashboards and cockpits

n Automated operation of instruments possible

(see ControlDesk Automationon page 56)

The AvionicInstrumentation Kit

(in preparation)

provides instruments

such as artificial

horizon, altimeter, or

GPS, and lets you

rebuild your original

aircraft cockpit.

For online monitoring,

ControlDesk provides

various instruments,such as gauges, plots,

and sliders.

Instrument property dialogsallow an easy configuration of

all instruments.

Instrument

Selection Bar for

fast access to all

instruments.


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ControlDesk

Displaying Time Histories and Acquiring Data

n Displaying time histories in real time with plotter instruments

n No interruption of the real-time experimentn Typical oscilloscope features, such as x/y plots, reference signal

overlay, and downsampling

n Semilogarithmic plots

n Special logic analyzer display for binary variables

n Free-running or triggered data capturing

n Various display update modes

n Various plot analysis aids for individual or multiple plots, such as

zoom, difference measurements, and min/max value search

n Stream-to-disk operation mode

n Import/export interfaces to MATLAB and ControlDesk Test

Automation for data pre- or postprocessing

Controlling and Monitoring Real-Time Applications

n Tuning parameters online

n Displaying variable values continuously

n No interruption of the real-time experiment

n Instrument operation with a mouse and/or keys

n Multiple instrument panels during runtime

Handling Parameter Sets

n

Loading parameter sets onto running real-time applicationsn Saving multiple parameter sets from running real-time

applications

n Easy definition of parameter values, parameter units, and

description texts with the graphical Parameter Editor

n Definition of subsets with filtering functions

n Import/export of parameter sets from/to file (MAT, XLS, etc.)

Assigning Variables to Instruments

n Variable assignment with drag & drop

n Assignments to all instruments possible during runtime

n Variables either from real-time application (e.g., controlparameters) or from other ControlDesk instruments

n Variable selection in hierarchical Variable Browser representing

Simulink or SystemBuild model hierarchy

n Variable search and filter operations

n Automatic generation of required variable mapping files from

Simulink with Real-Time Interface or from SystemBuild with

CodeLink

Typical instruments for control and

monitoring tasks: slider and gauge.

Plotter instruments including logic

analyzer for displaying time histories.

Easy compilation of parameter sets with

the graphical Parameter Editor.

Variable Browser for easy variable

selection.


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Instrumentat ion Kits


LED, multistate alert, slider, bar, push button, radio button, frame,knob, gauge, numeric display, tabular display, text f ield, movie and

sound playing (in preparation), plotter, logic analyzer, 2-D curve

editor, 3-D table editor, etc.

n Animation Instrumentation Kit (in preparation)

3-D online animation of mechanical systems

(formerly RealMotion, see page 62)

n Automotive Instrumentation Kit (in preparation)

speedometer, fuel, oil pressure, voltage, bit display, etc.

n Avionics Instrumentat ion Kit (in preparation)

artificial horizon, airspeed, altimeter, throttle, autopilot, GPS, etc.

ControlDesk

Instrument Example 1: Slider

One of the most important components of any instrument panel

is the slider. Sliders can be used either as an input instrument

(slider at the top) or an output instrument (slider at the bottom).

Sophisticated configuration options allow you to adapt the slid-

ers exactly to your specific needs, for example, by displaying minand max values.

Instrument Example 2: Plotter

Plotter instruments help you to keep track of continu-

ous and binary variables. During the experiment, the

plotter toolbar offers you a number of analysis aids,

such as zooming, measurement of time and amplitude

differences, and unlimited reference signal overlay. In

the properties dialog, you can configure the plotter ex-

actly to your specific needs.

Instrument Example 3: 3-D Table Editor

This instrument allows you to edit and download complete lookup

tables via a mouse click. For this, you have several graphical edi-

tors at your disposal: With the table editor, you can exactly see

and adjust the individual values of the lookup table. Intelligent

dialogs for group operations speed up your work considerably.

The 2-D and 3-D displays give you an impression of the complete

characteristics curves and maps and allow you to move the inter-

polation points with a mouse. Lookup tables can be imported or

exported to and from external data files.


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Graphical User Interfaces and Editors

Source Code Editor Macro Recorder

Script Language

ControlDesk Automation OLE (e.g. MATLAB, Word, Excel)

Script Modules

With the Macro Recorder, you

can record your ControlDesk

activities. The recorder generates

a script that is based on the

ControlDesk Automation script

module. For advanced

automation tasks, such as

generating loops or importing

parameter sets, you can use the

built-in Source Code Editor toextend the generated script.

ControlDesk Automation

n Programming interface to nearly all ControlDesk features

n Automated processing of time-consuming, recurrent tasks,

e.g., parameter studies

n Macro Recorder for recording ControlDesk operations

n Powerful scripting language with object-oriented features

n OLE automation interface to office tools

Macro Recording

n Macro Recorder for recording ControlDesk operations

n Allows automated operation of complete experiments

n Includes automation of most ControlDesk functions, such as

hardware configuration, program loading, experiment

administration, reading/writing variables, capturing time

histories, and handling instrument panels

n Recording and replaying either time-dependent or

as fast as possible

Advanced ControlDesk Automation

n Manual modification of generated scripts for advanced

operations with built-in Source Code Editor

n Control structures such as loops and conditional branches

n Procedural and object-oriented programming features

n Import of parameter sets in various data formats

n MATLAB interface for data exchange and remote control

n OLE automation interface to standard office software fordocumentation, e.g., Word and Excel

ControlDesk


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ControlDesk Automation Example:

Automated Parameter Study

Your task

In order to parameterize your controller or plant model, you want to

record time histories of signals for a large number of different param-

eter sets. This involves a whole series of individual steps (see flow chart

on the right): Before the parameter study begins, you create the Control-

Desk experiment, set up the hardware, load the model and the instru-

ment panel, and configure the data capture. During the study, you

adjust the parameters, start the data capture, and eventually store the

time histories for each parameter set to a file. After the parameter

study, you generate an experiment report via the OLE script module.

performed automatically:

For an automatic execution of the steps described above, you just have

to perform them once manually and record them with the ControlDesk

Macro Recorder. With the intelligent Source Code Editor, you can then

enhance the generated script (gray boxes in the flow chart). The manual

modifications include the parameter value definition, the loop state-

ments, and the file name generation. To perform the parameter study,

all you have to do is to start the script, and everything will run automati-

cally.

Advanced enhancements

If you want to proceed in invisible mode, for example, for long-term

studies without graphical display, just erase the instruction for instru-

mentation panel loading and the task will be performed in the back-

ground.

If you want to change the graphical display depending on a monitored

quantity, for example, a safety-relevant quantity, you can add property

setting commands to activate an alert button or to change the back-

ground color to red.

Insert NextParameter Set

GenerateFilename

Definition ofParameter

Studies

Within theScript

Import fromMATLAB

Import fromEXCEL

LoadModel

ConfigureTrigger/Data

Capture

Shutdown

or

or

Setup

Hardware

LoadInstrument

Panel

Start

Create

Experiment

Setup andLoading

Capture Data

Store Datato File

GenerateExp. Report

ControlDesk


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Test Automation

n Remote control of a complete hardware-in-the-loop

environment, e.g., for automated ECU testing

n Automated operation of test benches,

including external laboratory devices

n Generation of arbitrary real-time signals with

graphical Stimulus Editor

n No programming required for standard

signal generation applications

n Import and replay of measurement data with

guaranteed time accuracy

n Test report generation

n Powerful script language for advanced applications,

including script modules for a variety of applications

With the Stimulus Editor, you

can graphically generate

complex test stimuli sequences,

including loops and conditional

branches. A wide range of script

modules allows you to enhance

the script generated by the

Stimulus Editor and to perform

other test automation tasks.

Graphical User Interfaces and Editors

Source Code Editor Stimulus Editor

Script Modules

Signal Generation

OLE (e.g. MATLAB, Word, Excel)

Script Language

Failure Mode Simulation RS232 Interface

Real-Time Processor Access

ControlDesk


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ControlDesk

Test Automation Example 1:

Automated ECU Testing in HIL Simulat ion

Your tasks

As a car manufacturer, you have to test ECUs as soon as a new version

has been released by the supplier. Static tests with simple artificial

input signals do not fulfil your needs. For realistic test conditions you

need a closed-loop operation using hardware-in-the-loop simulation.

In order to check the ECUs on-board diagnosis, you have to repeat

complex test sequences for every value of a table. By simulating error

situations such as short-circuits or non-plausible values, you want to

check the error flags on the ECU. Access to the ECUs diagnosis line as

well as measurement of ECU variables is mandatory. The test report

should be generated automatically.

automated with Test Automation:

Assuming that you have already finished developing your simulation

model, you can start Test Automation using the graphical Stimulus

Editor to generate the stimuli sequences. In the next step, you switch to

the Source Code Editor and develop your complete test scenario step

by step. For example, select the models and ECUs variables to measure

and define their expected behavior for automatic testing.

Short turnaround cycles allow an intuitive and very flexible develop-

ment. Validated test parts can be inserted into the library mechanism

and be re-used in other test environments.

Test Automation Example 2:

Test Bench Automation for the Determination of a Motor

Efficiency Characteristics Map

Your tasks

In a test bench for a hybrid vehicle, you want to determine the charac-

teristics map of the motor efficiency. While the motor itself exists as a

real component, nonexisting parts are simulated on a dSPACE hard-

ware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulator. To get the characteristics map, you

have to approach each individual operating point of the motor, that is,

speed and torque. This includes controlling the motor speed until asteady state is reached. Then, all the required data have to be measured

and the efficiency must be calculated.

automated with Test Automation:

With ControlDesk Test Automation, you can automate all the steps

described above. In the Stimulus Editor, you graphically define the sig-

nal sequence for the desired speed and torque, which will then be

executed on the HIL simulator. As soon as a steady state is reached, Test

Automation automatically starts acquiring the required data using stan-

dard dSPACE I/O hardware, and saves this data to f ile. For addit ional I/O

communication, the PCs RS232 interface can be used. Test Automa-tion repeats this procedure for every operating point. Then, all the

acquired data are transferred to MATLAB where the characteristics map

is calculated and plotted.


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Real-Time Processor Access

n Read and write any variable on the real-time hardware

independent of data typen Real-time data capturing with triggered or free-run mode

n Memory management on real-time hardware

n Reset of programs and boards

Real-Time Signal Generation

n Graphical editor for defining real-time stimuli or changing model

variables

n Matrix format for defining an arbitrary number of piecewise

combined signals

(row = model variable, column = time tag,

cell entry = signal form description)

n Signal forms include constant, ramp, noise, exponential, square,

sine, pulse, triangular, and saw-tooth

n Intuitive variable assignment with hierarchical Variable Browser

representing Simulink model hierarchy

n Graphical definition of control structures for repetitions (loops)

and condition checks ( if bigger/smaller )

n Plots for off-line check of the defined signals

n Separation of test scenarios and parameter sets for the re-use of

signal sequences with different parameters

n Generated test scenarios can be inserted into a user-configurable

library mechanism (in preparation)

All you need for intelligent

real-time signal generation

is: a Stimulus Editor for

defining piecewise

combined signals (top left),

off-line plots for evaluation

(middle left), a browser for

easy variable assignment(bottom), and the

generated test script

Stimulus Editor for easy signal

generation.

ControlDesk


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Import/Replay of Measurement Data

n Import of measurement data recorded with external data loggers

n Interpolated replay of measured data withguaranteed time accuracy

n Useful for the real-time simulation of recorded or standard

driving cycles (e.g., FTP cycles)

Model-Based Sensor/Actuator Failure Mode Simulation

(in preparation)

n Simulation of hardware signal failure by using overlaid

signals; e.g., to simulate broken connections and noise or

shift on signals

n Real-Time Interface optionally inserts a signal overlay code

for any I/O channel without changing the Simulink block

diagram

n Completely configurable by scripting (no access to Simulink

required)

n Controlled by real-time signal generation

Electrical Sensor/Actuator Failure M ode Simulat ion

n Remote control of external relay boxes and fault mode

interfaces via dSPACE digital outputs

n Simulates open or closed signals and short circuits

n

Switching sequences can be defined with real-time signalgeneration

Advanced Features

n Link to the PCs RS232 interface, e.g., to access diagnosis

hardware or to control laboratory devices remotely

n Automatic protocolling and test report generation

n OLE automation link to Windows applications, such as

MATLAB, Word, and Excel

n ASAP 3 compatible interface for automating measurement

and calibration systems (in preparation)

n Optional ECU Communication Engineering Service available forcustom-specific connection to your electronic control unit, e.g.,

via K-line or dual-port memory access

Guaranteed Real-Time Execution

An outstanding feature of the Signal Generation is its real-time capa-

bility. Although you describe your sequences by means of graphical

editors and scripts on your host PC, an interrupt service routine run-

ning with the sample rate of your real-time application on the proces-

sor guarantees execution in real time. This service routine is controlledby a specific control table generated from your script and downloaded

onto the processor.

Communication with external

tools and devices, for example,

with MATLAB, Office tools,

diagnosis hardware, or ECUs.

ControlDesk

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