MATLAB Simulink - Starting Simulink

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In this chapter, we will understand about using Simulink to build models.

Here is a MATLAB display −

You can start Simulink by using simulink command in the MATLAB command window as shown below −

Click on enter to open the Simulink startup page as shown below −

You can also open Simulink from MATLAB interface directly by clicking on Simulink icon as shown below −

When you click on the Simulink icon, it will take you to a Simulink startup page, as shown below −

The startup page has a blank model, subsystem, library to start the model from scratch.

There are also some built-in templates that can help the users to start with.

To create a model, the user can click on blank model and it will display a page as shown below −

Click on Save to save your model. The blocks to build your model are available inside the Simulink library browser.

Click on library browser as shown below −

The library browser has a list of all types of libraries with different blocks as shown below −

Libraries in Simulink

Let us understand some of the commonly used libraries in Simulink.

Continuous

A continuous blocks library gives you blocks related to derivatives and integrations. The list of blocks are as follows −

Dashboard

With Dashboard, you will get controls and indicator blocks that help to interact with simulations. The following screen will appear on your computer −

Discontinuities

Here, you will get a list of discontinuous functions blocks as displayed below −

Discrete

Here, you will get time relation function blocks as shown below −

Logic and Bit Operations

In this category, you will get all logical and relational type blocks as displayed below −

Lookup Tables

You will all the sine, cosine function blocks as shown below −

Math Operations

All mathematical operations like Add, Absolute, divide, subtract are available. The list is as follows −

Messages and Events

This block has all the message/communication related functions as shown below −

Model Verification

The blocks present here helps to self-verify models, such as Check Input Resolution. The following screen will appear on your computer −

Model-Wide Utilities

This gives you blocks like Model info, Block Support Table etc. The following screen will appear on your computer −

Ports and Subsystems

You will get blocks like a subsystem, switch case, enable etc. The list is displayed below −

Signal Attributes

Modify the signal attribute blocks such as Data Type Conversion. The following screen will appear on your computer −

Signal Routing

The blocks in this category is used to route signal blocks such as bus creator, switch etc.The following screen will appear on your computer −

Sinks

The blocks in this category help to display or export signal data blocks such as Scope andTo Workspace. The following screen will appear on your computer −

Sources

It helps to generate or import data blocks. For example, sine wave. The following screen will appear on your computer −

String

This category has string related blocks as shown below −

User Defined functions

Custom function blocks such as MATLAB Function, MATLAB System, Simulink Function, and Initialize Function. The following screen will appear on your computer −