Case Study: Ostfalia University of Applied Science achieves low-cost, interactive rapid control prototyping with MathWorks Simulink and Raspberry Pi

Ostfalia University Students Use Simulink and Raspberry Pi Hardware for Rapid Control Prototyping

Ostfalia University of Applied Science needed an economical, easy-to-use rapid control prototyping system for a graduate controls lab where students design a state controller for a loading-bridge (inverted pendulum) project. MathWorks’ MATLAB and Simulink, along with the Simulink Support Package for Raspberry Pi, were used to give students a familiar simulation-to-hardware workflow they could learn quickly and apply in the lab.

Using MathWorks’ Simulink and the Simulink Support Package for Raspberry Pi, a student developed analog/digital interface boards and C MEX S‑functions so Simulink models could run on Raspberry Pi in external mode (≈1 ms step size) for real-time visualization and parameter tuning. The MathWorks-based setup reduced lab costs by thousands of euros, enabled interactive controller tuning and live data capture for reports, freed students to work off-campus via a campus-wide license, and is being expanded to additional courses.

Ostfalia University of Applied Science

Axel van der Kamp

Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences