MATLAB is a programming language in an interactive environment for developing algorithms, analysing and visualising data and performing the numerical computation. Whether you aspire to become a scientist or an engineer, MATLAB will come in handy to you in the long run.
Plenty of universities use this software to help you bring your engineering concepts to life. MATLAB is also one of the most important tools and programming languages used by several (large) engineering companies.
You can import data into MATLAB from files, external devices and other applications. There are several built-in mathematical and engineering functions, plots and visualisations in this software. You can then use these to analyse and explore the data after you have imported it in MATLAB. Here are the top four real-life benefits of MATLAB that prove how important this software is for a better, easier world out there.
Control systems
Control systems have played an integral role in advancing and developing modern technology. From the air conditioner in your room to the refrigerator at your office, most of the essentials we use in our daily lives are related to control systems. And the control system toolbox of MATLAB helps engineers analyse the algorithm, monitor the model and control the simulation.
Control system engineers use MATLAB at all their stages of their projects. Some of the stages are plat modelling, designing and tuning control algorithms, supervisory logic, etc.
Here’s what the control system toolbox of MATLAB offers:
- A multi-domain block diagram environment suitable for designing control algorithms, modelling plant dynamics and running closed-loop simulations
- LQR, Root Locus, LQG, Bode Diagrams, robust control and other design and analysis techniques
- Plan modelling with physical modelling tools and system identification
- Automatic tuning of gain-scheduled and arbitrary MIMO and SISO control systems
- Design, modelling and simulation of supervisory logic for scheduling, fault detection, recovery, isolation and mode switching
All in all, you can automatically generate code for the test bench and the control software using the control system toolbox of MATLAB. It is a great way to reduce development time and implement the right changes hassle-free. The best thing is you can even visualise simulations and test results before launching the design.
Computational mathematics and biology
Science and engineering students are most likely to be familiar with this term already. Computational mathematics involves mathematical research in specific fields of science where computation plays a key role. This discipline focuses on algorithms, symbolic computations and numerical methods. It mainly involves using calculators and computers as tools to work on mathematically modelled physical problems.
In Bioinformatics, computational mathematics is used to conduct different types of experiments. For instance, you may need it to determine the uses of evolutionary algorithm learning techniques to predict a specific health problem in humans. You can get study help in case you aren’t able to understand how to use MATLAB for topics similar to the one written above.
Here are the mathematical topics MATLAB covers:
- Elementary math– trigonometry, complex values, remainders, rounding, discrete math
- Random number generation– distributions, seeds, algorithms
- Linear algebra– singular values, linear equations, matrix operations, eigenvalues, matrix structure
- Interpolation– data gridding, scattered data interpolation and piecewise polynomials
- Optimisation– non-negative least squares, single and multivariable functions, roots of non-linear functions
Computational biology involves the study of biological data for a better understanding of biological relationships and systems. MATLAB assignments can help you solve ordinary differential equations based on model biological behaviour.
Embedded systems
Almost all the devices we use today are an example of embedded systems. These systems consist of hardware and software components and are built to do a specific task. Embedded systems also contain a microcontroller which controls all the required operations. That means you can make the device work only with a push in one of the buttons. Digital cameras, DVD players, washing machines, dishwashers are some of the most common examples of embedded systems.
Embedded MATLAB is the right platform for you to build robust embedded systems easily. It lets you generate C code directly from MATLAB algorithms. That way, you can maintain a single design source while using one language in one development environment in MATLAB. It isn’t easy to build embedded systems. But, MATLAB can make the task easier for you. You can generate code and run it on hardware.
Here’s what you can do with MATLAB:
- Use fixed- and floating-point design tools for cost vs performance tradeoffs
- Generate optimised structured text, C, C++, VHDL, Verilog and CUDA
- Abide by standards like MISRA C, ISO 26262, AUTOSAR, DO-178 and CERT C
- Verify the profile-generated code using in-the-loop testing
Mike Bothwell, a functional system architect and the developer of Bell Helicopter, says “With Model-Based Design, we had a successful first flight; there were no issues from a control or integration standpoint. Generating the control law code from our Simulink model with Embedded Coder eliminated the slowdowns caused by manual code generation and freed the team to work on meeting the broader program goals.”
Test and measurement
From smartphones to electric irons, every product goes through a range of tests before getting launched in the market. MATLAB lets you detect any physical defects in the product via product level functional testing. The MATLAB environment provides all the tools required to acquire data and automate certain tasks. You can control and acquire data from test instruments, data acquisition boards, frame grabbers and web cameras. You can explore the collected data and perform live data analysis and visualisation.
Finally, you can build test systems, verify concepts and automate redundant tasks. MATLAB also lets you deploy the test applications into other computers.
The test and measurement toolbox in MATLAB lets you configure and control resources such as interfaces, serial devices, drivers, instruments, etc. without having to write the MATLAB script all over again. The toolbox enables you to do the following:
- Connect to an external device or an instrument
- Detect available hardware and drivers
- Visualise acquired data
- Configure device or instrument settings
- Read and write data
- Export collected data to the MATLAB workspace.
- Generate the MATLAB script automatically.
You need to type ‘tmtool’ to start the test and measurement toolbox in MATLAB. Then navigate to different hardware control panes using the tool’s tree. Select the toolbox you want to work with and then follow the set of instructions displayed in the right pane.
Wrapping Up,
MATLAB is more than just a mere mathematical and programming software. It is like an all in one platform that helps engineers build control systems, scientists to perform experiments based on computational mathematics and students to understand complex engineering concepts. The college life is the right time for you to start getting the hang of this software. If required, you can get help with your assignments if you cannot understand any functionality of this software.
Author Bio:
Fiona Williams is a software engineer at a reputed firm in the United Kingdom. She also provides MATLAB assignment help at MyAssignmenthelp.com. Fiona loves to spend time with her family whenever she is free.
