The KULI/Simulink-Toolbox offers an easy and convenient way for the co-simulation between KULI and Matlab/Simulink. This enables the use of transient and steady-state KULI-models in the design process of control systems. Additionally the KULI/Simulink-Toolbox offers some post­-processing methods for the visualization of the simulation data.

Figure 1: KULI meets Matlab/Simulink

The user interface allows the comfortable selection of the KULI-version, the KULI-model and based on this model, the selection of the sensors and actuators that are necessary for the simulation in Matlab/Simulink. To simplify the handling of complex models, there are additional options like the grouping and sorting of connectors available.

The KULI-block is created automatically and consists of a few different parts. The actuators are modeled as ‘Inports’, the sensors are modeled as ‘Outports’ and if necessary some sensors are grouped with the help of ‘Mux’-blocks. For taking care of the different time steps of KULI and Matlab/Simulink, the KULI-Block contains ‘Rate-Transition-Blocks’.

Figure 2: Inner structure of the KULI-Block

Directly after the successful creation of the KULI-block, the simulation can be started. Due to its complexity, an s-function has been created for the co-simulation process. Basically, it is responsible for getting the actuator values from Matlab/Simulink, for executing the calculations in KULI and for updating the Simulink model with the calculated sensor values.

In general, the connection between KULI and Matlab/Simulink is based on the COM interface. This allows external applications to run and control KULI simulations by the use of a set of built-in commands.

Figure 3: Simulation of a KULI model in Simulink

The KULI/Simulink-Toolbox supports all Matlab versions starting with 2008a and all KULI versions starting with KULI8. The interface supports 32-bit as well as 64-bit architectures (new with KULI 10).