| Release 11 New Features |
Stateflow
Addition to the Simulink Modeling Environment
Stateflow was introduced with MATLAB 5.1, adding to the Simulink modeling and simulation environment. A graphical tool for designing complex control and supervisory logic systems, Stateflow allows you to model and simulate the behavior of complex reactive, event-based systems based on finite state machine theory. Stateflow lets you add event-driven elements of a system to Simulink continuous or discrete modeling for a single, closed-loop simulation. Stateflow represents an evolution from finite state machine theory by adding several major improvements, including hierarchy, parallelism, junctions, and history. These changes enable Stateflow to make practical use of finite state machine theory with realistic application to control systems. A major benefit of Stateflow is its seamless point-and-click interface to Simulink. The control behavior that Stateflow models provides an ideal complement to the algorithmic behavior modeled in Simulink. In Simulink, you develop your model of continuous- and discrete-time dynamic systems using its graphical, block diagram environment. Then you drag and drop the blocks that represent Stateflow diagrams directly into your Simulink model to add event-driven behavior to Simulink simulations. Applications for Stateflow include developing the control logic in embedded systems for electronic and mechanical systems found in automobiles, aircraft, telecommunications systems, computer peripherals, office automation equipment, and medical instrumentation. Stateflow works with the latest versions of Simulink and Real-Time Workshop to offer an integrated environment for modeling, simulating, and prototyping real-time embedded systems applications.Stateflow Coder
Stateflow provides automatic C-code generation through the optional Stateflow Coder. C code generated by Stateflow Coder can be used independently or integrated with code from Real-Time Workshop. Thus, Simulink, Stateflow, and Real-Time Workshop are integrated from the design and modeling phase through the code generation stage. The generated code can be executed for rapid prototyping, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or for stand-alone simulations.