VisSim is a Windows-based program for the modeling and simulation of complex dynamic systems. VisSim combines an intuitive drag-and-drop block diagram interface with a powerful mathematical engine. The visual block diagram interface offers a simple method for constructing, modifying and maintaining complex system models. The mathematical engine provides fast and accurate solutions for linear, nonlinear, continuous time, discrete time, time varying and hybrid system designs.

VisSim is a fully integrated control system design environment where all design and simulation tasks can be completed without writing a line of code. Furthermore, VisSim offers unprecedented ease-of-use and consequently a shorter learning curve than competitive systems. Less time training more time engineering!

Control System Design Process

The first step in control system design involves the creation of a plant model. VisSim enables engineers to easily build plant models, from a first principles perspective, by simply selecting and connecting predefined function blocks. Engineers can construct a wide range of models including linear, nonlinear, continuous, discrete, hybrid, SISO and MIMO systems. VisSim supports hierarchical design by allowing users to group blocks into compound blocks that represent components or sub-systems. Users can also create custom blocks in C, Fortran or Pascal and add them to the VisSim block library. There is virtually no limit to model size or complexity as VisSim supports over 5 million blocks per diagram.

Once designed, the plant model is simulated to compare the plant model outputs to desired behavior. In VisSim, this is immediately visualized with plots, strip charts and other visualization blocks. The plant model can then be refined until the model accurately reflects the desired behavior (conforms to the actual plant or to specifications of the plant model). Plant models can also be derived through system identification methods which "reverse engineer" the plant model from actual plant/equipment data.

After the plant model is verified, the dynamics of a plant can be linearized with VisSim's Analyze option. Analyze approximates the dynamics of a nonlinear system by linearizing the system about a specified operating point. Linearized systems can be represented in ABCD state space or transfer function form. With Analyze, an engineer can easily access transfer function information, edit zeroes and poles, and compute Nyquist, Bode and root locus plots.

The next step is to design a controller for the plant model by interactively editing compensator zeroes and poles, and observing their combined behavior in Bode and root locus plots. Once the desired responses are obtained, the pole placement controller block is simply inserted into the VisSim diagram.

The preliminary pole placement controller is then connected to the plant model creating a feedforward or a feedback control loop. A simulation is run and the results of the simulation can be viewed in the form of plots. The stability of the closed-loop system can then be determined using Nyquist plots. In addition to pole placement controllers, VisSim provides pre-configured PI, PD and PID controllers that can be easily customized or optimized for specific user requirements.

Setting up a simulation in VisSim is simple. Connect the controller to the plant model and to a plot block. Then select the simulation parameters, for example: start/end times and step size, and simulate. User-defined nonlinear control algorithms can also be incorporated directly into the simulation.

Simulations can be set up to run in interactive, batch or single-step modes. VisSim's highly interactive interface makes it easy to perform "what if" simulations. For example, a user can dynamically change parameter values like controller gains and VisSim will immediately display the corresponding changes in system behavior.

Both linear and nonlinear systems can be simulated with VisSim. Additionally, VisSim supports continuous, discrete time, multi-rate and hybrid simulations. Seven different integration algorithm options are available that offer a trade-off between speed and accuracy.

VisSim's OptimizePro can determine optimal values for design variables subject to user-defined constraints starting from initial user guess values. For example, OptimizePro can automatically calculate optimal PID controller gains that give minimal time to setpoint, plus minimal overshoot. It allows user-specified cost functions that can consider controller behavior, such as steady-state error, overshoot and rise and settling times. OptimizePro can even work with a physical system when coupled with VisSim's Real-Time option.

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