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Three application stories featuring HR Textron, LMT and GEC-Marconi.

HR TEXTRON (HRT) is using VisSim/DSP for the rapid prototyping of hydraulic actuator systems that control the transition from helicopter mode to aircraft mode on military aircraft. The actuators enable the engine thrust vectoring to be switched between vertical and horizontal directions. HRT engineers successfully implemented four control loops running simultaneously (including position, velocity, resolvers, and Linear Variable Differential Transformers) on a single TI C31 DSP target. They accomplished this without having to write a single line of C code. VisSim/DSP helped HRT save months of development time on this project. They attribute this primarily to the following features of VisSim/DSP: quality and efficiency of C code, automatic programming of on-board analogue and digital data I/O, plus the ability to use VisSim to observe user-defined monitoring points and de-bug the control loops interactively while the algorithm executes on the DSP target.

Engineers at LIDKOPING MACHINE TOOLS (LMT), the world’s largest supplier of precision grinding machines, are using VisSim/DSP with a TI C32 target to design their next generation control system that includes closed-loop adaptive filtering and control activation modules. The adaptive filters act on real-time sensor data and a logic module analyses the filtered data to determine whether the machine- workpiece combination is within specified tolerances. If a tolerance exception is detected, a high-priority interrupt is generated and transmitted to the machine control system (located on a different hardware target) and the controller then takes corrective action.

LMT engineers had a prototype application running in two days, and were able to generate and download the filter to the DSP target on the third day — all without any prior training or exposure to VisSim/DSP. Key reasons for their success: ease of use of VisSim/DSP, advanced functionality such as the power spectral density (psd) block, FFT and IFFT blocks, Filter Design Wizards and variable-size buffers.

GEC-MARCONI (GECM) is a sub-contractor for the European Joint Strike Fighter project responsible for advanced engine controls. They are using VisSim/DSP to develop controls for thrust vectoring in a Three Bearing Swivel Nozzle using a TI C32 target. Two actuators, each manipulating one control surface, are controlled using VisSim/DSP to implement the pilot’s commands for engine thrust vectoring.

GECM engineers noted that VisSim/DSP’s ability to model and simulate complex dynamic systems helped them quickly validate the performance of their control system. Additionally, it’s ease-of-use and integration helped them develop prototypes quickly which was critical to the success of the project.

VisSim is supplied and supported in the UK and Ireland by Adept Scientific plc, Amor Way, Letchworth, Herts. SG6 1ZA; telephone (01462) 480055, fax (01462) 480213, email vissim@adeptscience.co.uk; or see Adept’s World Wide Web site http://www.adeptscience.co.uk/. Adept Scientific is one of the world’s leading suppliers of software and hardware products for research, scientific, engineering and technical applications on desktop computers.

With offices in the UK, USA, Germany and throughout the Nordic region, Adept Scientific is one of the world’s leading suppliers of software and hardware products for research, scientific, engineering and technical applications on desktop computers.