Abstract

Modelling and simulation are key tools for analysis and design of systems and processes from almost any scientific or engineering discipline. Models of complex systems are typically built on acausal Differential-Algebraic Equations (DAE) and discrete events using Object-Oriented Modelling (OOM) languages, and some of their key concepts can be explained as symmetries. To obtain a computer executable version from the original model, several algorithms, based on bipartite symmetric graphs, must be applied for automatic equation generation, removing alias equations, computational causality assignment, equation sorting, discrete-event processing or index reduction. In this paper, an open source tool according to OOM paradigm and developed in MATLAB is introduced. It implements such algorithms adding an educational perspective about how they work, since the step by step results obtained after processing the model equations can be shown. The tool also allows to create models using its own OOM language and to simulate the final executable equation set. It was used by students in a modelling and simulation course of the Automatic Control and Industrial Electronics Engineering degree, showing a significant improvement in their understanding and learning of the abovementioned topics after their assessment.

Highlights

  • First-principles modelling of complex systems with continuous and discrete components, which arises in many different fields, is a challenging task that can be efficiently carried out using the Object-Oriented Modelling (OOM) paradigm [1,2]

  • Oriented Modeling tool from University of Cordoba (OOMUCO) was used in a modelling and simulation course of the Automatic Control and Industrial Electronics Engineering degree at University of Cordoba

  • There is an specific subject devoted to OOM in this course, which covers the following topics: introduction to OOM and its core concepts, description of OOM languages’ main characteristics and use, introduction to Differential-Algebraic Equation (DAE) and how they arise in OOM, how partition generation is carried out and typical issues related with it and description of algorithms used in the previous steps

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Summary

Introduction

First-principles modelling of complex systems with continuous and discrete components (hybrid systems), which arises in many different fields, is a challenging task that can be efficiently carried out using the Object-Oriented Modelling (OOM) paradigm [1,2]. Inheritance: mechanism that allows common behaviours and interfaces to be shared between components It simplifies the modelling task and makes possible the creation of class libraries (packages) organized in a hierarchical way with interrelated parent and derived classes (the latter can be considered a specialization of the former). Reviewing recent state of the art, many other different topics in which educational tools have been introduced can be found, including electronics [38], physics [39,40], mechanical engineering [41,42], thermodynamics [43], optics [44] or robotics [45] In all these works, developed tools proved to be powerful and valuable instruments for improving student learning.

Differential-Algebraic Equation Systems
Partition Generation
Algebraic Loops
Higher Index DAEs
Events
Developed Tool
Object-Oriented Modelling Features in OOMUCO
Graphical User Interface
Examples
Index-0 DAE System
Algebraic Loop
Higher Index System
Evaluation
Student Survey of the Tool
Student Assessment
Conclusions
Full Text
Published version (Free)

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