The VisSim product line added embedded software, controls and chemical reactions to Altair’s multiphysics simulation portfolio. The model-based systems engineering software gives engineers the ability to connect product system requirements and design elements to improve the traceability of the verification process. Additionally, VisSim’s visual programming language is able to produce C-code automatically. As such, the program is targeting systems and control engineers respectively.
“VisSim [provides] the tools necessary to realistically simulate dynamic systems … As a beta user from the beginning, I can say that VisSim 9.0 is every bit as stable as 8.0 while providing some great new features and increased functionality that make building models much easier,” said Mike Borrello, Principal Controls Engineer at Philips Healthcare.
Simulations, large plots, diagrams and subsystems have all had a speed boost in the 9.0 release of VisSim. Engineers will also be able to find plots, blocks and diagrams faster with a new search function. Users will also be able to use a few new modeling blocks to program execution orders, CRC16, TI MotorWare InstaSPIN FAST and SpinTAC for use in sensor-less field-oriented control motors.
Those comfortable with the TI C2000 series of microcontrollers will appreciate VisSim’s added support for the MCU series. Engineers will be able to control and develop systems graphically without having to write any physical C-code. The improved support includes:
- Piccolo F2805x MCU: digital-to-analog converters (DAC), comparator subsystems, programmable gains
- Delfino F2837x MCU: dual C28x cores, 200 MHz, 16 bit analog-to-digital converter, 12 bit DAC
- Piccolo F2807x MCU: dual C28x cores, 1000 MHz, 12 bit DAC, 12 bit ADC
- Access to TI InstaSPIN for electric drive engineers
“VisSim 9.0 has totally changed the way I interface to InstaSPIN-FOC … I have used it for lab activity in my motor control course, and my students loved it! They had the interface working and their motors spinning in no time,” said Dave Wilson, Motion Products Evangelist at Texas Instruments.
“This is the first release of VisSim since the acquisition of Visual Solutions by Altair in August 2014 … By leveraging Altair’s impressive software resources, VisSim 9.0 is the fastest, most robust release yet. I’m also really excited about the new features like edit-in-place, the interactive block finder, and our synchronous JTAG HotLink, which enables Processor-in-the-Loop (PIL) testing,” said Peter Darnell, Senior Vice President of Embedded Systems at Altair.
What are your thoughts on the first VisSim release by Altair? Comment below.
Source Altair.