xPC Target 4.2

Tuning Parameters and Monitoring Signals

xPC Target includes several methods for tuning application parameters. After downloading the application to the target PC, you can use the command-line interface or xPC Target Explorer to modify parameter values before, during, or after real-time execution. You can also use Simulink external mode for parameter tuning. In this mode, the Simulink model running on the host PC operates as a GUI to the target application. When you change a parameter in your Simulink model, the parameter value is automatically downloaded to the target PC and updated in the target application.

The xPC Target Explorer window (far left) and xPC Target Host Scope Viewer (near left). xPC Target Explorer runs on the host and interactively monitors and controls real-time xPC Target applications. Click on image to see enlarged view.

Monitoring and Acquiring Signals

With xPC Target, you can monitor, trace, and log signal data while the application is running. Signal monitoring is an instantaneous view of signal values at the current sample time. Signal tracing lets you capture, store, and display bursts of data, similar to the behavior of a digital oscilloscope. Use signal logging to acquire signals during the entire test execution. Options are available to log data to the target PC memory or file system. The acquired data can be uploaded to the host PC during the test, or upon completion, for display, analysis, or archiving.

Defining and Controlling Scopes

Scopes are graphical display components that can be used to monitor and acquire signal data on the host or target PC. Scopes support several trigger modes, which can be used to control the acquisition timing and duration of data collection. Multiple signals can be displayed in a single scope, and multiple scopes can be included in a single model.

Programming Custom GUIs

Two application programming interfaces (APIs) are included for custom GUI development. The xPC Target C API and xPC Target component object model (COM) API provide full access to the target PC control, parameter, and signal management functions. Development environments supported by these APIs include Visual Basic®, C, C++, Java™, .NET managed languages including C# and VB.NET, and any other programming languages that support COM. You can link to the APIs from your development environment to create custom host PC GUIs that run outside MATLAB.