MUSIC: A Tool for Simulation and Real-time Control

Abstract A program package, called MUSIC, has been developed for implementing simulation and real-time control algorithms on PDP-11 and VAX family computers. The control structure can be described by means of a block diagram. The blocks represent the algorithms and control functions, while the topology is defined by the connections of the blocks. A set of standard blocks is available and the user can define and add his own blocks to the system using a standard software interface. Blocks can have adjustable parameters and an arbitrary internal complexity. From the selected set of blocks an actual simulation or real-time control program and a database can be built using a program generator. The interaction with this control program is performed via a separate command interface program. With this interface the user may supply interactively all the information describing the control system. A user-written optional third program can also be added to the system to perform additional calculations outside the control loop or to realise individual command interfaces. A graphic display facility facilitates the evaluation of results and the comparison of a set of solutions. The whole system is embedded in a user-friendly menu, so the user hardly needs any computer-dependent particular knowledge.