A FLEXIBLE DATA INTERPRETER FOR COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN AND SIMULATION OF DYNAMICS SYSTEMS

A general purpose graphics based man-machine computer interface is described with particular reference to its use in the design of control systems and the simulation of dynamical systems. The software requirements for such an interface are outlined and the structure of a real time graphics operating system (ARGOS) which meets these requirements is discussed. The operating system allows complex interconnected linear and nonlinear systems to be described in simple diagrammatic form for direct interpretation by existing algorithms for analysis in both the time and frequency domain. The graphics input procedures are applicable to a number of existing computer aided design packages.