High-speed real-time multi-rate simulation

Recent research has focused on developing techniques that use digital signal processors (DSPs) and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to support real-time simulation with frame times of a few microseconds or less. These techniques can be used to simulate, for example, modern power electronic systems in real time. Using these techniques as part of a larger system simulation with a wide dynamic bandwidth presents a number of challenges. Multirate solutions are often required, in which different frame times are used for different parts of the system. It is not normally a feasible option to implement the entire multi-rate simulation on a DSP-based or FPGA-based processor. Consequently the high-speed simulation must be integrated into a more conventional real-time simulation system, which is typically a real-time Linux-based system. The paper discusses some of the challenges involved in implementing an integrated high-speed, real-time, multi-rate simulation system.