MathWorks adds model-based design for TIs' C2000 Piccolo microcontrollers

The MathWorks/TI collaboration enables engineers to design and simulate systems, generate code, and verify algorithms running on TI Piccolo processors.

By Rick Nelson, Editor-in-Chief -- EDN, June 23, 2010

The MathWorks and Texas Instruments have announced they will continue to collaborate to support customers who are designing of cost-sensitive, energy-efficient applications. Under an initiative announced today, engineers using TI's TMS320C2000 Piccolo real-time-control MCUs can adopt model-based-design techniques to support the full product-development chain--from algorithm development to production code generation. Adding support for the low-cost, high-performance Piccolo MCU family, the MathWorks' Target Support Package product now offers rapid turnkey implementation, early verification, and shorter time-to-market for digital motor control, digital power, lighting, renewable energy, and other applications requiring real-time control.

Specifically, the MathWorks/TI collaboration enables engineers to design and simulate systems, generate code, and verify algorithms running on TI Piccolo processors using the MathWorks' Embedded IDE Link tool. The MathWorks' code-generation products enable engineers to integrate peripheral devices and real-time operating systems with algorithms created using Simulink models, Stateflow charts, and Embedded Matlab, all without writing low-level drivers and run-time code. The MathWorks' Fixed-Point Advisor tool helps target floating-point implementations to a fixed-point processor. After deploying the resulting executable on a Piccolo microcontroller or other C2000 microcontroller from TI, engineers can perform processor-in-the-loop testing. To speed execution, engineers can replace parts of the standard ANSI C code with processor-optimized functions. A video on the MathWorks Web site describes the process for the development of a proportional-integral controller for a DC motor.

The 32-bit Piccolo MCU family offers a range of performance levels, various flash options, analog integration, and control-oriented peripheral options to meet the varying demands of cost-sensitive, real-time control applications. Design engineers can now execute their Matlab and Simulink algorithm code across all F2802x/F2803x Piccolo devices for rapid prototyping and production deployment of embedded systems. Model-based design with production code generation creates a direct connection between the development environment and implementation platform, helping engineers to identify and fix design problems at the system level and easily generate efficient C2000-specific code.

"Creating energy efficient designs is quickly becoming the single most important part of the embedded development landscape. Model-based design helps embedded developers reach the market faster with innovative products that harness the low-cost, high performance, and control-oriented peripherals of Piccolo MCUs," said Ken Karnofsky, MathWorks senior strategist for signal-processing applications.

"TI and MathWorks share a common commitment to provide developers with the tools and support they need to simplify design of innovative end products that are reliable, energy efficient and cost effective," said Sangmin Chon, C2000 worldwide marketing director, TI.  "The integration of our tools within model-based design further demonstrates that commitment and allows more customers to speed development from initial rapid prototyping all the way to production."

List prices for the Target Support Package start at $3000. TI's Piccolo MCUs start at less than $2 each in volume.