Why am I unable to connect to Arduino in External Mode?

When I try to run my model in external mode with Arduino Mega connected, I receive the following error:

---------------------------
### Starting build procedure for model: model1_test 
Code Generation 1 
Elapsed: 1:04 min 
AVR Memory Usage 
---------------- 
Device: atmega2560 

Program: 24764 bytes (9.4% Full) 
(.text + .data + .bootloader) 

Data: 1769 bytes (21.6% Full) 
(.data + .bss + .noinit) 
### Successful completion of build procedure for model: model1_test 
Build process completed successfully 
Attempting to establish connection with hostname '127.0.0.1' through port 17725. 
action: EXT_CONNECT 
Component:Simulink | Category:Model 
Error occurred while executing External Mode MEX-file 'ext_comm': 
Failed to connect to the target. Possible reasons for the failure: 
a) The target is not switched on. 
b) The target is not connected to your host machine. 
c) The application for the model is not running on the target. You might have clicked the Stop button. If the Run button is not dimmed, click it. Otherwise, click the Build button, which downloads and runs your application on the target. 

Caused by: 
An error occurred attempting to open an rtIOStream. More detail may be reported in the MATLAB command window 
Component:Simulink | Category:Block diagram error 
Unable to connect to the 'Arduino Mega 2560' target for 'model1_test'.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

As you may observe, the error message provides the likely causes for this error. However, there is an additional cause related to the background daemon that MATLAB uses to establish connection with the Arduino.

The daemon could be timing out before external mode is able to start successfully. The expected time needed to establish connection varies from computer to computer, and as a result, you may need to modify the timeout value to use external mode. Some users have only noticed this error when I2C sensors are connected to the Arduino.

Please follow these instructions to modify the timeout value:

1. Delete the file, which will be located in the following directory within the Support Package Root Directory:

<RootDirectory>\toolbox\target\supportpackages\arduinobase\+codertarget\+arduinobase\+registry\startDaemon.p

To determine the support package root on your local machine, please execute the following command:

>> SupportPackageRoot = matlabshared.supportpkg.getSupportPackageRoot

For example, if the above command returns "C:\ProgramData\MATLAB\SupportPackages\R2017a\", then the file will be located at:

C:\ProgramData\MATLAB\SupportPackages\R2017a\\toolbox\target\supportpackages\arduinobase\+codertarget\+arduinobase\+registry\startDaemon.p

For more information on this command, please refer to the documentation:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/matlabshared.supportpkg.getsupportpackageroot.html

2. Copy the file startDaemon.m (attached) to 

<SupportPackageRoot>\toolbox\target\supportpackages\arduinobase\+codertarget\+arduinobase\+registry\

3. Adjust the timeout value for your system by modifying the "ethernetTimeout" variable at line 80 of startDaemon.m and save the file.

4. Run the following commands at MATLAB command prompt:

>> clear classes;
>> clear pcode;
>> rehash toolboxcache

After making these changes, you should be able to run the external mode connection as before. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to tune the timeout value as needed for your system. If the issue persists, please contact technical support .