Electrified Transportation with MATLAB, Simulink, and Simscape Electrical
Model and simulate systems and components for electrified transportation
Engineers use MATLAB, Simulink, and Simscape Electrical to model, simulate, and develop controls for systems and components of different types of electrified transportation, including aircraft, spacecraft, ships, and locomotives and rolling stock.
With Simscape Electrical we created an integrated power system model that connects electrical and thermal domains, so we get the whole picture during our mission-level simulations. If we need to model the motors that turn the solar arrays, we have the capability to integrate those mechanical components, too.
Electric Aircraft and Spacecraft Power System Design
Electric aircraft programs span a wide range of power system architectures, from more electric to hybrid‑electric and fully electric configurations. Model-Based Design provides an integrated workflow for analyzing and developing these architectures while reducing performance, schedule, and integration risks.
Using MATLAB, Simulink, and Simscape, you can:
- Design electric subsystems, including fuel pumps, DC power distribution networks, motors for actuation control, and emergency power systems
- Develop fit-for-purpose physical simulations that range from flight-cycle evaluation to power-electronic switching
- Study the steady-state and dynamic response of the renewable energy system by running desktop simulations
- Include energy storage and energy management systems (EMS) in your design
- Move from desktop to real-time simulation in one step
Featured Examples
Electrified Ship Power System Design
Multidomain physical modeling and simulations enable you to implement and evaluate electrical power systems with fewer prototypes. You can use Simulink and Simscape to design and retrofit power systems based on different requirements and ship operating profiles.
- Evaluate multiple scenarios ranging from energy flows during ship maneuvers to the impact of power converters on fault response
- Explore different electrical technology options through power systems analysis and design
- Include thermal response and thermal cooling in your system models
- Vary the fidelity of your models as technology readiness evolves
- Move models from desktop to real-time simulation
- Optimize system-level ship energy flow
Simulink and Simscape enabled us to create a dynamic model of a complex energy system that spans several physical domains. By simulating this model, we can see how a new energy subsystem will perform before it is built, and provide customers with an accurate estimate of their return on investment.
Featured Examples
Locomotives and Rolling Stock
MATLAB, Simulink, and Simscape enable you to create plant models, such as electrical motors, for running simulations. You can develop algorithms for both system-level control (such as train control and traction control management systems) and component-level control (such as door controls and braking). The products let you generate production-ready control code for different embedded processors. Real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing helps you validate control software without relying on costly physical prototypes.
Using MATLAB and Simulink with TÜV SÜD-certified products, you can design and implement real-time controls for locomotive traction motors and railway electrification systems. Model-Based Design helps improve the quality, time to market, and cost-effectiveness of digitally controlled and software-intensive railway power systems. You can also develop high-integrity systems that achieve full compliance with EN 50128, a standard for railway control and protection systems software.
We used MathWorks tools to design, test, modify, and implement a control system for a permanent magnet drive in one year. Given the resources available to us, it would have been impossible to deliver this on schedule without MathWorks tools.
Model Inverters, Traction Motors, and Develop Traction Control Software
Accurate motor modeling enables earlier development of motor and traction control units (TCU) before hardware testing with MATLAB, Simulink, and Simscape.
- Model and simulate motors, power electronics, and TCUs (with Motor Control Blockset and Simscape Electrical)
- Parametrize motor models to capture motor dynamics with the help of instrumented tests or import parameters from a database or finite element analysis
- Perform closed-loop simulations and automatically tune control algorithms using Field Oriented Control (FOC) Autotuner to meet speed and torque response requirements
- Perform rapid control prototyping and hardware-in-the-loop testing (HIL) by generating C, C++, or HDL code for simulation models
- Generate production-ready C and HDL code from motor control algorithms to target embedded microcontrollers, FPGAs, and SOCs
Featured Examples
Customer Stories
- Alstom Generates Production Code for Safety-Critical Power Converter Control Systems
- Bombardier Transportation Implements Model-Based Design to Accelerate Rail Propulsion System Development
- CSEE Transport Ensures Reliability of High-Speed Rail Software
- ABB Accelerates Application Control Software Development for a Power Electronic Controller
