Embedded MATLAB™

Overview of the Embedded MATLAB Subset

A Subset of the MATLAB Language

Embedded MATLAB™ is a subset of the MATLAB^® language that supports efficient code generation for deployment in embedded systems and acceleration of fixed-point algorithms.

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Embedded MATLAB Inference Engine

Embedded MATLAB technology uses an inference engine to enforce language constraints for simulation and code generation. The inference engine works with Real-Time Workshop^® code generation software to convert code from a dynamically typed language (MATLAB) to a statically typed language (C), without using dynamic memory allocation. To convert data types accurately, the Embedded MATLAB inference engine requires that you define the class, size, and complexity of data in the source code so it can assign data types correctly at compile time.

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Supported MATLAB Language Features

The Embedded MATLAB subset supports the following MATLAB language features:

• N-dimensional arrays

• Matrix operations

• Subscripting (see Using Matrix Indexing Operations)

• Complex numbers (see Working with Complex Numbers)

• Numeric classes (see Supported Variable Types)

• Double-precision, single-precision, and integer math

• Fixed-point arithmetic (see Working with the Fixed-Point Embedded MATLAB Subset in the Fixed-Point Toolbox™ documentation)

• if, switch, while, and for statements

• Subfunctions (see Calling Functions in the Embedded MATLAB Subset)

• Persistent variables (see Declaring Persistent Variables)

• Structures (see Using Structures)

• Characters (see Working with Characters)

• Function handles (see Working with Function Handles)

• Frames (see Working with Frame-Based Signals in the Simulink^® documentation.

• Variable length input and output argument lists (see Specifying Variable Numbers of Arguments in Embedded MATLAB Functions)

• Subset of MATLAB functions (see Embedded MATLAB Function Library Reference)

• Ability to call MATLAB functions (see How the Embedded MATLAB Subset Resolves Function Calls)

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Unsupported MATLAB Language Features

The Embedded MATLAB subset does not support the following MATLAB features:

• Cell arrays

• Command/function duality

  Note   The Embedded MATLAB subset supports function-style syntax — but not command-style syntax — for function calls. MATLAB supports both styles (see Command vs. Function Syntax in the MATLAB Programming Fundamentals documentation).

• Dynamic variables

  Note   You cannot use variables that change size.

• Global variables

• Java™

• Matrix deletion

• Nested functions

• Objects

• Sparse matrices

• Try/catch statements

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Working with the Embedded MATLAB Subset

Using Embedded MATLAB Technology with MathWorks Products