Signal Definition View

The signal definition view appears whenever you select a Model Predictive Control Toolbox™ project or task node in the tree (see Tree View). You'll see this view when you open the design tool for the first time. An example appears below.

The following sections describe the view's main features:

• MPC Structure Overview
• Buttons
• Signal Properties Tables
• Right-Click Menu Options

MPC Structure Overview

This upper section is a noneditable display of your application's structure. Once you've imported a plant model (or controller), tool counts and displays the five possible signal types, as in the example below.

The counts change if you edit the signal types.

Buttons

Import Plant

Clicking this opens the Plant Model Importer dialog box (see Importing a Plant Model).

Import Controller

Clicking this opens the MPC Controller Importer dialog box (see Importing a Controller).

Note    You won't be allowed to proceed with your design until you import a plant model. You can do so indirectly by importing a controller or loading a saved project.

Signal Properties Tables

Two tables display the properties of each signal in your design.

Input Signal Properties

The plant's input signals appear as table rows (see example below).

The entries are editable and have the following significance:

• Name - The signal name, an alphanumeric string used to label other tables, graphics, etc. Each name must be unique. The design tool assigns a default name if your imported model doesn't specify one.
• Type - One of the three valid Model Predictive Control Toolbox input signal types. The above example shows one of each. To change a signal's type, click the table cell and select the desired type. The options are as follows:

• Manipulated - A signal that will be manipulated by the controller, i.e., an actuator (valve, motor, etc.).

  Measured Disturbance - An independent input whose value is measured and used as a controller input for feedforward compensation.

  Unmeasured Disturbance - An independent input representing an unknown, unpredictable disturbance.

• Description - An optional descriptive string.
• Units - Optional units (dimensions), a string. Used to label other dialog boxes, simulation plots, etc.
• Nominal - The signal's nominal value. The design tool defaults this to zero. Any value you assign here will be the default initial condition in simulations.

Note    Your design must include at least one manipulated variable. The other input signal types need not be included.

Output Signal Properties

The plant's output signals appear as table rows (see example below).

The entries are editable and have the following significance:

• Name - The signal name, an alphanumeric string used to label other tables, graphics, etc. Each name must be unique. The design tool assigns a default name if your imported model doesn't specify one.
• Type - One of the two valid Model Predictive Control Toolbox output signal types. The above example shows one of each. To change a signal's type, click the table cell and select the desired type. The options are as follows:

• Measured - A signal the controller can use for feedback.

  Unmeasured - Predicted by the plant model but unmeasured. Can be used as an indicator. Can also be assigned a setpoint or constrained.

• Description - An optional descriptive string.
• Units - Optional units (dimensions), a string. Used to label other dialog boxes, simulation plots, etc.
• Nominal - The signal's nominal value. The design tool defaults this to zero. Any value you assign here will be the default initial condition in simulations.

Note    Your design must include at least one measured output. Inclusion of unmeasured outputs is optional.

Right-Click Menu Options

Right-clicking on an MPC project/task node allows you to choose one of the following menu items:

• Import Plant Model - Opens the Plant Model Importer dialog box (see Importing a Plant Model)
• Import Controller - Opens the MPC Controller Importer dialog box (see Importing a Controller).
• Clear Project - Erases all plant models, controllers, and scenarios in your design, returning the project to its initial empty state.
• Delete Project - Deletes the selected project node.

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Exporting a Controller

Plant Models View

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