Simulink: read parameter from Matlab workspace

[cheba]

Beginner's Simulink problem:

I have made a Simulink model of a motor-reduction gear-conveyor belt system which outputs velocity (v) and acceleration (a) of the conveyor belt. The reduction gear ratio (i) is a value in a Constant block.

My next task is to make a simple optimization of the gear ratio for maximum acceleration using the Simulink model. The optimization task is supposed to be a .m-file so I was thinking of writing a script that runs the simulation with a set of different gear ratios. To do this I have to import a new value for the gear ratio into the model for each simulation. However I can't find out how to do this. Any help?

I tried to use google but I did not find any solution simple enough for me to understand...

 

[Valkarie]

The solution to your problem is to use the Simulink Parameter object. This object can be used to store and modify values within a Simulink model. To add it to your model, go to the Simulink Start Page and search for 'Parameter'. Drag and drop the Parameter object into your model. Set the initial value of the parameter to the gear ratio you wish to optimize. This will allow you to modify the gear ratio from within your .m-file. In your .m-file, you can then create a loop which calls the Simulink simulation with different values of the gear ratio. The Parameter object will be updated before each simulation run, allowing you to optimize the gear ratio for maximum acceleration.