MATLAB: How to use a parameter to include a block multiple times in a custom block

Question

I would like to connect 70 Simscape blocks in parallel connected to a common node. How do I create multiple blocks programmatically with a parameter that specifies the number of blocks I want?

Answer 1

To create a custom block containing user specified number of Simscape blocks of the same type such as parallel blocks connected to common inlet and outlet, instead of using the .ssc file with the Simscape language, you can follow the following steps:

1. Create a subsystem in a library with the interfacing Connection Port blocks such as inlet or outlet.

2. Create a mask for the library block by right click > Mask > Create Mask. You can then look under the mask by right click > Mask > Look Under Mask (Ctrl + U)

3. Open the Mask Editor by right click > Mask > Edit Mask (Ctrl + M).

4. In Parameters & Dialog, drag a Edit Parameter Control into the Parameters category, specify the prompt for the mask dialog variable and the mask variable name.

5. In Initialization, use add_block, add_line, find_system, delete_block, delete_line, get_param, and set_param to implement the blocking adding and deleting programmatically.

You can use the 'doc' function to view the documentation for the mentioned functions. For example, in the Command Window you can type:

>> doc add_block

to bring up the documentation page for 'add_block'.

I would recommend you to debug the algorithm in a MATLAB script, and copy and paste the code into the mask initialization after you verify that the code is working correctly. For your reference, you can start with the attached example demonstrating how to add the Simscape Fixed Orifice block in a masked subsystem block in a custom library.