MathWorks adds new multibody simulation capabilities to SimMechanics for Simulink Users

June 13, 2012: MathWorks has announced a new version of SimMechanics that enables users to create realistic parts and geometry by leveraging MATLAB. SimMechanics automatically creates a 3D animation during simulation that can be replayed without rerunning the simulation. Engineers can reuse their custom parts and mechanisms in new designs, thus shortening the modeling process.

With SimMechanics, engineers in industries such as automotive, aerospace, industrial automation and machinery can model 3D mechanical systems in a Simulink block diagram using bodies, joints, constraints, and force elements. SimMechanics models can connect to Simscape and other Simulink products for physical modeling, such as SimElectronics and SimHydraulics. This helps engineers to detect integration issues between electrical, mechanical, and control systems early in the development process before any physical hardware is built.

Additional key features include:

• Rigid body definition using standard geometry and custom extrusions defined in MATLAB for quickly prototyping mechanical parts

• Automatic calculation of mass and inertia tensor for ensuring accurate models

• Visualisation and animation of multibody system dynamics with 3D geometry for rapid analysis of simulation results

• Ability to enter exact and approximate state targets for simplifying the specification of the initial state

• Block diagram representation for clearly documenting connections to other parts

• Simulink libraries for sharing and reuse of parts and mechanisms