Model Based Design (MBD) Approach to Embedding Algorithm with Arduino Uno

Abstract

The ability for Problem Solving Environment (PSE) to model, simulate and embed algorithms unto micro-controllers without manually converting algorithms to C programming language has been subjected to a lot of scepticism. This modern method popularly referred to as Model Base Design (MBD) approach is gaining popularity amongst system engineers worldwide. Its intuitiveness combined with the learning ease and rapid prototyping appetite has lured great research agencies like NASA to use MBD in the guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) system for the Orion project. In this study, we explored the benefit of MBD, using MATLAB/Simulink as our PSE and Arduino Uno as our micro-controller. The main goal is to develop a simple traffic light and embed it in Arduino Uno from MATLAB/Simulink. The traffic light algorithm was developed using Stateflow® and the complete model built and simulated in Simulink®. Simulink Coder® was then used to automatically convert the algorithm to C code. Hence, Arduino Uno was targeted in an experiment set-up with 3 Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The three LEDs (red, green and yellow) blinked in the designed manner depicting a typical traffic light control. In the course of this study, it was observed that the MATLAB syntax used to blink the LED varied between the R2014a and the R2015b versions of MATLAB.