Graphical system design (GSD) is a modern approach to designing measurement and control systems that integrates system design software with
COTS hardware to dramatically simplify development. This approach combines user interfaces,
models of computation
In computer science, and more specifically in computability theory and computational complexity theory, a model of computation is a model which describes how an output of a mathematical function is computed given an input. A model describes how ...
, math and analysis, Input/output signals, technology abstractions, and various deployment target. It allows
domain experts, or non- implementation experts, to access to design capabilities where they would traditionally need to outsource a system design expert.
This approach to system design is a super-set of
electronic system-level Electronic system level (ESL) design and verification is an electronic design methodology, focused on higher abstraction level concerns. The term ''Electronic System Level'' or ''ESL Design'' was first defined by Gartner Dataquest, an EDA-industry ...
(ESL) design. Graphical system design expands on the EDA-based ESL definition to include other types of embedded system design including industrial machines and medical devices. Many of these expanded applications can be defined as "
the long tail
In statistics and business, a long tail of some distributions of numbers is the portion of the distribution having many occurrences far from the "head" or central part of the distribution. The distribution could involve popularities, random nu ...
" applications.
System-level design
Graphical system design is an approach to designing an entire system, using more intuitive graphical software and off-the-shelf (non-custom) hardware devices to refine the design, create initial prototypes and even use for the few run of deployments. The approach may involve
Algorithm engineering Algorithm engineering focuses on the design, analysis, implementation, optimization, profiling and experimental evaluation of computer algorithms, bridging the gap between algorithm theory and practical applications of algorithms in software enginee ...
. The approach can prove successful when designers need to get something to market quickly (medical video
or with a team of non-embedded experts like Boston Engineerin
to create a
mechatronics engineering, mechatronics-based machine.
"Graphical system design is a complementary but encompassing platform-based approach that includes embedded and electronic system design, implementation, and verification tools. ESL and graphical system design are really part of the same movement--higher abstraction and more design automation looking to solve the real engineering challenges that designers are facing today--addressing design flaws that are introduced at the specification stage to ensure they're detected well before validation for on-time product delivery."
{{cn, date=November 2011
Tools
Graphical system design relies on open connectivity. For example, tools that can be used in the design phase include (in alphabetical order):
Ansoft Designer,
AutoCAD
AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers. ...
,
CarSim,
DOORS
A door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier that allows ingress (entry) into and egress (exit) from an enclosure. The created opening in the wall is a ''doorway'' or ''portal''. A door's essential and primary purpose is to provide security by ...
,
Dymola
Dymola is a commercial modeling and simulation environment based on the open Modelica modeling language.
Large and complex systems are composed of component models; mathematical equations describe the dynamic behavior of the system.
Developed b ...
,
LabVIEW
Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW) is a system-design platform and development environment for a visual programming language from National Instruments.
The graphical language is named "G"; not to be confused with G-c ...
,
MSC.Adams,
NI Multisim
NI Multisim (formerly MultiSIM) is an electronic schematic capture and simulation program which is part of a suite of circuit design programs, along with NI Ultiboard. Multisim is one of the few circuit design programs to employ the original ...
,
NEi Nastran
Nei or NEI may refer to:
* Nei, Iran, a village in Ardabil Province, Iran
*Nei, a character in the ''Phantasy Star II'' roleplaying game
* Nutrition and Education International
*Nuclear Energy Institute, American nuclear industry lobbying group
...
,
SolidWorks
SolidWorks is a solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) application published by Dassault Systèmes.
According to the publisher, over two million engineers and designers at more than 165,000 companies w ...
,
SPICE
A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavoring or as a garnish. Spices a ...
,
OpenWire (library)
OpenWire is an open-source dataflow programming library that extends the functionality of Embarcadero Delphi and C++ Builder by providing pin type component properties. The properties can be connected to each other. The connections can be used to ...
.
The prototyping stage is more about taking algorithm design and implementing them on hardware for higher quality designs. An effective prototyping platform includes a high-level language, real-time processors,
FPGA
A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit designed to be configured by a customer or a designer after manufacturinghence the term '' field-programmable''. The FPGA configuration is generally specified using a hardware d ...
logic, modular I/O and any
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...
needed.
The deploy stage is mostly about hardware - where you put your design in the final stage. This may involve
MPUs or FPGAs.
Examples
Examples of engineers and scientists applying graphical system design techniques include:
Graphical System Design for Digital Radio MondialeResearchers Use Graphical System Design for Development and Control of Unmanned Underwater VehiclesDeveloping a Robotic Manipulator for Cancer Therapy Using Graphical System DesignGraphical system design for embedded control systems
Electronic design automation