Simulating complex systems in labview

Modeling and simulation of systems, especially in science and engineering can help to reduce risk and cost of design and testing processes. According to Cellier, the established mathematical models can be classified as follows: continuous time, discrete time, quantitative models and discrete event models. A huge number of simulation software has been developed to support modeling and simulation efforts. All of these software tools support the use of one or more mathematical model classes. Despite all of these efforts, it is hard to find simulation software, which is capable of combining several model classes in a real industry standard environment. The paper presents a series of simulation software products, which have been developed using an industry standard programming environment widely applied to data acquisition, process control and data visualization: National Instruments' LabVIEW. The first development was the TUBSIM, a continuous time simulation toolbox and it was followed by the discrete event extension called Discrete Event Simulator (DES). The elements of the toolboxes facilitate block oriented modeling using LabVIEW's high level graphical editor and calculating power of. Both LabVIEW-based simulation libraries are widely used in education and research. During the years several additional modules were and are still developed, e.g., fuzzy rule-based systems, optimization using genetic algorithm, compartment modeling systems for pharmacodynamical and pharmacokinetical applications, etc. Applying these toolboxes one can model and simulate complex systems where continuous and discrete event driven parts are working together. The continuous part can insert events into the discrete event task list on the fulfillment of different continuous state variable conditions. The discrete event system can also change the value of state variables, together with input values in the continuous system.