Rapid Model Predictive Control prototyping with LabVIEW/CDSim and CompactRIO target

In this paper, an advanced Computer Aided Design (CAD) methodology for the Process-In-the-Loop (PIL) co-simulation and rapid prototyping of model predictive controllers is proposed and successfully implemented using the NI CompactRIO-9082 RT target and a host PC. The developed software (SW) and hardware (HW) co-design platform is based on the Control Design and Simulation (CDSim) module of LabVIEW environment and the Network Streams data communication protocol. The designed LabVIEW-based MPC algorithm as well as the dynamic model of the controlled plant are implemented as VI under the cRIO-9082 target and the host PC, respectively. This hardware model will be deployed on the CompactRIO Real-Time (RT) target within a PIL co-simulation framework. The proposed NI CompactRIO-9082 based CAD approach for prototyping and implementation of MPC algorithms is applied to the position control of a Magnetic Levitation system (MAGLEV). All obtained SW/HW co-simulation results are compared and discussed in order to improve the effectiveness of the proposed MPC co-design methodology.