Newsletters September 2009

September 2009

Welcome to our September 2009 Newsletter. This edition of the newsletter introduces Early Verification, a design technique involving modelling, simulation, and verification of designs prior to implementation on hardware. We talk about the benefits of early verification, and show you how some customers have already saved time by using early verification in their design processes.

We also remind you of our free technical support services, and as always, provide you with a list of upcoming events from OPTI-NUM solutions.

We welcome any discussion on these articles.

The OPTI-NUM solutions team. 

Early Verification

View introductory video (4 min.)

How much time do you spend in the “test” or “commissioning” phase of your projects? How often do you discover flaws in the design that require “tweaking”, re-tuning or a complete re-design of your system? Early verification is a technique that helps to reduce implementation and testing time.

Using modelling and simulation before hardware prototyping phases, and by moving the verification process earlier in the design process, engineering teams are able to save time by isolating and fixing problems when they are easier to detect and less costly to fix. Early verification therefore involves consciously moving the verification phase into the early parts of the design process, utilising software modelling and simulation to facilitate the verification process.

Early verification is being used in Signal Processing and Communications applications by companies such as Philips (for surround-sound processing) and Yokogawa Electric (for optical network devices). In Control System Design, where mechatronic systems are becoming increasingly complex, companies such as Xerox have successfully incorporated Early Verification into their design process. All of these companies have shown substantial savings in their development times.

You can find more information on Early Verification from The MathWorks Early Verification page.

For a longer series of on-demand webinars about early verification, you can visit the Control Systems recorded webinar series, or the Signal Processing Systems recorded webinar series.

Technical Support – Not just for installation queries

Did you know that OPTI-NUM solutions offers end-user technical support? Our support team is able to answer most technical enquiries within one working day. From installation queries to end-user code speedup questions, we are always available to help customers resolve their technical issues.

Customers who are current on Software Maintenance Service can take advantage of this service by calling 011 325 6238, or by contacting our technical support team.

Customers who are not current on Software Maintenance can contact our sales team on 011 325 6238 to discuss renewal of your Software Maintenance Service.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Featured User Stories

Our featured user stories all involve some measure of the benefits to be gained from adopting early verification in the design process.

• Philips: Enabled 80% of their one-piece surround sound system design to be reused in future projects.
• Husco International: Reduced their intelligent valve controller development time by 50% and could modify their design in one hour, for a 20-ton excavator.
• Xerox: Reduced their control development time by around 80% by using models of their paper printing systems.
• Cessna: Saved thousands of dollars and cut time by 75% when adopting modelling and simulation on an antiskid brake control system.
• Yokogawa Electric: Halved development time for a next-generation optical network device.
  

View other featured user stories.

Events

Upcoming Training Courses

This year we have focused our scheduled courses on enabling new and existing users to gain the most from their investment in The MathWorks products. You will see only two courses scheduled regularly throughout the year:

• “MATLAB Fundamentals” is perfect for enabling new and existing users to quickly become more productive with MATLAB.
  
  
• “Simulink for System and Algorithm Modelling” will teach you all you need to know about Simulink to become a proficient and capable modelling and simulation practitioner. Simulink is the foundation of Early Verification with MathWorks products.
  

The next scheduled MATLAB and Simulink training courses can be found here.

We are busy growing our database of training requests for specialised courses. Should you wish to add your name to the list of training requests, please complete your details here (please be sure to include in the “Query” box, the name of the course you are interested in). If you would like us to present any of our courses to you and at least 3 other colleagues, contact us to negotiate dates and discuss costs and venues.

Upcoming Seminars and Webinars

For an up to date list of upcoming seminars and webinars, see our Events page.

09 September 2010	Image Acquisition and Processing Using GigE Vision Cameras with MATLAB
14 September 2010	Analyze, Model and Simulate Energy Risk with MATLAB – a SAP Integration at RWE
14 September 2010	PID Control Made Easy