Main Content

Numeric Models

Numeric Linear Time Invariant (LTI) Models

Numeric LTI models are the basic numeric representation of linear systems or components of linear systems. Use numeric LTI models for modeling dynamic components, such as transfer functions or state-space models, whose coefficients are fixed, numeric values. You can use numeric LTI models for linear analysis or control design tasks.

The following table summarizes the available types of numeric LTI models.

Model TypeDescription
tf (Control System Toolbox)Transfer function model in polynomial form
zpk (Control System Toolbox)Transfer function model in zero-pole-gain (factorized) form
ss (Control System Toolbox)State-space model
frd (Control System Toolbox)Frequency response data model
pid (Control System Toolbox)Parallel-form PID controller
pidstd (Control System Toolbox)Standard-form PID controller
pid2 (Control System Toolbox)Parallel-form two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) PID controller
pidstd2 (Control System Toolbox)Standard-form 2-DOF PID controller

Creating Numeric LTI Models

For information about creating numeric LTI models, see:

Applications of Numeric LTI Models

You can use Numeric LTI models to represent block diagram components such as plant or sensor dynamics. By connecting Numeric LTI models together, you can derive Numeric LTI models of block diagrams. Use Numeric LTI models for most modeling, analysis, and control design tasks, including:

  • Analyzing linear system dynamics using analysis commands such as bode, step, or impulse.

  • Designing controllers for linear systems using the Control System Designer (Control System Toolbox) app or the PID Tuner GUI (Control System Toolbox).

  • Designing controllers using control design commands such as pidtune (Control System Toolbox), rlocus (Control System Toolbox), or lqr (Control System Toolbox)/lqg (Control System Toolbox).

Identified LTI Models

Identified LTI Models represent linear systems with coefficients that are identified using measured input/output data. You can specify initial values and constraints for the estimation of the coefficients.

The following table summarizes the available types of identified LTI models.

Model TypeDescription
idtfTransfer function model in polynomial form, with identifiable parameters
idssState-space model, with identifiable parameters
idpolyPolynomial input-output model, with identifiable parameters
idprocContinuous-time process model, with identifiable parameters
idfrdFrequency-response model, with identifiable parameters
idgreyLinear ODE (grey-box) model, with identifiable parameters

Identified Nonlinear Models

Identified Nonlinear Models represent nonlinear systems with coefficients that are identified using measured input/output data. You can specify initial values and constraints for the estimation of the coefficients.

The following table summarizes the available types of identified nonlinear models.

Model TypeDescription
idnlarxNonlinear ARX model, with identifiable parameters
idnlgreyNonlinear ODE (grey-box) model, with identifiable parameters
idnlhwHammerstein-Wiener model, with identifiable parameters