MPC Controller

Simulate model predictive controller

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Libraries:
Model Predictive Control Toolbox

Description

The MPC Controller block receives the current measured output signal (mo), reference signal (ref), and optional measured disturbance signal (md). The block computes the optimal manipulated variable (mv) by solving a quadratic programming problem using either the default KWIK solver or a custom QP solver. For more information, see QP Solvers.

To use the block in simulation and code generation, you must specify an mpc object, which defines a model predictive controller. This controller must have already been designed for the plant that it controls.

Because the MPC Controller block uses MATLAB Function blocks, it requires compilation each time you change the MPC object and block. Also, because MATLAB^® does not allow compiled code to reside in any MATLAB product folder, you must use a non-MATLAB folder to work on your Simulink^® model when you use MPC blocks.

Examples

Switching Controllers Based on Optimal Costs

You can switch between multiple MPC controllers based on their optimal objective function cost values.

• Open Script

Understanding Control Behavior by Examining Optimal Control Sequence

You can analyze the optimal control sequence computed by a model predictive controller at each sample time.

• Open Script

Improving Control Performance with Look-Ahead (Previewing)

Improve reference tracking and measured disturbance rejection using signal previewing.

• Open Script

Vary Input and Output Bounds at Run Time

You can vary the upper and lower bounds of plant inputs and outputs at run time.

• Open Script

Tuning MPC Controller Weights at Run-Time

Tune MPC Controller Weights at Run-Time in simulation.

• Open Script

Ports

Input

Required Inputs

mo — Measured outputs

vector

Measured outputs, specified as a vector signal. The block uses the measured plant outputs to improve its state estimates. If your controller uses default state estimation, you must connect the measured plant outputs to the mo input port. If your controller uses custom state estimation, you must connect the estimated plant states to the x[k|k] input port.

Dependencies

To enable this port, clear the Use custom state estimation instead of using the built-in Kalman filter parameter.

x[k|k] — Custom state estimate

vector

Custom state estimate, specified as a vector signal. The block uses the connected state estimates instead of estimating the states using the built-in estimator. If your controller uses custom state estimation, you must connect the current state estimates to the x[k|k] input port. If your controller uses default state estimation, you must connect the measured output to the mo input port.

Even though noise model states (if any) are not used in MPC optimization, the custom state vector must contain all the states defined in the mpcstate object of the controller, including the plant, disturbance, and noise model states.

Use custom state estimates when an alternative estimation technique is considered superior to the built-in estimator or when the states are fully measurable.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Use custom state estimation instead of using the built-in Kalman filter parameter.

ref — Model output reference values

row vector | matrix

Plant output reference values, specified as a row vector signal or matrix signal.

To use the same reference values across the prediction horizon, connect ref to a row vector signal with N_y elements, where N_y is the number of output variables. Each element specifies the reference for an output variable.

To vary the references over the prediction horizon (previewing) from time k+1 to time k+p, connect ref to a matrix signal with N_y columns and up to p rows. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the references for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the final references are used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

Additional Inputs

md — input

row vector | matrix

If your controller prediction model has measured disturbances you must enable this port and connect to it a row vector or matrix signal.

To use the same measured disturbance values across the prediction horizon, connect md to a row vector signal with N_md elements, where N_md is the number of manipulated variables. Each element specifies the value for a measured disturbance.

To vary the disturbances over the prediction horizon (previewing) from time k to time k+p, connect md to a matrix signal with N_md columns and up to p+1 rows. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the disturbances for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p+1 rows, the final disturbances are used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Measured disturbances parameter.

ext.mv — Control signals used in plant at previous control interval

vector

Control signals used in the plant at the previous control interval, specified as a vector signal of length N_mv, where N_mv is the number of manipulated variables. Use this input port to improve state estimation accuracy when:

• You know your controller is not always in control of the plant.

• The actual MV signals applied to the plant can potentially differ from the values generated by the controller, such as in control signal saturation.

Controller state estimation assumes that the MVs are piecewise constant. Therefore, at time t_k, the ext.mv value must contain the effective MVs between times t_k–1 and t_k. For example, if the MVs are actually varying over this interval, you might supply the time-averaged value evaluated at time t_k.

Note

• Connect ext.mv to the MV signals actually applied to the plant in the previous control interval. Typically, these MV signals are the values generated by the controller, though this is not always the case. For example, if your controller is offline and running in tracking mode (that is, the controller output is not driving the plant), then feeding the actual control signal to ext.mv can help achieve bumpless transfer when the controller is switched back online.

• When the controller is driving the plant, insert a Memory block or Unit Delay block to feed back the MV signal applied to the plant at the previous control interval. This also avoids a direct feedthrough from the ext.mv inport to the mv outport, therefore preventing algebraic loops in the Simulink model.

For an example that uses the external manipulated variable input port for bumpless transfer, see Switch Controller Online and Offline with Bumpless Transfer.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the External manipulated variable parameter.

switch — Enable or disable optimization

scalar

To turn off the controller optimization calculations, connect switch to a nonzero signal.

Disabling optimization calculations reduces computational effort when the controller output is not needed, such as when the system is operating manually or another controller has taken over. However, the controller continues to update its internal state estimates in the usual way. Therefore, it is ready to resume optimization calculations whenever the switch signal returns to zero. While controller optimization is off, the block passes the current ext.mv signal to the controller output. If the ext.mv inport is not enabled, the controller output is held at the value it had when optimization was disabled.

For an example that uses the external manipulated variable input port for bumpless transfer, see Switch Controller Online and Offline with Bumpless Transfer.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Use external signal to enable or disable optimization parameter.

mv.target — Manipulated variable targets

vector

To specify manipulated variable targets, enable this input port, and connect a vector signal. To make a given manipulated variable track its specified target value, you must also specify a nonzero tuning weight for that manipulated variable.

The supplied mv.target values at run-time apply across the prediction horizon.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Targets for manipulated variables parameter.

Online Constraints

ymin — Minimum output variable constraints

vector | matrix

To specify run-time minimum output variable constraints, enable this input port. If this port is disabled, the block uses the lower bounds specified in the OutputVariables.Min property of its mpc controller object. If an output variable has no lower bound specified in the controller object, then at run time the block ignores the corresponding connected signal.

To change the bounds over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, connect ymin to a matrix signal with N_y columns and up to p rows. Here, N_y is the number of plant outputs, k is the current time, and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the bounds for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the bounds in the final row apply for the remainder of the prediction horizon. If there is only one output variable, and a vector signal with no more than p entries is connected, then these entries are used across the prediction horizon.

The ith column of the ymin signal corresponds to the ith plant output, and replaces the OutputVariables(i).Max property of the mpc object at run time. The replacement behavior depends on the dimensions of both variables.

Scalar OutputVariables(i).Min in the mpc object (a constant bound for the ith plant output to be applied to all prediction steps)

ymin Dimension	Replacement Behavior
Scalar ymin (single output, constant bound)	ymin replaces the constant bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Min.
Column vector ymin (single output, time-varying bound)	ymin replaces the constant bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Min with a time-varying bound.
Row vector ymin (multiple outputs, constant bounds)	The ith element of ymin replaces the constant bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Min.
Matrix ymin (multiple outputs, time-varying bounds)	The ith column of ymin replaces the constant bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Min with a time-varying bound.

Vector OutputVariables(i).Min in the mpc object (a time-varying bound for the ith plant output with different values at different prediction steps)

ymin Dimension	Replacement Behavior
Scalar ymin (single output, constant bound)	ymin replaces the first finite entry in OutputVariables.Min and the remaining entries in OutputVariables.Min shift up or down with the same amount of displacement to retain the profile defined by the original OutputVariables.Min vector.
Column vector ymin (single output, time-varying bound)	ymin replaces the time-varying bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Min, and the original bound profile is discarded.
Row vector ymin (multiple outputs, constant bounds)	The ith element of ymin replaces the first finite entry in OutputVariables(i).Min and the remaining entries in OutputVariables(i).Min shift up or down with the same amount of displacement to retain the profile defined by the original OutputVariables(i).Min vector.
Matrix ymin (multiple outputs, time-varying bounds).	The ith column of ymin replaces the time-varying bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Min, and the original bound profile is discarded.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Lower OV limits parameter.

ymax — Maximum output variable constraints

vector | matrix

To specify run-time maximum output variable constraints, enable this input port. If this port is disabled, the block uses the upper bounds specified in the OutputVariables.Max property of its mpc controller object. If an output variable has no upper bound specified in the controller object, then at run time the block ignores the corresponding connected signal.

To change the bounds over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, connect ymax to a matrix signal with N_y columns and up to p rows. Here, N_y is the number of plant outputs, k is the current time, and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the bounds for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the bounds in the final row apply for the remainder of the prediction horizon. If there is only one output variable, and a vector signal with no more than p entries is connected, then these entries are used across the prediction horizon.

The ith column of the ymax signal corresponds to the ith plant output, and replaces the OutputVariables(i).Max property of the mpc object at run time. The replacement behavior depends on the dimensions of both variables.

Scalar OutputVariables(i).Max in the mpc object (a constant bound for the ith plant output to be applied to all prediction steps)

ymax Dimension	Replacement Behavior
Scalar ymax (single output, constant bound)	ymax replaces the constant bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Max.
Column vector ymax (single output, time-varying bound)	ymax replaces the constant bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Max with a time-varying bound.
Row vector ymax (multiple outputs, constant bounds)	The ith element of ymax replaces the constant bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Max.
Matrix ymax (multiple outputs, time-varying bounds)	The ith column of ymax replaces the constant bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Max with a time-varying bound.

Vector OutputVariables(i).Max in the mpc object (a time-varying bound for the ith plant output with different values at different prediction steps)

ymax Dimension	Replacement Behavior
Scalar ymax (single output, constant bound)	ymax replaces the first finite entry in OutputVariables.Max and the remaining entries in OutputVariables.Max shift up or down with the same amount of displacement to retain the profile defined by the original OutputVariables.Max vector.
Column vector ymax (single output, time-varying bound)	ymax replaces the time-varying bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Max, and the original bound profile is discarded.
Row vector ymax (multiple outputs, constant bounds)	The ith element of ymax replaces the first finite entry in OutputVariables(i).Max and the remaining entries in OutputVariables(i).Max shift up or down with the same amount of displacement to retain the profile defined by the original OutputVariables(i).Max vector.
Matrix ymax (multiple outputs, time-varying bounds).	The ith column of ymax replaces the time-varying bound defined in OutputVariables(i).Max, and the original bound profile is discarded.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Upper OV limits parameter.

umin — Minimum manipulated variable constraints

vector | matrix

To specify run-time minimum manipulated variable constraints, enable this input port. If this port is disabled, the block uses the lower bounds specified in the ManipulatedVariables.Min property of its mpc controller object. If a manipulated variable has no lower bound specified in the controller object, then at run time the block ignores the corresponding connected signal.

To change the bounds over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p-1, connect umin to a matrix signal with N_mv columns and up to p rows. Here, N_mv is the number of manipulated variables, k is the current time, and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the bounds for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the bounds in the final row apply for the remainder of the prediction horizon. If there is only one manipulated variable, and a vector signal with no more than p entries is connected, then these entries are used across the prediction horizon.

The ith column of the umin signal corresponds to the ith manipulated variable, and replaces the ManipulatedVariables(i).Max property of the mpc object at run time. The replacement behavior depends on the dimensions of both variables.

Scalar ManipulatedVariables(i).Min in the mpc object (a constant bound for the ith manipulated variable to be applied to all prediction steps)

umin Dimension	Replacement Behavior
Scalar umin (single output, constant bound)	umin replaces the constant bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Min.
Column vector umin (single output, time-varying bound)	umin replaces the constant bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Min with a time-varying bound.
Row vector umin (multiple outputs, constant bounds)	The ith element of umin replaces the constant bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Min.
Matrix umin (multiple outputs, time-varying bounds)	The ith column of umin replaces the constant bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Min with a time-varying bound.

Vector ManipulatedVariables(i).Min in the mpc object (a time-varying bound for the ith manipulated variable with different values at different prediction steps)

umin Dimension	Replacement Behavior
Scalar umin (single output, constant bound)	umin replaces the first finite entry in ManipulatedVariables.Min and the remaining entries in ManipulatedVariables.Min shift up or down with the same amount of displacement to retain the profile defined by the original ManipulatedVariables.Min vector.
Column vector umin (single output, time-varying bound)	umin replaces the time-varying bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Min, and the original bound profile is discarded.
Row vector umin (multiple outputs, constant bounds)	The ith component of umin replaces the first finite entry in ManipulatedVariables(i).Min and the remaining entries in ManipulatedVariables(i).Min shift up or down with the same amount of displacement to retain the profile defined by the original ManipulatedVariables(i).Min vector.
Matrix umin (multiple outputs, time-varying bounds).	The ith column of umin replaces the time-varying bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Min, and the original bound profile is discarded.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Lower MV limits parameter.

umax — Maximum manipulated variable constraints

vector | matrix

To specify run-time maximum manipulated variable constraints, enable this input port. If this port is disabled, the block uses the upper bounds specified in the ManipulatedVariables.Max property of its mpc controller object. If a manipulated variable has no upper bound specified in the controller object, then at run time the block ignores the corresponding connected signal.

To change the bounds over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p-1, connect umax to a matrix signal with N_mv columns and up to p rows. Here, N_mv is the number of manipulated variables, k is the current time, and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the bounds for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the bounds in the final row apply for the remainder of the prediction horizon. If there is only one manipulated variable, and a vector signal with no more than p entries is connected, then these entries are used across the prediction horizon.

The ith column of the umax signal corresponds to the ith manipulated variable, and replaces the ManipulatedVariables(i).Max property of the mpc object at run time. The replacement behavior depends on the dimensions of both variables.

Scalar ManipulatedVariables(i).Max in the mpc object (a constant bound for the ith manipulated variable to be applied to all prediction steps)

umax Dimension	Replacement Behavior
Scalar umax (single output, constant bound)	umax replaces the constant bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Max.
Column vector umax (single output, time-varying bound)	umax replaces the constant bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Max with a time-varying bound.
Row vector umax (multiple outputs, constant bounds)	The ith element of umax replaces the constant bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Max.
Matrix umax (multiple outputs, time-varying bounds)	The ith column of umax replaces the constant bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Max with a time-varying bound.

Vector ManipulatedVariables(i).Max in the mpc object (a time-varying bound for the ith manipulated variable with different values at different prediction steps)

umax Dimension	Replacement Behavior
Scalar umax (single output, constant bound)	umax replaces the first finite entry in ManipulatedVariables.Max and the remaining entries in ManipulatedVariables.Max shift up or down with the same amount of displacement to retain the profile defined by the original ManipulatedVariables.Max vector.
Column vector umax (single output, time-varying bound)	umax replaces the time-varying bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Max, and the original bound profile is discarded.
Row vector umax (multiple outputs, constant bounds)	The ith element of umax replaces the first finite entry in ManipulatedVariables(i).Max and the remaining entries in ManipulatedVariables(i).Max shift up or down with the same amount of displacement to retain the profile defined by the original ManipulatedVariables(i).Max vector.
Matrix umax (multiple outputs, time-varying bounds).	The ith column of umax replaces the time-varying bound defined in ManipulatedVariables(i).Max, and the original bound profile is discarded.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Upper MV limits parameter.

E — Manipulated variable constraint matrix

matrix

Manipulated variable constraint matrix, specified as an N_c-by-N_mv matrix signal, where N_c is the number of mixed input/output constraints and N_mv is the number of manipulated variables.

If you define E in the mpc object, you must connect a signal to the E input port. Otherwise, connect a zero matrix with the correct size.

To specify run-time mixed input/output constraints, use the E input port along with the F, G, and S ports. These constraints replace the mixed input/output constraints previously set using setconstraint. For more information on mixed input/output constraints, see Constraints on Linear Combinations of Inputs and Outputs.

The number of mixed input/output constraints cannot change at run time. Therefore, N_c must match the number of rows in the E matrix you specified using setconstraint.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Custom constraints parameter.

F — Controlled output constraint matrix

matrix

Controlled output constraint matrix, specified as an N_c-by-N_y matrix signal, where N_c is the number of mixed input/output constraints and N_y is the number of plant outputs. If you define F in the mpc object, you must connect a signal to the F input port with same number of rows. Otherwise, connect a zero matrix with the correct size.

To specify run-time mixed input/output constraints, use the F input port along with the E, G, and S ports. These constraints replace the mixed input/output constraints previously set using setconstraint. For more information on mixed input/output constraints, see Constraints on Linear Combinations of Inputs and Outputs.

The number of mixed input/output constraints cannot change at run time. Therefore, N_c must match the number of rows in the F matrix you specified using setconstraint.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Custom constraints parameter.

G — Custom constraint vector

row vector

Custom constraint vector, specified as a row vector signal of length N_c, where N_c is the number of mixed input/output constraints. If you define G in the mpc object, you must connect a signal to the G input port with same number of rows. Otherwise, connect a zero matrix with the correct size.

To specify run-time mixed input/output constraints, use the G input port along with the E, F, and S ports. These constraints replace the mixed input/output constraints previously set using setconstraint. For more information on mixed input/output constraints, see Constraints on Linear Combinations of Inputs and Outputs.

The number of mixed input/output constraints cannot change at run time. Therefore, N_c must match the number of rows in the G matrix you specified using setconstraint.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Custom constraints parameter.

S — Measured disturbance constraint matrix

matrix

Measured disturbance constraint matrix, specified as an N_c-by-n_N matrix signal, where N_c is the number of mixed input/output constraints, and N_v is the number of measured disturbances. If you define S in the mpc object, you must connect a signal to the S input port with same number of rows. Otherwise, connect a zero matrix with the correct size.

To specify run-time mixed input/output constraints, use the S input port along with the E, F, and G ports. These constraints replace the mixed input/output constraints previously set using setconstraint. For more information on mixed input/output constraints, see Constraints on Linear Combinations of Inputs and Outputs.

The number of mixed input/output constraints cannot change at run time. Therefore, N_c must match the number of rows in the G matrix you specified using setconstraint.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Custom constraints parameter. This port is added only if the mpc object has measured disturbances.

Online Tuning Weights

y.wt — Output variable tuning weights

row vector | matrix

To specify run-time output variable tuning weights, enable this input port. If this port is disabled, the block uses the tuning weights specified in the Weights.OutputVariables property of its controller object. These tuning weights penalize deviations from output references.

If the MPC controller object uses constant output tuning weights over the prediction horizon, you can specify only constant output tuning weights at runtime. Similarly, if the MPC controller object uses output tuning weights that vary over the prediction horizon, you can specify only time-varying output tuning weights at runtime.

To use constant tuning weights over the prediction horizon, connect y.wt to a row vector signal with N_y elements, where N_y is the number of outputs. Each element specifies a nonnegative tuning weight for an output variable. For more information on specifying tuning weights, see Tune Weights.

To vary the tuning weights over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, connect y.wt to a matrix signal with N_y columns and up to p rows. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the tuning weights for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the tuning weights in the final row apply for the remainder of the prediction horizon. For more information on varying weights over the prediction horizon, see Setting Time-Varying Weights and Constraints with MPC Designer.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the OV weights parameter.

u.wt — Manipulated variable tuning weights

row vector | matrix

To specify run-time manipulated variable tuning weights, enable this input port. If this port is disabled, the block uses the tuning weights specified in the Weights.ManipulatedVariables property of its controller object. These tuning weights penalize deviations from MV targets.

If the MPC controller object uses constant manipulated variable tuning weights over the prediction horizon, you can specify only constant manipulated variable tuning weights at runtime. Similarly, if the MPC controller object uses manipulated variable tuning weights that vary over the prediction horizon, you can specify only time-varying manipulated variable tuning weights at runtime.

To use the same tuning weights over the prediction horizon, connect u.wt to a row vector signal with N_mv elements, where N_mv is the number of manipulated variables. Each element specifies a nonnegative tuning weight for a manipulated variable. For more information on specifying tuning weights, see Tune Weights.

To vary the tuning weights over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p-1, connect u.wt to a matrix signal with N_mv columns and up to p rows. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the tuning weights for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the tuning weights in the final row apply for the remainder of the prediction horizon. For more information on varying weights over the prediction horizon, see Setting Time-Varying Weights and Constraints with MPC Designer.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the MV weights parameter.

du.wt — Manipulated variable rate tuning weights

row vector | matrix

To specify run-time manipulated variable rate tuning weights, enable this input port. If this port is disabled, the block uses the tuning weights specified in the Weights.ManipulatedVariablesRate property of its controller object. These tuning weights penalize large changes in control moves.

If the MPC controller object uses constant manipulated variable rate tuning weights over the prediction horizon, you can specify only constant manipulated variable tuning rate weights at runtime. Similarly, if the MPC controller object uses manipulated variable rate tuning weights that vary over the prediction horizon, you can specify only time-varying manipulated variable rate tuning weights at runtime.

To use the same tuning weights over the prediction horizon, connect du.wt to a row vector signal with N_mv elements, where N_mv is the number of manipulated variables. Each element specifies a nonnegative tuning weight for a manipulated variable rate. For more information on specifying tuning weights, see Tune Weights.

To vary the tuning weights over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p-1, connect du.wt to a matrix signal with N_mv columns and up to p rows. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the tuning weights for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the tuning weights in the final row apply for the remainder of the prediction horizon. For more information on varying weights over the prediction horizon, see Setting Time-Varying Weights and Constraints with MPC Designer.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the MVRate weights parameter.

ecr.wt — Slack variable tuning weight

scalar

To specify a run-time slack variable tuning weight, enable this input port and connect a scalar signal. If this port is disabled, the block uses the tuning weight specified in the Weights.ECR property of its controller object.

The slack variable tuning weight has no effect unless your controller object defines soft constraints whose associated ECR values are nonzero. If there are soft constraints, increasing the ecr.wt value makes these constraints relatively harder. The controller then places a higher priority on minimizing the magnitude of the predicted worst-case constraint violation.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the ECR weight parameter.

Online Horizons

p — Prediction horizon

positive integer

Prediction horizon, specified as positive integer signal. The prediction horizon signal value must be less than or equal to the Maximum prediction horizon parameter.

At run time, the values of p overrides the default prediction horizon specified in the controller object. For more information, see Adjust Horizons at Run Time.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Adjust prediction horizon and control horizon at run time parameter.

m — Control horizon

positive integer | vector

Control horizon, specified as one of the following:

• Positive integer signal less than or equal to the prediction horizon.

• Vector signal of positive integers specifying blocking interval lengths. For more information, see Manipulated Variable Blocking.

At run time, the values of m overrides the default control horizon specified in the controller object. For more information, see Adjust Horizons at Run Time.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Adjust prediction horizon and control horizon at run time parameter.

Output

Required Output

mv — Optimal manipulated variable control action

column vector

Optimal manipulated variable control action, output as a column vector signal of length N_mv, where N_mv is the number of manipulated variables.

If the solver converges to a local optimum solution (qp.status is positive), then mv contains the optimal solution.

If the solver fails (qp.status is negative), then mv remains at its most recent successful solution; that is, the controller output freezes.

If the solver reaches the maximum number of iterations without finding an optimal solution (qp.status is zero) and the Optimization.UseSuboptimalSolution property of the controller is:

• true, then mv contains the suboptimal solution

• false, then mv then mv remains at its most recent successful solution

Additional Outputs

cost — Objective function cost

nonnegative scalar

Objective function cost, output as a nonnegative scalar signal. The cost quantifies the degree to which the controller has achieved its objectives. The cost value is calculated using the scaled MPC cost function in which every term is offset-free and dimensionless.

The cost value is only meaningful when the qp.status output is nonnegative.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Optimal cost parameter.

qp.status — Optimization status

integer

Optimization status, output as an integer signal.

If the controller solves the QP problem for a given control interval, the qp.status output returns the number of QP solver iterations used in computation. This value is a finite, positive integer and is proportional to the time required for the calculations. Therefore, a large value means a relatively slow block execution for this time interval.

The QP solver can fail to find an optimal solution for the following reasons:

• qp.status = 0 — The QP solver cannot find a solution within the maximum number of iterations specified in the mpc object. In this case, if the Optimizer.UseSuboptimalSolution property of the controller is false, the block holds its mv output at the most recent successful solution. Otherwise, it uses the suboptimal solution found during the last solver iteration.

• qp.status = -1 — The QP solver detects an infeasible QP problem. See Monitoring Optimization Status to Detect Controller Failures for an example where a large, sustained disturbance drives the output variable outside its specified bounds. In this case, the block holds its mv output at the most recent successful solution.

• qp.status = -2 — The QP solver has encountered numerical difficulties in solving a severely ill-conditioned QP problem. In this case, the block holds its mv output at the most recent successful solution.

In a real-time application, you can use qp.status to set an alarm or take other special action.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Optimization status parameter.

est.state — Estimated controller states

vector

Estimated controller states at each control instant, returned as a vector signal. The estimated states include the plant, disturbance, and noise model states. If custom state estimation is used, this output signal has the same value as the x[k|k] input signal.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Estimated controller states parameter.

Optimal Sequences

mv.seq — Optimal manipulated variable sequence

matrix

Optimal manipulated variable sequence, returned as a matrix signal with p+1 rows and N_mv columns, where p is the prediction horizon and N_mv is the number of manipulated variables.

The first p rows of mv.seq contain the calculated optimal manipulated variable values from current time k to time k+p-1. The first row of mv.seq contains the current manipulated variable values (output mv). Since the controller does not calculate optimal control moves at time k+p, the final two rows of mv.seq are identical.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Optimal control sequence parameter.

x.seq — Optimal prediction model state sequence

matrix

Optimal prediction model state sequence, returned as a matrix signal with p+1 rows and N_x columns, where p is the prediction horizon and N_x is the number of states.

The first row of x.seq contains the current estimated state values, either from the built-in state estimator or from the custom state estimation block input x[k|k]. The next p rows of x.seq contain the calculated optimal state values from time k+1 to time k+p.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Optimal state sequence parameter.

y.seq — Optimal output variable sequence

matrix

Optimal output variable sequence, returned as a matrix signal with p+1 rows and N_y columns, where p is the prediction horizon and N_y is the number of output variables.

The first p rows of y.seq contain the calculated optimal output values from current time k to time k+p-1. The first row of y.seq is computed based on the current estimated states and the current measured disturbances (first row of input md). Since the controller does not calculate optimal output values at time k+p, the final two rows of y.seq are identical.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Optimal output sequence parameter.

Parameters

MPC Controller — Controller object

mpc object name

Specify an mpc object that defines an implicit MPC controller by entering the name of an mpc object from the MATLAB workspace.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: mpcobj

Type: string, character vector

Default: ""

Initial Controller State — Initial state

mpcstate object name

Specify the initial controller state. If you leave this parameter blank, the block uses the nominal values defined in the Model.Nominal property of the mpc object. To override the default, create an mpcstate object in your workspace, and enter its name in the field.

Use this parameter to make sure that the controller state reflects the state of the plant at the start of your simulation, to the best of your knowledge. This initial state can differ from the nominal state defined in the mpc object.

If custom state estimation is enabled, the block ignores the Initial Controller State parameter.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: x0

Type: string, character vector

Default: ""

Design — Interactively design controller

button

To interactively modify the controller specified using the MPC Controller parameter, open the MPC Designer app by clicking Design. For example, you can:

• Import a new prediction model.

• Change horizons, constraints, and weights.

• Evaluate MPC performance with a linear plant.

• Export the updated controller to the MATLAB workspace.

If you have an existing mpc object in the MATLAB workspace, specify the name of that object using the MPC Controller parameter.

If you do not have an existing mpc object in the MATLAB workspace, leave the MPC Controller parameter empty. With the MPC Controller block connected to the plant, open MPC Designer by clicking Design. Using the app, linearize the Simulink model at a specified operating point, and design your controller. To use this design approach, you must have Simulink Control Design™ software. For more information, see Design MPC Controller in Simulink and Linearize Simulink Models Using MPC Designer.

Review — Review controller for stability and robustness issues

button

Once you specify a controller using the MPC Controller parameter, you can review your design for run-time stability and robustness issues by clicking Review. For more information, see Review Model Predictive Controller for Stability and Robustness Issues.

General Tab

Measured disturbance — Add measured disturbance input port

on (default) | off

If your controller has measured disturbances, you must select this parameter to add the md output port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: md_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "on"

External manipulated variable — Add external manipulated variable input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the ext.mv input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: mv_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Targets for manipulated variables — Add manipulated variable target input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the mv.target input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: uref_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Optimal cost — Add optimal cost output port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the cost output port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: return_cost

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Optimization status — Add optimization status output port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the qp.status output port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: return_qpstatus

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Estimated controller states — Add estimated states output port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the est.state output port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: return_state

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Optimal control sequence — Add optimal control sequence output port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the mv.seq output port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: return_mvseq

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Optimal state sequence — Add optimal state sequence output port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the x.seq output port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: return_xseq

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Optimal output sequence — Add optimal output sequence output port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the y.seq output port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: return_ovseq

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Use custom state estimation instead of using the built-in Kalman filter — Use custom state estimate input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to remove the mo input port and add the x[k|k] input port.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: state_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Online Features Tab

Lower OV limits — Add minimum OV constraint input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the ymin input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: ymin_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Upper OV limits — Add maximum OV constraint input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the ymax input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: ymax_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Lower MV limits — Add minimum MV constraint input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the umin input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: umin_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Upper MV limits — Add maximum MV constraint input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the umax input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: umax_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Custom constraints — Add input ports for mixed input/output linear constraints matrices

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the E, F, G, and S input ports to the block.

For more information, see Constraints on Linear Combinations of Inputs and Outputs and Update Mixed Input/Output Constraints at Run Time.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: cc_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

OV weights — Add OV tuning weights input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the y.wt input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: ywt_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

MV weights — Add MV tuning weights input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the u.wt input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: uwt_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

MVRate weights — Add MV rate tuning weights input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the du.wt input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: duwt_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Slack variable weight — Add ECR tuning weight input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the ecr.wt input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: rhoeps_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Adjust prediction horizon and control horizon at run time — Add horizon input ports

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the p and m input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: pm_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Maximum prediction horizon — Add horizon input ports

10 (default) | positive integer

Select this parameter to add the p and m input port to the block.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select the Adjust prediction horizon and control horizon at run time parameter.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: MaximumP

Type: string, character vector

Default: "10"

Default Conditions Tab

Sample time — Default block sample time

1 (default) | positive scalar

Default block sample time for performing simulation, trimming, or linearization using the MPC Designer app. You must specify a sample time that is compatible with your Simulink model design.

Dependencies

This parameter applies only when the MPC Controller parameter is empty and you open MPC Designer using the Design button.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: n_ts

Type: string, character vector

Default: "1"

Prediction horizon — Default prediction horizon

10 (default) | positive integer

Default prediction horizon for performing simulation, trimming, or linearization using the MPC Designer app. You must specify a prediction horizon that is compatible with your Simulink model design.

Dependencies

This parameter applies only when the MPC Controller parameter is empty and you open MPC Designer using the Design button.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: n_p

Type: string, character vector

Default: "10"

Number of manipulated variables — Default number of manipulated variables

1 (default) | positive integer

Default number of manipulated variables for performing simulation, trimming, or linearization using the MPC Designer app. You must specify a value that is compatible with your Simulink model design.

Dependencies

This parameter applies only when the MPC Controller parameter is empty and you open MPC Designer using the Design button.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: n_mv

Type: string, character vector

Default: "1"

Number of measured disturbances — Default number of measured disturbances

1 (default) | nonnegative integer

Default number of measured disturbances for performing simulation, trimming, or linearization using the MPC Designer app. You must specify a value that is compatible with your Simulink model design.

Dependencies

• This parameter applies only when the MPC Controller parameter is empty and you open MPC Designer using the Design button.

• To use this parameter, you must select the Measured disturbance parameter.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: n_md

Type: string, character vector

Default: "1"

Number of unmeasured disturbances — Default number of unmeasured disturbances

0 (default) | nonnegative integer

Default number of unmeasured disturbances for performing simulation, trimming, or linearization using the MPC Designer app. You must specify a value that is compatible with your Simulink model design.

Dependencies

This parameter applies only when the MPC Controller parameter is empty and you open MPC Designer using the Design button.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: n_ud

Type: string, character vector

Default: "0"

Number of measured outputs — Default number of measured outputs

1 (default) | positive integer

Default number of measured outputs for performing simulation, trimming, or linearization using the MPC Designer app. You must specify a value that is compatible with your Simulink model design.

Dependencies

This parameter applies only when the MPC Controller parameter is empty and you open MPC Designer using the Design button.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: n_mo

Type: string, character vector

Default: "1"

Number of unmeasured outputs — Default number of unmeasured outputs

0 (default) | nonnegative integer

Default number of unmeasured outputs for performing simulation, trimming, or linearization using the MPC Designer app. You must specify a value that is compatible with your Simulink model design.

Dependencies

This parameter applies only when the MPC Controller parameter is empty and you open MPC Designer using the Design button.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: n_uo

Type: string, character vector

Default: "0"

Others Tab

Block data type — Specify data type of manipulated variables

double (default) | single | data type expression

Specify the block data type of the manipulated variables as one of the following:

• double — Double-precision floating point

• single — Single-precision floating point

  If you are implementing the block on a single-precision target, specify the output data type as single.

• data type expression — An expression that evaluates to either double or single. For more information, see Control Data Types of Signals (Simulink).

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: BlockDataType

Type: string, character vector

Values: "double", "single", data type expression

Default: "double"

Inherit sample time — Inherit block sample time from parent subsystem

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to inherit the sample time of the parent subsystem as the block sample time. Doing so allows you to conditionally execute this block inside Function-Call Subsystem (Simulink) or Triggered Subsystem (Simulink) blocks. For an example, see Using MPC Controller Block Inside Function-Call and Triggered Subsystems.

Note

You must execute Function-Call Subsystem or Triggered Subsystem blocks at the sample rate of the controller. Otherwise, you can see unexpected results for two reasons.

• The first element of the MV rate vector (which is the difference between the current and the last value of the manipulated variable) is normally weighted and constrained assuming that the last MV value occurred in the past at the sample time specified in the MPC object, and when the block is executed with a different sample rate, this assumption no longer holds.

• The built-in Kalman estimator uses the sample time specified in the MPC object to provide an estimation of the current state to the MPC optimization problem, so when the block is executed with a different sample time, the estimated state is no longer correct.

If you clear this parameter (default), the sample time of the block is inherited from the controller object.

To view the sample time of a block, in the Simulink model window, on the Debug tab, under Information Overlays, select either colors or Text. For more information, see View Sample Time Information (Simulink).

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: SampleTimeInherited

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Use external signal to enable or disable optimization — Add switch input port

off (default) | on

Select this parameter to add the switch input port to the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: switch_inport

Type: string, character vector

Values: "off", "on"

Default: "off"

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

GPU Code Generation
Generate CUDA® code for NVIDIA® GPUs using GPU Coder™.

PLC Code Generation
Generate Structured Text code using Simulink® PLC Coder™.

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

R2018b: MPC Simulink block mv.seq output port signal dimensions have changed

The signal dimensions of the mv.seq output port of the MPC Controller block have changed. Previously, this signal was a p-by-N_mv matrix, where p is the prediction horizon and N_mv is the number of manipulated variables. Now, mv.seq is a (p+1)-by-N_mv matrix, where row p+1 duplicates row p.