Why the "sum" function is giving a wrong result in Simulink ???

My goal is to calculate the following sum using Simulink blocks

1.1*10^2*30^9+1.4*10^7*30^4+0.25*10^6*30^8

In the beginning I started with a test of the "sum" function

So I have entered in the command window the following:

c=[1.1 1.4 0.25 ]

p1=[2 7 6]

p2=[9 4 8]

a=10

b=30

And then I have entered in the command window the following command :

sum(c.*a.^p1.*b.^p2)

the result displayed in the command window was:

ans =
  1.6620e+017

And this is a correct result.

So in order to do the same thing using Simulink blocks I have used the "MATLAB

Function" block in which I have written in the MATLAB function space the

following : sum(u(1).*u(2).^u(3).*u(4).^u(5)) and in the input of the "MATLAB

Function" block I have placed a "Mux" block containing 5 inputs.

To each input of the "Mux" block I have connected a "Constant" block.

In the Constant value space of the first "constant block" I wrote: [1.1 1.4 0.25]

In the Constant value space of the second "constant block" I wrote: 10

In the Constant value space of the third "constant block" I wrote: [2 7 6]

In the Constant value space of the fourth "constant block" I wrote: 30

In the Constant value space of the fifth "constant block" I wrote: [9 4 8]

Finally I have connected the output of the "MATLAB Function" block to a "Display" block.

After starting the simulation the number 119.7 was displayed in the "Display" block and this number is totally wrong.

Why this is happening ???

Why the "Sum" function is giving a wrong result while used in a Simulink block????

[Ryan G]

Are you using MATLAB Function block or Interpreted MATLAB Function block.

If you are using the MATLAB Function (formerly embedded MATLAB), could you paste the code exactly as it is inside the block?

[kamal kiki]

I am using a " MATLAB Function" block.

It is a block under which is written "MATLAB Fcn".

Answer 1

[Ryan G]

Try running this code instead:

sum(u(1:3).*u(4).^u(5:7).*u(8).^u(9:11))

This should become obvious if you spend a minute with it, but essentially when you mux an array with a single constant you are concatinating the vector. So you have

3 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 3 = 11 element array. Now you need to extract the proper elements from that array (see above).

[kamal kiki]

Thank you very much Ryan G, I have understood your very clear explanation.

I have just replaced sum(u(1).*u(2).^u(3).*u(4).^u(5))

by sum(u(1:3).*u(4).^u(5:7).*u(8).^u(9:11))

and it is working now and the result displayed in the "display" block is

correct.

Answer 2

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

I recommand matlab function(previously named embedded matlab function)

interpreted matlab function is not working for input (length>1). just try

u(1:3).*u(4).^u(5:7).*u(8).^u(9:11)

you will not find a vector with size 3

[kamal kiki]

Thank you Azzi Abdelmalek for your continuous help.

Thank you also for the time that you have spent in the design of your

Simulink model.

I have just used the "MATLAB Function" block and I wrote in the MATLAB

function space the expression sum(u(1:3).*u(4).^u(5:7).*u(8).^u(9:11))

and the result displayed in the "display" block is correct now.

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

Ryan's answer is fine, but why are using 5 constant block with a Mux. use one constant block with value: [ c a p1 b p2]

[kamal kiki]

I think using 5 constant blocks is more convenient because, when the data is

separated, no confusion is made and it is less likely to make mistakes.

Also, in my Simulink model, I need to separate data into different blocks

because the values of a and b will come from calculations made in other

blocks.