How do I use the ADD_LINE command with SimMechanics blocks?

The ADD_LINE command can be used to connect Simulink blocks from the command line. However, this command basically assumes that there are 'output' ports and 'input' ports. In SimMechanics this is not the case, and specifying connections in the normal way does not work.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

SimMechanics models can be created from the MATLAB Command Line, but a special syntax is used to represent the ports. The ports should be described as 'LConn<number>' and 'RConn<number>', where 'number' indicates the position on the block. The following example creates a small sample model with two connected blocks:

 

new_system
open_system(gcs)
add_block('mblibv1/Joints/Revolute',[gcs,'/Revolute'])
add_block('mblibv1/Joints/Revolute',[gcs,'/Revolute1'])
set_param(gcb,'Position',(get_param(gcb,'Position')+[0 60 0 60]))
add_line(gcs,'Revolute/RConn1','Revolute1/LConn1')

Answer 2

[Steve Miller]

We have posted an example on the MATLAB Central File Exchange that shows how to use MATLAB commands to add Simscape blocks and connect them.

Get the code from here: Simscape Multibody Model from MATLAB Code

To connect a block to an existing line, simply use add_line() to connect the new block to any of the ports that are already connected to that line. The above example connects the Solver Configuration block to two other blocks which are already connected.

Thanks,

--Steve