FERAL Adapters for Connecting Different Simulators¶
FERAL offers a variety of adapters to facilitate the integration of different simulators into its framework. These adapters allow seamless communication and interoperability between FERAL and external simulation tools, enhancing the flexibility and capability of FERAL-based simulations. The available adapters include those for Simulink, FMI2, FMI3, and SystemC. Each adapter offers unique advantages, which are outlined below.
Simulink Adapter¶
The Simulink adapter enables the integration of Simulink models into FERAL simulations. Simulink, developed by MathWorks, is widely used for modeling, simulating, and analyzing dynamic systems.
- Ease of Use: Simulink's graphical interface simplifies model creation and integration.
- Extensive Library: Access to a comprehensive library of pre-built blocks for various applications.
- Real-Time Simulation: Supports real-time simulation and testing of control systems.
FMI2 Adapter¶
The FMI2 (Functional Mock-up Interface version 2) adapter allows FERAL to connect with tools that support the FMI standard, which is designed for model exchange and co-simulation of dynamic models.
- Standardization: Promotes interoperability between different simulation tools through a standardized interface.
- Flexibility: Supports both model exchange (offline simulations) and co-simulation (online simulations).
- Wide Adoption: FMI is supported by many commercial and open-source simulation tools, facilitating broad compatibility.
FMI3 Adapter¶
The FMI3 adapter builds on the capabilities of FMI2, offering enhanced features and improved performance for integrating simulation models.
- Improved Performance: Enhanced communication protocols and scheduling capabilities for better co-simulation performance.
- Expanded Functionality: Additional features such as hybrid co-simulation and more detailed error reporting.
- Backward Compatibility: Maintains compatibility with FMI2 models while providing new capabilities.
SystemC Adapter¶
The SystemC adapter integrates SystemC models into FERAL simulations. SystemC is a set of C++ classes and macros which provide an event-driven simulation interface suitable for electronic system-level (ESL) design.
- Hardware-Software Co-Design: Facilitates the co-design and co-simulation of hardware and software components.
- High Performance: Efficient simulation of complex electronic systems at various levels of abstraction.
- Standardization: Widely adopted in the semiconductor industry for system-level design and verification.
By offering adapters for Simulink, FMI2, FMI3, and SystemC, FERAL enhances its ability to integrate with a wide range of simulation tools, providing a robust and flexible platform for complex simulation tasks. Each adapter brings specific advantages, ensuring that users can leverage the strengths of different simulators within the FERAL framework to achieve efficient and effective simulation outcomes.