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simconnect-toolbox

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SimConnect Toolbox for MATLAB/Simulink

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# simconnect-toolbox

SimConnect Toolbox for MATLAB/Simulink

This repository provides a Toolbox for MATLAB/Simulink with the following blocks:

- SimConnectSource
- SimConnectSink
- SimConnectInput

:warning: **The blocks only work properly using the solver *FixedStepDiscrete* (e.g. with step size `0.03`) and
a *Simulation Pacing* set to `1`.**

## Building

### Prerequisites

- Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 (e.g. Community Edition)
- MATLAB / Simulink (tested with R2020b)
- Microsoft Flight Simulator SDK
- Blockfactory
- CMake (tested with 3.18.4)

### Commands

Ensure the environment variable `MSFS_SDK` is properly pointing to the MSFS SDK location.

Use the following commands to get this repository and build it:

```lang-bash
# download and build blockfactory
git clone https://github.com/robotology/blockfactory.git
cd blockfactory
cmake -S . -B build
cmake --build build --config Release
cmake --install build --config Release --prefix install
cd ..

# download and build simconnect-toolbox
git clone https://github.com/aguther/simconnect-toolbox.git
cd simconnect-toolbox
cmake -S . -B build
cmake --build build --config Release
```

### Usage

In order to use the toolbox in MATLAB you need to do the following:
- add the folder `<simconnect-toolbox>/matlab` to MATLAB path
- add the folder `<simconnect-toolbox>/matlab` to the `PATH` environment variable of your user account (or system)

:information_source: You can also put the content of directory `<simconnect-toolbox>/matlab` to a location of your choice and do the steps described above for the new location.

:warning: **When you do not add the directory to your PATH variable, you possibly will get an error when using one of the blocks, because Windows does not find the needed DLLs.**

## SimConnect Source & Sink

This block allows to read/write data from/to SimConnect.

The blocks have the following parameters:

- Configuration Index
- Connection Name
- Variables

### Configuration Index

The connection configuration index found in the `SimConnect.cfg`.

### Connection Name

The name of the connection to be used when calling the SimConnect API.

### Variable specification

Variables have to be in the following format: `VARIABLE NAME, UNIT;`

The variable names and units can be found in the SimConnect SDK.

:warning: Types with any string data type are not supported.

Example:

```lang-none
G FORCE, GFORCE;
PLANE PITCH DEGREES, RADIANS;
PLANE BANK DEGREES, RADIANS;
AIRSPEED INDICATED, KNOTS;
PLANE ALTITUDE, FEET;
STRUCT WORLD ROTATION VELOCITY, STRUCT;
LIGHT STROBE ON, BOOL;
```

![SimConnectSource-Parameters](https://github.com/aguther/simconnect-toolbox/raw/main/images/SimConnectSource-Parameters.png "SimConnectSource-Parameters")
![SimConnectSink-Parameters](https://github.com/aguther/simconnect-toolbox/raw/main/images/SimConnectSink-Parameters.png "SimConnectSink-Parameters")

#### Structs Types

Struct types are provided / consumed as vector to Simulink.

The following struct types are supported:

- `SIMCONNECT_DATATYPE_LATLONALT`
- `SIMCONNECT_DATATYPE_XYZ`

## SimConnect Input

This block allows to read input event data from SimConnect.

The block has the following parameters:

- Configuration Index
- Connection Name
- Variables

### Configuration Index

The connection configuration index found in the `SimConnect.cfg`.

### Connection Name

The name of the connection to be used when calling the SimConnect API.

### Variable specification

Variables have to be in the following format: `INPUT EVENT ID, SHOULD MASK;`

The event ids can be found in the SimConnect SDK. The second parameter specifies if the event id should be 
forwarded to the sim or not. A value of `TRUE` will mask the event id meaning only the Simulink model will receive it.

Example:

```lang-none
AXIS_ELEVATOR_SET, TRUE;
AXIS_AILERONS_SET, TRUE;
AXIS_RUDDER_SET, FALSE;
```

The following input events are currently supported:

- `AXIS_ELEVATOR_SET`
- `AXIS_AILERONS_SET`
- `AXIS_RUDDER_SET`
- `AXIS_ELEV_TRIM_SET`
- `AXIS_SPOILER_SET`
- `AXIS_FLAPS_SET`
- `AXIS_LEFT_BRAKE_SET`
- `AXIS_RIGHT_BRAKE_SET`
- `AXIS_THROTTLE_SET`
- `AXIS_THROTTLE1_SET`
- `AXIS_THROTTLE2_SET`
- `AXIS_THROTTLE3_SET`
- `AXIS_THROTTLE4_SET`
- `AXIS_MIXTURE_SET`
- `AXIS_MIXTURE1_SET`
- `AXIS_MIXTURE2_SET`
- `AXIS_MIXTURE3_SET`
- `AXIS_MIXTURE4_SET`
- `AXIS_PROPELLER_SET`
- `AXIS_PROPELLER1_SET`
- `AXIS_PROPELLER2_SET`
- `AXIS_PROPELLER3_SET`
- `AXIS_PROPELLER4_SET`

:information_source: The range `[-16384, +16384]` is converted to `[-1.0, 1.0]`.

![SimConnectInput-Parameters](https://github.com/aguther/simconnect-toolbox/raw/main/images/SimConnectInput-Parameters.png "SimConnectInput-Parameters")

## Example Model

This repository includes an example model `matlab/SimConnectToolboxExample.slx` that demonstrates the functionality.

![SimConnectToolboxExample](https://github.com/aguther/simconnect-toolbox/raw/main/images/SimConnectToolboxExample.png "SimConnectToolboxExample.slx")

## Open Points / Wishlist

- Allow configuration index to be set via input
- Improve parameter checking (distinguish between event ids and data variables)
- Documentation of classes and methods

## Thank you notice

A special thanks to:

- Ferigo, Diego
- Traversaro, Silvio
- Romano, Francesco
- Pucci, Daniele

They provide a nice framework to make development of Simulink blocks an toolboxes easier and
the code better understandable than using plain MATLAB/Simulink API.

See also here: <https://github.com/robotology/blockfactory>

simconnect-toolbox

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