Maplesoft Releases MapleSim 5, 2 in a Series

By DE Editors

Maplesoft (Waterloo, ON, Canada) has released MapleSim 5, the latest version of its physical modeling and simulation software. MapleSim 5 is said to have a broader application scope, a streamlined modeling environment, and the ability to efficiently simulate even more systems.

MapleSim handles the complex mathematics involved in the development of engineering
models, including multi-domain systems, plant modeling, and control design.

MapleSim uses a symbolic modeling engine to handle the mathematics involved in the development of engineering models. Each MapleSim release, says the company, further develops these capabilities, among which are automatically generated model equations in full parametric form, equation-based custom components, optimized code generation for real-time systems, multibody technology, and an interactive analysis environment.

The newest release of MapleSim, version 5, offers more than 150 additional components, including new libraries for magnetics and thermal fluids.

MapleSim 5 offers more than 150 new components, according to the company. Among these are new component libraries for magnetics and thermal fluids. With these components, says the company, users can leverage MapleSim 5 to develop a wider range of applications, such as the solenoids in dialysis machines and fuel injection systems, saturating motors and transformers, and heat exchangers for machine cooling systems. Additionally, MapleSim 5’s electrical and mechanical libraries have been enhanced with a number of new components.

The MapleSim 5 interface is said to incorporate new and improved features designed to reduce model development time and help users manage the complexity of their models. As an example, the company cites the software’s enhanced diagnostic tools, which provide early feedback related to the definition of the model itself, such as identifying inconsistent initial conditions. MapleSim then, according to the company, provides assistance in resolving the problem so that corrections can be made before running the simulation.

MapleSim provides built-in analysis templates that provide the ability to automatically extract system equations and other information from a model, which, in turn, enable users to start their engineering investigations immediately. MapleSim 5 now offers an API (application programming interface) to access this functionality, thus allowing users to develop custom analysis templates that share this ability.

New and enhanced toolboxes are said to enable users to combine MapleSim with other applications in the engineering toolchain. For example, the new MapleSim Connector for dSPACE Systems allows users to streamline their development process by converting MapleSim models into real-time applications running on a dSPACE platform automatically. The MapleSim Connector for Simulink from the MathWorks and the MapleSim Connector for LabVIEW and NI VeriStand from National Instruments can now export all MapleSim models, including continuous systems with discrete events.

This image shows the kinematics of a double-wishbone suspension as modeled using
the multibody components in MapleSim.

Other additions in MapleSim 5 include increased control over parameters and initial conditions, export of 3D animation simulation results, and streamlined design environments for building both model diagrams and 3D model representations. Maplesoft says the improved simulation engine in MapleSim 5 can now generate optimized C-code for all MapleSim models and that this royalty-free code can be incorporated into other software in the toolchain.

“By leveraging symbolic computation technology, MapleSim offers unique advantages that enable our customers to succeed at very difficult design projects they simply can’t do with other tools,” said Laurent Bernardin, executive vice president and chief scientist, Maplesoft, in a prepared statement. “MapleSim reduces model development time from months to days while producing high-fidelity, high-performance models. With MapleSim 5 our customers can apply those time- and cost-savings to even more projects, while further reducing the time needed to design their complex models.”

For more information about MapleSim, go to Maplesoft.

Access a details on what’s new in MapleSim 5.

Sign-up to request a 30-day evaluation copy of MapleSim.

Sign up to download the whitepaper “MapleSim: Technical Superiority in Multi-Domain Physical Modeling and Simulation.”

Access the MapleSim demo gallery.

Read how people put MapleSim to work.

The MapleSim blog is here.

Learn more about the new MapleSim Connector for dSPACE.

See why DE’s editors selected MapleSim 5 as their Pick of the Week.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.