How to connect a simscape block with add_line?

Hey there, I want to connect a PMC port in SimMechanics automatically with a Matlab-Script. Using the 'add-line' command works fine for common simulink-connections, but not for Simscape-ports. For example if I want to connect the block 'World Frame' with 'Rigid Transform' I use

    % code
add_line('mysystem','World Frame/1','Rigid Transform/1')

But then I always get the message:

Invalid Simulink object name: World Frame/1

Does anbody know how to connect these ports in a good way?

Thanks in advance, Thomas

Answer 1

[Steve Miller]

Hi Thomas,

add_line() works with Simscape ports. You have to refer to the ports differently. Try this command:

add_line('mysystem','World Frame/RConn1','Rigid Transform/LConn1');

There is a submission on the MATLAB Central File Exchange that shows how to use MATLAB to automate the construction of a SimMechanics model. The submission "SimMechanics Model from MATLAB Code" shows how to add blocks and connect them using MATLAB commands. The same commands work for Simscape blocks, too.

http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/45410-simmechanics-model-from-matlab-code

Hope this helps! --Steve

[Francisco Williams]

Hi,

I know this is an old question but I can't find a newer thread.

I'm having the same problem with Matlab2020b. Is there a way to query the names of the blocks?

I created a Subsystem (With Simscape multibody blocks inside) and I want to connect it to another block. But I can't manage to get the proper name of the ports.

Thanks in advance

[Francisco Williams]

Oh I found a workaround for this:

% Select the first subsystem
>>h1 = get_param(gcb,'PortHandles')

  struct with fields:

      Inport: []
     Outport: []
      Enable: []
     Trigger: []
       State: []
       LConn: 333.0016
       RConn: []
    Ifaction: []
       Reset: []
% Select the second subsystem
>>h2 = get_param(gcb,'PortHandles')

  struct with fields:

      Inport: []
     Outport: []
      Enable: []
     Trigger: []
       State: []
       LConn: 572.0040
       RConn: 974.0093
    Ifaction: []
       Reset: []

% Or instead of entering gcb, enter the path of the subsystem. The first
% subsystem has only 1 output port and the second one 2

% add the connection between blocks with:
add_line(gcs,port_h1.LConn,port_h2.LConn)

Answer 2

[Thomas Knapp]

Hi Steve,

thank you very much! Now everything works fine :)

Thomas