dSPACE TargetLink 4.4 Provides New Functionalities: Production Code Generator Supports MATLAB® Code in Simulink® Models

• Code generation for MATLAB^® code contained in Simulink^® blocks
• Faster testing and validation of production code in real environment
• New features for improved distributed development

Paderborn, March 12, 2019: dSPACE now offers Version 4.4 of TargetLink, its industry-proven production code generator. The main new feature of TargetLink 4.4 is controller modeling with MATLAB^® code. The software also provides a range of new functions, improved usability, and optimizations that allow for more efficient and faster processes when testing production code.

Support of MATLAB Code in Simulink Models

With a new optional module, under license from MathWorks, TargetLink 4.4 now meets developers' requirements to describe algorithms and behavior directly with MATLAB code in a Simulink model. The TargetLink Module for MATLAB^® Code can be used to map exactly this modeling process. For the first time, production code developers are able to generate TargetLink's highly efficient C production code directly from control functions described with MATLAB code in Simulink models. In addition to using predefined blocks and state machines, developers can thus use another resource for modeling systems to implement using TargetLink.

Faster Testing and Validation of Production Code in Real Environment

Another new feature is that production code generated with TargetLink can be easily validated and tested on a dSPACE real-time system supported by the ConfigurationDesk implementation software. This allows users to immediately verify how the developed code works in a real-world environment.

New Features for Improved Distributed Development

TargetLink 4.4 complies with the AUTOSAR standard 4.3.1 and offers optimized options for designing AUTOSAR software components. For example, AUTOSAR splittable elements can be used to better separate the roles of software architects and developers during ARXML export. In addition, the visual representation of model libraries in the user interface has been improved, which also simplifies collaboration in distributed development. For processor-in-the-loop simulation, TargetLink 4.4 now supports instruction set simulators (ISS) from Lauterbach, so compiled production code can be executed and validated directly on an ISS as the target, and no hardware is required.

About TargetLink

Since its launch exactly 20 years ago, TargetLink, the dSPACE production code generator, has been used in numerous production projects all over the world. TargetLink generates highly efficient C code directly from Simulink/Stateflow models. It supports efficient, modular development and is ISO 26262-, ISO 25119- and IEC 61508-certified. TargetLink’s outstanding assets include its excellent code quality, strong software design and test features, high reliability, development process integration, and support of standards such as AUTOSAR, ASAM MCD-2 MC (ASAP2), Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI),  and Motor Industry Software Reliability Association (MISRA).

The ability for dSPACE TargetLink to generate C code for certain MATLAB^® code in Simulink^® models is separately licensed by The MathWorks, Inc.