Functional block diagram generator (I)

Abstract

Since the late 1950s, functional block diagrams (FBDs) have been widely adopted by engineers in a variety of applications, ranging from software engineering to systems engineering [1]. Overtime, FBDs became essential in comprehending the overall operation of complex system designs and the connection between the different sections of the system. Throughout the past decades, many engineers have come up with various algorithms and platforms to implement clear and concise FBDs, e.g. Simulink. However, most of these programs require users to design the FBDs by themselves. Hence, this project aims to design a program that can read a given MATLAB program, transfer the parameters to the building blocks of the FBD and produce the FBD of the system for the user. This minimises the need for users to design the system themselves, which saves time, and assists users to better comprehend the textual program by transforming it into a graphically form.