Announcing Stateflow

[Valerie A. Lyons]

The MathWorks, Inc. is introducing Stateflow, a major new product addition
to the Simulink modeling and simulation environment. Stateflow is a
graphical tool for designing complex control and supervisory logic systems.
Stateflow gives users the ability to model and simulate the behavior of
complex reactive, event-based systems based on finite state machine theory.

Stateflow offers several major improvements over traditional finite state
machine notations-including hierarchy, concurrency, junctions, and history.
Stateflow brings system specification and design closer together by making
it easy to create models, consider various scenarios, and iterate until the
Stateflow diagram models the desired behavior.

A major benefit of The MathWorks' solution is the seamless integration
between Stateflow and Simulink. The control behavior that Stateflow models
provides an ideal complement to the algorithmic behavior modeled in
Simulink. Simulink supports the development of continuous- and
discrete-time dynamic systems in a graphical, block diagram environment.
Stateflow diagrams can be directly incorporated into Simulink models to add
event-driven behavior to Simulink simulations.

Stateflow adds an integrated view into the behavior of event-driven
controllers that drive and react to the system. The MathWorks has spent the
past two years developing a unique, fully-integrated extension to Simulink
to do this. Our customers can now simulate closed-loop systems that have
both continuous and event-driven components. The result is an integrated
tool for embedded controller design, offering real-world system modeling
and simulation.

Stateflow also provides automatic C code generation through the optional
Stateflow Coder. C code generated by Stateflow Coder can be used
independently or integrated with code from Real-Time Workshop, the
automatic code generator for Simulink. Thus, Simulink, Stateflow, and
Real-Time Workshop are seamlessly integrated from the design and modeling
phase through the code generation stage. The generated code can be executed
for rapid prototyping, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or for standalone
simulations.

Applications for Stateflow include developing the control logic for
electronic and mechanical systems found in automobiles, aircraft,
telecommunications systems, office automation equipment, and consumer
electronics.

More information is available on The MathWorks Web site, at
<http://www.mathworks.com>.

Valerie Lyons
Simulink/Stateflow Marketing Manager
The MathWorks, Inc.