Call Simulink Functions from MATLAB System Block

A Simulink^® function is a graphical representation of a computational unit in the Simulink environment. Once you create the Simulink function, it can be executed by any computational unit and can be called in multiple places. You can only call a Simulink function inside the stepImpl, outputImpl, or updateImpl method of a System object™. See Simulink Functions Overview for more information on Simulink function.

Note

Interpreted mode is not supported for a model that contains a MATLAB System block calling a Simulink function.

Create a Simulink Function Block

Set up a Simulink Function block that implements a simple function such as y = 2 * u.

Open a new model from Simulink Editor and add a Simulink Function block by typing Simulink function on Simulink canvas.
When Function prototype window opens, type y = timestwo_func(u) as the function definition. This indicates that you define a function called timestwo_func that takes u as the input argument and produces y as the output argument. Alternatively, define the function name from Simulink Function block parameters.
Double-click the Simulink Function block and observe that a Trigger Port function block appears as well as an input and an output argument block.
Double-click the Trigger Port block in the Simulink Function block, and observe that the Function visibility is set to scoped. To learn more about scoped Simulink functions, see Scoped, Global, and Port-Scoped Simulink Function Blocks Overview.
Add a Gain block and set its value to 2. Connect it with the input and output argument block. Click Navigate Up to Parent to return to the main model.

Note

To determine which Simulink function a MATLAB System block is calling, turn on the function tracing lines. In the Debug tab, select Information Overlays > Function Connectors.

Create a MATLAB System Block and Define System Object

Drag a MATLAB System block into the model and implement a System object to this block.

Add a MATLAB System block to your Simulink model.
In the block dialog box, from the New list, select Basic. This opens a basic System object template for you to type your code.
To subclass an object from matlab.System, replace Untitled with the name of your System object. For this example, name it SimulinkFcnCaller.

In the stepImpl method of your System object, declare the Simulink function using getSimulinkFunctionNamesImpl.

See an example of the System object code below. To learn more about how to write a System object, see Define Basic System Objects.

classdef SimulinkFcnCaller < matlab.System
    % Public, tunable properties
    
    % SimulinkFcnCaller calls a Simulink function from a  
    % MATLAB System block to multiply the signal's value by 2.

    methods(Access = protected)
        
        function y = stepImpl(obj,u)
            % Implement algorithm. Calculate y as a function of input u and
            % discrete states.
            y = timestwo_func(u);
        end       
        function names = getSimulinkFunctionNamesImpl(obj)
            % Use 'getSimulinkFunctionNamesImpl' method to declare  
            % the name of the Simulink function that will be called  
            % from the MATLAB System block's System object code.
            names = {'timestwo_func'};
        end
    end
end

Save the file and name it SimulinkFcnCaller.m.

Call a Simulink Function in a Subsystem from a MATLAB System Block

The hierarchy of the Simulink Function block affects the function calls in the System object. For example, if the Simulink function is defined at a higher hierarchy in the Simulink model, the function is defined for all blocks in that hierarchy. If the Simulink function is defined at a lower hierarchy, you need to qualify the Subsystem and the function name. For example, suppose you have a Subsystem that contains a Simulink Function block at the same level as a MATLAB System block. When a Simulink Function block is placed in a subsystem, the function name is not visible to the outside the subsystem. You can call the Simulink Function block by qualifying the function name using the Subsystem name in your System object. To qualify the Subsystem and the function name follow these steps:

In the stepImpl method of your System object code, call the Simulink function using dot notation. For example, in the code y = Subsystem1.timestwo_func(u), Subsystem1 corresponds to the Subsystem, and timestwo_func corresponds to the Simulink function name.

Similarly, declare the Subsystem and the Simulink function in the getSimulinkFunctionNamesImpl method using the dot notation. The System object code shows the timestwo example written for a Simulink function defined at a lower hierarchy than the MATLAB System block.

classdef SimulinkFcnCallerQualified < matlab.System 
    
    % SimulinkFcnCallerQualified calls a Simulink function embedded in a Subsystem  
    % from a MATLAB System block, and multiplies the signal's value by 2.
    
    methods(Access = protected)

        function y = stepImpl(obj,u)
            % Use the '.' notation to call a scoped Simulink function from
            % a Simulink Function block.
            % Subsystem1 corresponds to  the block name, where 
            % timestwo_funct is the Simulink function name.
            y = Subsystem1.timestwo_func(u);
        end

        function names = getSimulinkFunctionNamesImpl(obj)
            % Use the 'getSimulinkFunctionNamesImpl' method with the '.' 
            % notation to declare the name of a Simulink function in  
            % MATLAB System block's System object code.
            names = {'Subsystem1.timestwo_func'};
        end
    end
end

Save the System object file and name it SimulinkFcnCallerQualified.m.

Call Simulink Functions from a MATLAB System Block

Open Model

This example shows two Simulink® Functions conditionally called by a MATLAB System block using the nontunable properties of the System object™.

The MATLAB System block calls one of the Simulink functions inside two different subsystems, depending on the value of the signal coming from the Sine Wave block. If the value of the signal is less than 10, the MATLAB System block calls the timestwo_func Simulink Function inside the SS1 subsystem. If the value is larger than 10, it calls the timesthree_func in the SS2 subsystem.

Function names are defined as nontunable properties, are switched from string to functions using the str2func function. Then, these functions are declared as properties in the getSimulinkFunctionNamesImpl method.