MATLAB & the Arduino Hardware Support Package: A Powerful Combination for Engineering & Embedded SystemsMATLAB & the Arduino Hardware Support Package: A Powerful Combination for Engineering & Embedded Systems

Here’s how engineers can use MATLAB’s Arduino Hardware Support Package to prototype, analyze, and optimize embedded systems.

Dr. Don Wilcher

January 21, 2025

5 Min Read
MATLAB & the Arduino Hardware Support Package
MATLAB-powered Arduino- Binary Coded Decimal Counter.Dr. Don Wilcher

At a Glance

  • MATLAB can be used for circuit analysis, signal processing, control system design, FEA, kinematics, & thermal simulations.
  • It supports several embedded platforms & microcontrollers, including Arduino boards.
  • The MATLAB Arduino Hardware Support Package supports both high-level computation & hands-on hardware experimentation.

MATLAB, short for Matrix Laboratory, is a high-level programming language and software environment developed by MathWorks. It excels in numerical computation, data analysis, and algorithm development. Engineers and scientists use MATLAB to design systems, simulate models, and analyze data efficiently. Its ability to manage large datasets and complex algorithms makes it a valuable tool across various domains. With a user-friendly interface and extensive documentation, MATLAB has become a staple in technical computing.

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Main purpose of MATLAB

MATLAB serves as a comprehensive platform for technical computing. It supports a wide range of applications, from solving mathematical equations to developing sophisticated simulations. MATLAB's built-in functions and toolboxes make it adaptable to various engineering and scientific fields. It facilitates rapid prototyping and iterative development, allowing users to refine their models quickly. This versatility ensures MATLAB remains a top choice for research and development.

Traditional uses of MATLAB

Historically, MATLAB has been a cornerstone in engineering design and analysis. MATLAB is used in electrical engineering for tasks like circuit analysis, signal processing, and control system design. Mechanical engineers utilize it for finite element analysis, kinematics, and thermal simulations. In aerospace engineering, MATLAB assists in flight dynamics, guidance systems, and vibration analysis. Additionally, its data science capabilities enable machine learning, statistical analysis, and big data visualization.

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Example of a MATLAB script: Ohm's Law

Ohm's Law states that the current through a resistor is directly proportional to the voltage across it and inversely proportional to the resistance. The relationship is expressed as I = V/R. The MATLAB script calculates the current by using a voltage value of 10 V. The resistor value is 5 ohms.

This script allows users to compute the current by simply updating the voltage and resistance values. The output is displayed in a clear format, making it easy to understand and verify. The display will output two significant digits after the decimal point. The values for the voltage (V) and the resistance (R) in the script can be changed by typing new numerical data. This example is a traditional use case for MATLAB. A novel approach is to use the technical computing software as a software interface for a physical controller.

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MATLAB Arduino Hardware Support Package

The MATLAB Arduino Hardware Support Package bridges the gap between MATLAB and Arduino, allowing users to interface directly with Arduino hardware for real-time data acquisition and control. This integration simplifies hardware interaction, enabling users to focus on algorithm development and system optimization. The support package allows MATLAB to function as a central hub for data analysis and visualization. This seamless integration makes prototyping and experimentation significantly more efficient.

Related:How to Equip an Arduino Opta DC Motor Controller with HMI

Purpose of the support package

The MATLAB Arduino Hardware Support Package simplifies connecting MATLAB with Arduino boards. It provides users with tools to access sensors and actuators, enabling rapid prototyping. Real-time data acquisition and visualization become straightforward with MATLAB's powerful plotting capabilities. Additionally, users can implement and test control algorithms directly on hardware without delving into complex embedded C code. This package bridges the gap between high-level computation and hands-on hardware experimentation.

Why was Arduino selected for MATLAB integration?

Arduino is a popular platform for embedded systems development, known for its simplicity, affordability, and extensive community support. Its ease of use makes it accessible to novices while powerful enough for advanced projects. Arduino boards are cost-effective, making them ideal for makers, students, educators, and hobbyists. The platform supports a range of sensors, actuators, and communication protocols, adding to its versatility. Its large community provides a wealth of resources, including libraries and tutorials, which enhances the user experience.

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MATLAB Arduino Support Package features

The MATLAB Arduino Hardware Support Package extends MATLAB's capabilities by providing functions and examples for interacting with hardware. Users can read and write digital and analog pins directly from MATLAB scripts. Advanced peripherals like I2C, SPI, and PWM modules are also supported, expanding the range of applications. Real-time data visualization is made simple with MATLAB's plotting functions. Users can quickly prototype and evaluate their systems in a seamless environment by integrating hardware control with MATLAB. Here is an example of MATLAB code to blink an LED connected to an Arduino board.

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The code initializes an Arduino object, specifies the digital pin connected to the LED, and toggles its state in a loop. As shown in the MATLAB code, the LED is wired to digital pin 13 of the Arduino Mega2560 board. Such examples demonstrate the ease of integrating hardware control with MATLAB. Using this programming structure, complex controllers can be created on embedded platforms. The following video clip and the image at the top of the page illustrate the creation of a binary counter. Adding a CMOS 4511 decoder IC allows the equivalent decimal values of the counter to be displayed on a 7-segment LED display.

Embedded platforms and microcontrollers support

While Arduino is a popular choice, MATLAB supports several other embedded platforms and microcontrollers, expanding its usability across different industries. Raspberry Pi boards are supported for projects involving image processing, computer vision, and IoT applications. Microchip and Renesas microcontrollers are integrated with traditional and specialized Arduino Uno boards (versions 3 and 4) for high-performance embedded systems and control applications. MATLAB supports platforms like Raspberry Pi Pico W, ESP32, and Arduino Uno R4 WiFi for specialized tasks. This extensive support ensures MATLAB remains a versatile tool for various embedded and IoT projects. Additional hardware descriptions of supported microcontrollers and embedded platforms can be viewed on MATLAB’s website.

Conclusion

MATLAB and the Arduino Hardware Support Package create a powerful tool, combining MATLAB's analytical and computational strength with Arduino's simplicity and versatility in embedded systems. This combination empowers users to prototype, analyze, and optimize systems, bridging the gap between simulation and real-world implementation. By extending its support to other embedded platforms, MATLAB ensures users can work with the hardware that best fits their project requirements. Whether you are an engineering student, a maker, a researcher, or a hobbyist, this integration opens endless possibilities for innovation and learning. The seamless interplay between MATLAB and embedded hardware highlights the future of hands-on engineering and rapid prototyping.

About the Author

Dr. Don Wilcher

Dr. Don Wilcher, an Electrical Engineer, is an Associate Certified Electronics Technician (CETa), a Technical Education Researcher, Instructor, Maker, Emerging Technology Lecturer, Electronics Project writer, and Book Author. His Learn Electronics with Arduino book, published by Apress, has been cited 80 times in academic journals and referenced on patents. 

He is the Director of Manufacturing and Technology at Jefferson State Community College. His research interest is Embedded Controls, Robotics Education, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence applications and their impact on Personalized Learning, Competency-Based Models curriculum, and instructional development in Mechatronics, Automation, IoT, Electronics, Robotics, and Industrial Maintenance Technologies. He is also the Founder and owner of MaDon Research LLC, an instructional technology consulting, technical training, and electronics project writing company serving Electronics Marketing Media, Technical and Engineering Education companies.

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