Teaching Model-Based Systems Engineering with MATLAB & Simulink for Smart Energy Systems

Abstract

Developing complex and smart energy systems is a challenge for today's industry. Systems are developed consisting of power hardware, control and communication hardware, and software of all kinds with more and more connectivity. Typically, engineering students at the Master's level specialize in technologies to apply later during their careers. However, a company’s organisation and processes are far different from what students study in class. Product development implies several phases, from customer requirements definition to systematic verification and validation. Mondragon Unibertsitatea has identified the need to work with students on a product’s whole life cycle, not only in the design process as usual. This paper presents the development of a curriculum to work on Model-Based Systems Engineering with MATLAB® & Simulink®. The main objective was to generate educational resources so students could focus on different life cycle phases, such as requirements definition, architecture design and management, and continuous verification and testing. The curriculum has been integrated in a 4.5 ECTS course related to Systems Engineering in the Master's Degree in Smart Energy Systems at the Faculty Engineering of Mondragon Unibertsitatea.