WinPIM Under Windows
Identification of Parametric Models for Systems and Signals

PURPOSE


The design of control systems and the tuning of performant controllers require a good knowledge of system input/output models, and of disturbance models.

WinPIM allows to identify parametric models for systems from experimental data ; these data may have a very small magnitude, thus allowing to identify plant models without disturbing the normal operation of the plant.

Furthermore, as an open loop operation mode should often be avoided in practice, WinPIM provides a methodology for identification in closed loop operation. This is very useful for improving the performances of an existing controller (thanks to the complementary software for controller design : WinREG).

This software was developped in cooperation with the Laboratoire d'Automatique de Grenoble (C.N.R.S./I.N.P.G.) to be used for systems of varied nature : robots, mechanical systems, chemical and petro-chemical plants, process industries (cement, paper, phosphate dryer, metallurgy), servomechanisms, engines, thermal processes, aerospace, semi-conductor cristal growing, detection and control of vibrations, power systems, spectral analysis, teaching, research,...


GENERAL DESCRIPTION


Although this software uses computational algorithms that were already included in a corresponding DOS software, named PIM, WinPIM has been developped for Windows. It takes advantage of the ergonomics of Windows' standard, which makes it easy to use, manages printers, colors, ... WinPIM allows to include numerical and graphical results in a report, thanks to Windows clipboard. Contextual help using hypertext management is of course also available.

Functionalities of WinPIM may be classified in 6 groups :

- Files Management for preprocessing of input/output data : visualisation of data, centering, scaling, filtering...

- Estimation of model complexity, which enables to estimate the pure time-delay and the degrees of a plant model directly from the experimental input/output data, and indicates the over estimation risk.

- Identification of model parameters from input/output data file, implementing four types of discrete linear parametric models and nine recursive identification methods.

- Validation of identified model using statistical tests to find the best structure and the best identification method for a given system.


- Analysis in time and frequency domains of the identified model : step response, frequency characteristics, spectral density, computation of models poles and zeros, and their continuous-time equivalents.


- Simulation of system responses, with or without disturbances, for various input signals : step, sinusoid, square wave, PRBS, ... or even read from a file.

WinPIM belongs to WinPIM+ software package, which also contains a software for controller design and analysis, named WinREG.


Furthermore, this package may be completed by a module for acquisition and digital control for Windows, which allows to collect input/output data through an Input/Output board.


DISTRIBUTION KIT

- floppy disks containing program, help file and example data files,

- user's manual (with theory, operating instructions and examples).


MINIMAL HARDWARE CONFIGURATION

PC and compatibles
Memory : minimum 1 Mo (2 Mo recommended)
1 hard disk + 1 floppy disk driver
Windows version 3.1 or more
EGA or VGA graphic screen
Mouse (highly recommended)
(Opt.) printer
(Opt.) mathematic coprocessor