ECE 5670/6670 and ECE 5671/6671

List of Common Problems & Solutions for the Labs

  1. Make sure that the dSPACE ribbon cable is fully inserted in the PC’s connector.
  2. Test the dSPACE and PEDB boards using the test procedures described on the lab web page.
  3. Check that you have the correct options in Simulation >> Configuration Parameters. In the left menu, select optimization and make sure that the block reduction box is unchecked. Then, expand the optimization menu by clicking on the plus sign next to it, select signals and parameters and make sure that the signal storage reuse block is unchecked. Next, in the left menu, select code generation and make sure the system target file is rti1104.rtc.
  4. If you get a message from dSPACE at startup that talks about the need to clear the system, click on Platforms, then Clear System. Then, close the dSPACE window and restart dSPACE.
  5. Similarly, if you encounter an error that says”ds1104 is not registered” when building a Simulink model, start dSPACE (if needed), click on Platforms, then Clear System, then Refresh Platform Configuration, then Refresh Interface Connections. Then, rebuild the model.
  6. If you get a message from dSPACE at startup that says: 5.0 Could not find the file 'some filename.ppc', click on the Stop button (red square) under the Platform/Devices tab.
  7. If you get a message when you load an sdf file that says that data connections are missing and asks whether you want to load them from the sdf file, click yes.
  8.  DO NOT SAVE mdl files to the server directory (X: drive). Save to the local drive or to a usb drive. Use the same directory as the Matlab directory. 
  9. Some error messages occur if a model is built in a different version of SIMULINK than what is on the computers in the lab. If you have successfully built your model on a different computer and it will not compile on the lab computers, try to rebuild your model.
  10. There may be times when your captured data has undesirable gaps. The program is running fine, but data is missing in the recording. When this happens, increase the sampling time in the Simulink model to Ts=1e-3 and, in dSPACE, click on ‘Measurement configuration’ >>, right click on ‘Platform’>>, and click on ‘Measure all continuously’. This will disable all the platform triggers, which will allow you to record a continuous set of data.

Specific to ECE 5671/6671

  1. Ensure that the PWM output block settings are Deadband = 0μs and Frequency = 10kHz.