Internet-Based Collaboration and Learning Environment for Efficient Simulation and Control Design
A software system DYNAST for efficient modeling and simulation distributed across the Internet is freely accessible at http://virtual.cvut.cz/dyn/. DYNAST supports collaboration of remote engineering teams as well as hands-on training of Web-based-course learners. The DYNAST Server solves nonlinear algebro-differential equations, and automatically formulates them for multipole models characterizing configuration of real dynamic systems. DYNAST Server is also able to linearize the models and to provide their semisymbolic analysis in time- and frequency-domains. Clients can submit their problems and interpret the simulation results across the Internet using different user environments. The results can be animated in 3D by means of VRML. The DYNAST Server supports also publishing standardized reports on simulation experiments. The accompanying Web-based course with a knowledge-sharing system and interactively resolvable examples exploits innovative didactic approaches. In control design, the modeling efficiency of DYNAST can be combined to a great advantage with the control-design power of the MATLAB toolsets.