Imperix Cockpit
Real-time monitoring software
Imperix Cockpit is a powerful monitoring software designed to facilitate the testing of power electronics systems by leveraging the capabilities of imperix programmable controllers.
The software provides a set of non-intrusive tools that support the easy monitoring and tuning of any control variable in real-time.
Cockpit is a Windows-based software included in both Software Development Kits (SDK).
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Pilot your power converter
Imperix Cockpit allows research engineers to oversee the operation of their power converters and have a complete view of what is happening inside. The software provides multiple tools for both observing and acting on the run-time code. It is ideally suited for system debugging and testing in the power laboratory.
MAIN BENEFITS OF IMPERIX COCKPIT
- Full access to control variables: Monitor and tune any variable without rebuilding the code.
- Powerful visualization tools: Display and follow the evolution of any quantity in real-time with tools such as an oscilloscope-like multi-channel interface.
- Analyze system behavior: Assess your control’s performance using mathematical, statistical, or spectral analysis on acquired signals.
- Fast export: Easily export your experimental results for quick integration in your reports or publications.
- Centralized management: Load and execute the code on your controller, configure multiple controllers at the same time, keep your SDK updated, and much more.
 Connect your target Easily connect to the controller hosting your control code using standard Ethernet 1Gbps communication. |
 Access your variables Monitor and tune any variable, debug your control code, and assess in real-time the system performance. |
 Test your control Validate your algorithm and challenge your control by applying transients or test scenarios. |
 Export your results Save your experimental data as a CSV file or a Matlab figure for fast integration in your publication |
One software with many tools
Cockpit provides a flexible interface that gives you centralized access to a wide range of monitoring and analysis tools, alongside convenient features to pilot and manage imperix programmable controllers in various setups.
Triggered data capture
Cockpit provides a wide variety of monitoring tools. Whether you need to display waveforms or analyze your system’s transient response, it offers the right tool for your needs. To support its extensive monitoring capabilities, Cockpit works closely with the dedicated core of your imperix controller. This makes it possible to display every sample of your variables, fully taking advantage of the high-speed ADCs of your imperix controller.
TRIGGERED SCOPING
The scoping tool enables you to display your acquired signals on an oscilloscope-like interface.
It captures every sample of your control variables. Monitor up to 800 000 points for 32 variables simultaneously.
It also includes cursors and statistical tools to measure phase shifts, periods, RMS values, and other relevant metrics.
Once you’re satisfied with the displayed results, you can easily export the data to a CSV file or a MATLAB figure for seamless integration into your publication.
TRANSIENT GENERATOR
The transient generator is a powerful built-in feature of Cockpit that applies a predefined sequence of setpoints to any of your control variables.
Use it to validate and challenge your control algorithm by testing its dynamic response to a change in control setpoints or by applying specific test scenarios.
SPECTRAL ANALYZER
Cockpit offers a spectral analyzer tool that enables you to visualize acquired signals in the frequency domain and examine their harmonic content.
Assess your system’s performance with the built-in total harmonic distortion (THD) calculations. It provides valuable insights into the quality and efficiency of your waveforms.
FORMULA BUILDER
Perform mathematical operations on your acquired signals in real time and combine them to create entirely new variables without the need to recompile your user code.
Compare or combine your signals to extract useful information from your system, such as instantaneous power, signal errors, power factors, and more.
Continuous data monitoring
Use it to monitor the long-term evolution of your power system and keep an eye on critical variables at all times.
It features a handy continuous autoscale option that ensures your monitored variables never go out of scope.
Additionally, the Rolling Plot tool supports data export to a CSV or MAT file, enabling further trend analysis and system optimization using MATLAB.
gui builder
The GUI Builder is a powerful graphical tool that allows you to create custom dashboards for interacting with their control code running on imperix controllers. For example, the following image showcases a dashboard designed for controlling and monitoring the motor included in imperix’s Electric Motor Drive Bundle.
Users can place a variety of widgets on a dedicated canvas to design tailored dashboards that fit their specific control applications.
Widgets can be linked to control variables, enabling real-time monitoring and modification of variables without requiring a rebuild of the control code.
A typical use case is shown in the Three-phase PV inverter example, which features a dashboard created with the GUI Builder to control the power converter..
Remote controller management
Imperix Cockpit supports managing multiple converter controllers directly over the network. Thanks to Ethernet communication and Ethernet over RealSync, users can manage, configure, monitor, and update several targets simultaneously.
MANAGE YOUR CONTROLLERS
Cockpit provides a convenient interface that displays all your imperix hardware controllers, making it easy to identify, configure, and connect to them.
It simplifies the connection process for large applications involving multiple controllers, such as MMC systems.
Additionally, it supports multi-master applications with complex topologies that require multiple controllers.
CONFIGURE YOUR CONTROLLERS
Configuring your controllers can be done in a simple fashion, such as changing the hostname or IP address, updating the firmware, managing the SDK licenses, etc.
The tool also configures the standalone boot mode, so that the controller can run without any computer.
Finally, from this view, you can also load a custom bitstream to the user-programable FPGA area.
MONITOR YOUR CONTROLLERS
The Timing info provides a graphical representation of the various computation and communication delays involved in imperix power electronics controllers during run-time.
Observe the delays involved in the control dynamics of your system and adjust the control parameters, such as Kp and Ki, accordingly.
For instance, the TN167 is a typical use case where the measurement of the control delay allows optimal tuning of a grid-feeding inverter.
Related control hardware
Cockpit is part of both software development kits (SDK) and can be used with any imperix hardware controller, namely the B-Box RCP and B-Board PRO.
In addition, it can be made available on any custom-built control hardware that is running BBOS, our real-time operating system.
SUPPORTED HARDWARE
- B-Box RCP
- B-Box Micro
- B-Board PRO
- Any hardware running BBOS
