Component

Add components to architecture model

• 

Description

Use a Component block to represent a structural or behavioral element at any level of an architecture model hierarchy.

Add ports to the block to connect to other components. Define an interface for the ports, add properties associated with the component using stereotypes, and define parameters.

To add or connect System Composer™ components:

• Add an architecture Component block from the Modeling tab or the palette. You can also click and drag a box on the canvas, then select the Component block.

• To add a port, select an edge of the component and choose a direction from the menu: Input, Output, or Physical

• Click and drag the port to create a connection. Connect to another component. You can also create a new component to complete the connection.

• To connect Component blocks to architecture or composition model root ports, drag from the component ports to the containing model boundary. When you release the connection, a root port is created at the boundary.

• To add component-level parameters, use the Parameter Editor tool.

Note

You can add a mask icon to your component to illustrate the system represented by your component. For more information, see Add Mask Icon on Component.

Examples

Modeling System Architecture of Small UAV

Set up and refine the architecture of a small unmanned aerial vehicle.

• Open Example

Modeling System Architecture of Keyless Entry System

Use a keyless entry system for a vehicle to create architecture views for different stakeholder concerns.

• Open Live Script

Simulate Mobile Robot with System Composer Workflow

Simulate a mobile robot architecture with a systems engineering workflow.

• Open Live Script

Author Parameters in System Composer Using Parameter Editor

Define instance-specific parameter values on components and promote them to parent architecture.

• Open Live Script

Ports

Input

Source — Input connection from another component

interface

If you connect to a source component, the interfaces on the ports are shared.

Output

Destination — Output connection to another component

interface

If you connect to a destination component, the interfaces on the ports are shared.

Physical

Physical — Physical connection to another component

physical interface

If you connect to another component, the physical interfaces on the ports are shared.

More About

Definitions

Term	Definition	Application	More Information
architecture	A System Composer architecture represents a system of components and how they interface with each other structurally and behaviorally.	Different types of architectures describe different aspects of systems. You can use views to visualize a subset of components in an architecture. You can define parameters on the architecture level using the Parameter Editor.	Compose Architectures Visually Author Parameters in System Composer Using Parameter Editor
root	A root is at the top of an architecture hierarchy. A root architecture has a boundary defined by its architecture ports that surround the system of interest.	The root architecture has a system boundary surrounding your architecture model. You can add architecture ports that define interfaces across the boundary.	Compose Architectures Visually
model	A System Composer model is the file that contains architectural information, such as components, ports, connectors, interfaces, and behaviors.	Perform operations on a model: Extract root-level architecture. Apply profiles. Link interface data dictionaries. Generate instances from model architecture. A System Composer model is stored as an SLX file.	Create Architecture Model with Interfaces and Requirement Links
component	A component is a replaceable part of a system that fulfills a clear function in the context of an architecture. A component defines an architectural element, such as a function, another system, hardware, software, or other conceptual entity. A component can also be a subsystem or subfunction.	Represented as a block, a component is a part of an architecture model that can be separated into reusable artifacts. Transfer information between components with: Port interfaces using the Interface Editor Parameters using the Parameter Editor	Compose Architectures Visually
port	A port is a node on a component or architecture that represents a point of interaction with its environment. A port permits the flow of information to and from other components or systems.	Component ports are interaction points on the component to other components. Architecture ports are ports on the boundary of the system, whether the boundary is within a component or the overall architecture model. The root architecture has a boundary defined by its ports.	Compose Architectures Visually
connector	Connectors are lines that provide connections between ports. Connectors describe how information flows between components or architectures.	A connector allows two components to interact without defining the nature of the interaction. Set an interface on a port to define how the components interact.	Compose Architectures Visually

Term	Definition	Application	More Information
physical subsystem	A physical subsystem is a Simulink® subsystem with Simscape™ connections.	A physical subsystem with Simscape connections uses a physical network approach suited for simulating systems with real physical components and represents a mathematical model.	Implement Component Behavior Using Simscape
physical port	A physical port represents a Simscape physical modeling connector port called a Connection Port (Simscape).	Use physical ports to connect components in an architecture model or to enable physical systems in a Simulink subsystem.	Define Physical Ports on Component
physical connector	A physical connector can represent a nondirectional conserving connection of a specific physical domain. Connectors can also represent physical signals.	Use physical connectors to connect physical components that represent features of a system to simulate mathematically.	Architecture Model with Simscape Behavior for a DC Motor
physical interface	A physical interface defines the kind of information that flows through a physical port. The same interface can be assigned to multiple ports. A physical interface is a composite interface equivalent to a Simulink.ConnectionBus object that specifies a number of Simulink.ConnectionElement objects.	Use a physical interface to bundle physical elements to describe a physical model using at least one physical domain.	Specify Physical Interfaces on Ports
physical element	A physical element describes the decomposition of a physical interface. A physical element is equivalent to a Simulink.ConnectionElement object.	Define the Type of a physical element as a physical domain to enable use of that domain in a physical model.	Describe Component Behavior Using Simscape

Version History

Introduced in R2019a