VisSim

VisSim/solidThinking Embed

Paradigm	Modular, Visual Programming, Simulation language
Developer	Visual Solutions/solidThinking
First appeared	1989
Stable release	Embed 2016 / January 2016
OS	Windows
License	Proprietary software
Filename extensions	.VSM
Website	http://www.vissim.com, http://www.solidthinking.com/embed_land.html
Influenced by
C, Laboratory Workbench, AVS (Advanced Visualization System)

VisSim is a visual block diagram language for simulation of dynamical systems and model based design of embedded systems. It is developed by Visual Solutions of Westford, Massachusetts. Visual Solutions, has been acquired by Altair in August 2015 and its products have been rebranded as solidThinking Embed as a part of solidThinking's Model Based Development Suite. With solidThinking Embed, you can develop virtual prototypes of dynamic systems. Models are built by sliding blocks into the work area and wiring them together with the mouse. Embed automatically converts the control diagrams into C-code ready to be downloaded to the target hardware.

VisSim or now solidThinking Embed uses a graphical data flow paradigm to implement dynamic systems based on differential equations. Version 8 adds interactive UML OMG 2 compliant state chart graphs that are placed in VisSim diagrams. This allows the modeling of state based systems such as startup sequencing of process plants or serial protocol decoding.

VisSim/solidThinking Embed is used in control system design and digital signal processing for multidomain simulation and design. It includes blocks for arithmetic, Boolean, and transcendental functions, as well as digital filters, transfer functions, numerical integration and interactive plotting. The most commonly modeled systems are aeronautical, biological/medical, digital power, electric motor, electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, process, thermal/HVAC and econometric.

A read-only version of the software, VisSim Viewer, is available free of charge and provides a way for people not licensed to use VisSim to run VisSim models. This program is intended to allow models to be more widely shared while preserving the model in its published form. The viewer will execute any VisSim model, and only allows changes to block and simulation parameters to illustrate different design scenarios. Sliders and buttons may be activated if included in the model.