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Analysis of institutional authors

Sanchez ACorresponding AuthorDe Castro AAuthor

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July 24, 2023
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Efficient Hardware-in-the-Loop Models Using Automatic Code Generation with MATLAB/Simulink

Publicated to:Electronics. 12 (13): 2786- - 2023-07-01 12(13), DOI: 10.3390/electronics12132786

Authors: Saralegui R; Sanchez A; de Castro A

Affiliations

Univ Autonoma Madrid, HCTLab Res Grp, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author

Abstract

Hardware-in-the-loop testing is usually a part of the design cycle of control systems. Efficient and fast models can be created in a Hardware Description Language (HDL), which is implemented in a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Control engineers are more skilled in higher-level approaches. HDL models derived automatically from schematics have noticeably lower performance, while HDL models derived from their equations are faster and smaller. However, even models translated automatically into HDL using the equations might be worse than manually coded models. A design workflow is proposed to achieve manual-like performance with automatic tools. It consists of the identification of similar operations, forcing signal signedness, and adjusting to multiplier input sizes. A detailed comparison was performed between three workflows: (1) translation of high-level MATLAB code, (2) translation of a Simulink model, and (3) working directly in the HDL. Sources of inefficiency were shown in a buck converter, and the process was validated in a full-bridge with electrical losses using a Runge–Kutta method. The results showed that the proposed approach delivered code that performed very close to a reference VHDL implementation, even for complex designs. Finally, the model was implemented in an off-the-shelf FPGA board suitable for a hardware-in-the-loop test setup.

Keywords

field-programmable gate arraymatlabpower converterssimulinksystemField-programmable gate arrayHardware-in-the-loopMatlabPower convertersPower electronicsSimulink

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Electronics due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 157/353, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Engineering, Electrical & Electronic. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 2.34, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-18, the following number of citations:

  • Scopus: 3

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-18:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 12.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 14 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 0.25.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/711631

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Saralegui R) and Last Author (DE CASTRO MARTIN, ANGEL).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, ALBERTO.