Introducing the Virtual Systems Interface for Dynamic Coupling of Continuous Time Systems with Discontinuities

Abstract

This paper introduces the Virtual Systems Interface (VSI) as a potential enhancement of the FMI interface or as a separate open source interface. The VSI interface is intended to simplify model exchange and dynamic model coupling of continuous time systems with discontinuities while ensuring fast, accurate and lowcost simulations. The VSI interface uses a single interface for the coupling of both continuous time and discrete time systems. It is designed for variable time step integration with proper discontinuity handling and convergence checking. It requires no run-time licenses for any model packaged using the interface.