Simulation Tools

MATLAB &
Simulink Basics

From your first command to a working EV powertrain model — in 8 sessions.

8 sessions
Total Classes
16 hrs
Contact Time
2 certs
MathWorks
MATLAB Onramp Certificate
Simulink Onramp Certificate
100% Browser-Based
Course Structure
🔵
Phase 1 — MATLAB
Variables · Vectors · Plotting · Logic
S1–S4
🟠
Phase 2 — Simulink
Blocks · Signals · Subsystems · Models
S5–S8
Certificates earned
🏆 Session 4 🏆 Session 8
Platform
matlabacademy.mathworks.com
No installation · Sign-in required
Before you begin

Prerequisites

This course has two phases with distinct prerequisites. Review both before Session 1.

🔵
MATLAB Onramp
Sessions 1–4 · Modules 1–12
  • ✓No prior MATLAB experience required — this phase starts from zero
  • ✓Basic numeracy: comfort with arithmetic, fractions, and units (e.g. km/h, volts, watts)
  • ✓Understanding of secondary-school physics: Ohm's Law (V = IR), Power (P = VI), kinematics
  • ✓Familiarity with a computer and a web browser — all work runs in browser via MathWorks Onramp
  • ✓A MathWorks account (free) at matlabacademy.mathworks.com — create one before Session 1
  • ✓Basic EV awareness: what a battery pack, motor, and inverter do — no technical depth required
✓ Zero programming background needed — no Python, C, or Java required
🟠
Simulink Onramp
Sessions 5–8 · Modules 1–11
  • ✓MATLAB Onramp Certificate — earned at the end of Session 4 (all 12 MATLAB modules complete)
  • ✓Confident with MATLAB variables, vectors, and basic scripts from Sessions 1–4
  • ✓Understanding of signal flow: the idea that data travels from a source through a process to an output
  • ✓Familiarity with block diagrams — e.g. able to read a system diagram showing input → process → output
  • ✓Basic EV powertrain knowledge from the broader EV PG program: motor, inverter, battery, and controller roles
  • ✓Comfort with the MathWorks Onramp browser environment — gained through Sessions 1–4
✓ No graphical programming experience needed — Simulink is introduced from scratch in Session 5
What you will learn

Course Curriculum

Eight sessions across two tools. Every session follows the same two-hour structure: theory, Onramp practice, and an EV-specific application task.

🔵
Phase 1 — MATLAB Onramp
Sessions 1–4  ·  Modules 1–12  ·  8 Hours
🏆 Certificate
SESSION 01  ·  MODULES 1–3
Commands, Variables & the MATLAB Environment
  • Navigating the Command Window and Workspace
  • Creating and naming variables
  • Arithmetic operations and data types
  • EV task: battery pack current calculation
SESSION 02  ·  MODULES 4–6
Vectors, Arrays & Indexing
  • Creating vectors with [ ], colon operator, linspace()
  • 1-based indexing and range slicing
  • Element-wise operations on entire vectors
  • EV task: drive cycle vector and unit conversion
SESSION 03  ·  MODULES 7–9
Visualization & Plotting
  • plot(), xlabel, ylabel, title, grid, ylim
  • Format strings: colour, line style, markers
  • Multi-line plots with hold on and legend()
  • EV task: SoC discharge curve with find()
🏆 CERTIFICATE SESSION 04  ·  MODULES 10–12
Scripts, Logic & Control Flow
  • Scripts vs Command Window — .m files and comments
  • Logical operators: ==, <, >, &&, ||
  • if / elseif / else / end branching
  • for loops over vectors
  • EV task: BMS threshold logic script with loop
🟠
Phase 2 — Simulink Onramp
Sessions 5–8  ·  Modules 1–11  ·  8 Hours
🏆 Certificate
SESSION 05  ·  MODULES 1–3
Simulink Environment & Block Diagrams
  • Simulink vs MATLAB — graphical vs code paradigm
  • Library Browser: Source, Sink, and Math blocks
  • Connecting blocks and running a simulation
  • EV task: throttle-to-torque block diagram sketch
SESSION 06  ·  MODULES 4–6
Simulation Parameters & Viewing Outputs
  • Setting and modifying block parameters
  • Scope block as an oscilloscope
  • Simulation stop time and solver settings
  • EV task: RPM-to-rad/s gain model
SESSION 07  ·  MODULES 7–9
Subsystems & Model Hierarchy
  • Creating subsystems — grouping and naming
  • Inports and outports — exposing the interface
  • Navigating into and out of subsystem hierarchy
  • EV task: BEV 3-subsystem hierarchy design
🏆 CERTIFICATE SESSION 08  ·  MODULES 10–11
Completion, Certificates & Capstone
  • Final Simulink Onramp exercises and assessment
  • Simulink Onramp Certificate claim
  • Capstone synthesis: MATLAB + Simulink concept map
  • Preview: next steps in the EV PG programme
What you will be able to do

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course you will have a working toolkit for EV data analysis and simulation — directly applicable to the rest of the EV PG programme.

📊
Work with EV Data
Store, index, and process time-series sensor data including drive cycles, SoC logs, and motor speed readings as MATLAB vectors.
📈
Visualise Results
Produce complete, labelled engineering plots — SoC curves, speed profiles, multi-line comparisons — that communicate findings clearly.
⚖️
Write Decision Logic
Build BMS-style scripts using if/else conditions and for loops — the same logical structure used in real vehicle control software.
🔷
Build Block Diagrams
Construct and run Simulink models with sources, gains, scopes, and subsystems — representing EV signal flow graphically.
🏗️
Design Model Hierarchies
Organise simulations into subsystems — Battery, Motor, Controller — mirroring how professional EV simulation models are structured.
🏆
Earn Two Certificates
Claim MathWorks MATLAB Onramp and Simulink Onramp certificates — industry-recognised credentials linked to your MathWorks account.
How the course runs

Delivery Format

Every session follows the same four-block structure, designed for active learning rather than passive instruction.

📅
8
Sessions
2 hrs each
🌐
100%
Browser-based
No installation
📐
16+
EV tasks
One per session
🏆
2
Certificates
MathWorks issued

Each 2-Hour Session

Block A
15
MINUTES
Theory input — instructor explains the concept with EV framing
Block B
45
MINUTES
Onramp self-paced exercises — work through the Onramp modules
Block C
45
MINUTES
Continue Onramp + instructor live demo of the EV application
Block D
15
MINUTES
EV-specific task — apply the session skills to a real EV problem
The platforms

Tools You Will Use

Both tools are accessed through a single MathWorks account. No software installation is required on any device.

🔵
MATLAB Onramp
matlabacademy.mathworks.com — free, browser-based

A structured self-paced course providing a real MATLAB environment in the browser. No installation, no license required.

  • 12 modules covering variables, vectors, functions, plotting, and logic
  • Full Command Window, Script Editor, and Workspace panel in browser
  • Automatic progress saving to your MathWorks account
  • Graded exercises with instant feedback throughout
  • Completion unlocks the official MATLAB Onramp Certificate
🟠
Simulink Onramp
matlabacademy.mathworks.com — free, browser-based

A graphical modelling environment where you build simulations by connecting blocks — the industry standard for model-based engineering.

  • 11 modules covering blocks, signals, parameters, scopes, and subsystems
  • Full Simulink canvas and Library Browser in the browser
  • Real simulation engine — models you build actually run
  • Directly connected to MATLAB Workspace from prior sessions
  • Completion unlocks the official Simulink Onramp Certificate
🔑
Before Session 1 — create your free MathWorks account
Visit matlabacademy.mathworks.com, sign up with your email address, and enrol in MATLAB Onramp. This takes 5 minutes and must be done before the first class.
matlabacademy.mathworks.com
Checkpoints

Assessment & Milestones

Assessment is continuous and built into each session. The two certificates are the primary formal deliverables.

SESSION 1–3
Onramp Progress + EV Reflections
Completion of each Onramp module batch. Brief reflection tasks connecting the skills to EV engineering context.
SESSION 4 — MILESTONE
🏆 MATLAB Onramp Certificate
All 12 MATLAB Onramp modules and exercises complete. Certificate downloaded from MathWorks account.
SESSION 5–7
Onramp Progress + Model Tasks
Completion of Simulink Onramp modules. Block D tasks include subsystem hierarchy sketches and model replications.
SESSION 8 — MILESTONE
🏆 Simulink Onramp Certificate
All 11 Simulink Onramp modules complete. Capstone concept map submitted. Certificate downloaded.
Block D — EV Tasks

Each session ends with a 15-minute EV-specific task. These are not graded exercises — they are application challenges designed to consolidate the session's Onramp learning in an EV context.

Session 1Battery pack current calculation
Session 2Drive cycle vector and unit conversion
Session 3SoC discharge curve with find()
Session 4BMS logic script with loop
Session 5EV powertrain block diagram sketch
Session 6RPM-to-rad/s parameterised gain model
Session 73-level BEV subsystem hierarchy
Session 8Full MATLAB + Simulink concept map
Using a phone or tablet?

Mobile Device Guide

MathWorks Onramp and Simulink Onramp run in a desktop browser. If you are on a phone or tablet, follow these steps to make everything work correctly.

📱
Enable Desktop Mode
Required for Onramp to load and run

Onramp requires a desktop browser environment. Mobile view will not render the Command Window or Simulink canvas correctly. Enable Desktop Mode before opening matlabacademy.mathworks.com.

iPhone / iPad (Safari)
  • Open Safari and go to matlabacademy.mathworks.com
  • Tap the AA icon in the address bar (top left)
  • Tap Request Desktop Website
  • The page will reload in desktop mode — now sign in and open Onramp
Android (Chrome)
  • Open Chrome and go to matlabacademy.mathworks.com
  • Tap the ⋮ three-dot menu (top right)
  • Tick Desktop site
  • Page reloads — sign in and open your Onramp course
Samsung Internet (Android)
💡 Tip
Desktop Mode must be re-enabled each time you visit a new site on Safari. On Chrome and Samsung Internet it can be set as a permanent default in Settings → Accessibility → Force desktop site.
🌐
Run Simulink in the Browser
No download or installation needed

This course uses Simulink Onramp — a browser-based version of Simulink. You do not need to download or install MATLAB Desktop or Simulink software. Everything runs in the browser through your MathWorks account.

How to access Simulink Onramp
  • Go to matlabacademy.mathworks.com (desktop mode enabled)
  • Sign in with your MathWorks account
  • Click My Courses and select Simulink Onramp
  • The Simulink canvas and block library load entirely inside the browser — no install prompt will appear
⚠ Do not do this
  • Do not click "Download MATLAB" or "Get MATLAB" — this is for the desktop app, which is not needed for this course
  • Do not try to install Simulink from the MathWorks website — Onramp is separate and free
  • If Simulink opens a download page instead of the canvas, go back to matlabacademy.mathworks.com → My Courses → Simulink Onramp
📋 Minimum browser requirements
Chrome 90+, Safari 15+, Firefox 90+, or Edge 90+. Older browser versions may not render the Simulink canvas correctly. Update your browser if you see a blank canvas.
🔄
Use landscape orientation on phones
Rotate your phone to landscape (horizontal) mode when working in Onramp. The Command Window, Workspace panel, and Simulink canvas need horizontal space to display correctly. Portrait mode will crop the interface.
Session 1 →