AUTOLEV(ID:6779/aut020)

Mechanical systems language 

language for interactive exploration of mechanical system using the methodology advocated by Kane and Levinson
References:
  • Schaechter, D.B. and Levinson, D.A. "Interactive computerized symbolic dynamics for the dynamicist." Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 36, 4, 1988, pp. 365-388. view details
  • Sayers, Michael W. "A Symbolic Computer Language For Multibody Systems" pp1153-1163 view details Abstract: Methods are developed for describing and manipulating symbolic data ?objects? that are useful for analyzing the kinematics and dynamics of multibody systems. These symbolic objects include: (1) vector/dyadic algebraic expressions, (2) physical components in a multibody system, and (3) program structures needed in a numerical simulation code. A computer algebra language based on these methods encourages the automation of multibody analyses that are versatile and simple, because much of the ?work? involved in describing the system mathematically is handled by the algebra system, rather than the analysis formalism. It also handles much of the process of converting symbolic equations into efficient computer code for numericalanalysis. The language permits a dynamicist to describe forces, moments, constraints, and output variables using expressions involving arbitrary combinations of unit-vectors from different moving reference frames. Kinematics and dynamics analysis algorithms have been programmed that employ these capabilities to analyze complex multibody systems and formulate highly efficient computer source code used for subsequent numerical analysis. A companion paper describes the basic multibody formalism that has been programmed. Extract: AUTOLEV
    At least one symbolic computation language has been developed specifically for interactive use by a dynamics expert. With this language, called AUTOLEV, the dynamicist analyzes the mechanical system using the methodology advocated by Kane and Levinson, and the computer acts as an assistant that performs most of the algebra. When the analysis is complete, the equations of motion are written into a Fortran program that is ready to compile and run. Because it is specialized for dynamics and kinematics analysis, the software is reported to be simpler to use for this application than other symbolic mathematics computer languages. Another advantage is that it runs on inexpensive personal computers. However, the correctness of the equations is strongly dependent on the skill and thoroughness of the dynamicist, who must attend to many mundane details of the analysis (e.g., using kinematical relations to derive velocities) using AUTOLEV commands.
          in Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 14, No. 6, Nov/Dec 1991 view details