Using the Python Script Block

Getting familiar with the Python Script Block

Custom blocks can be implemented using the Python script block:                    
How it works
By default, a new block has one input and one output port. More input and output ports can be added using the block menu:
Note that each port is assigned a default name. These names can be changed by the user but must be unique within the block.
Double clicking on the block opens a text editor with three fields where you can enter your Python code. Code in the Init will be run once before simlation starts, Finalize will be run once after simulation ends, and Step will be run each time the block is called to update it outputs.
The script can contain arbitrary Python code including function and class definitions. Note, however, that at present, one can import only modules in the Python standard library and a curated list of libraries such asnumpy, scipy, python-control, roboticstoolbox, torch
Example 1: using numpy
The type of the value assign to output identifiers must match that of the output type defined for the port. For instance, if in_0 is connected to a block emitting square matrices, then the following will generate the corresponding stream of determinants.
import numpy as np
out_0 = np.linalg.det(in_0)
Example 2: state machines
A possible use case for Python script blocks is for implementing state machines. For example, consider the machine:
This machine has two states: {Heating, Cooling}, and two actions {Heat, Cool}. We assume that the input port on the block is given the name temp and the output port control. With this, the state machine can be implemented with the following Python code.
In the Init field:
from enum import Enum
class State(Enum):
    Heating = 0
    Cooling = 1
class Control(Enum):
    Cool = -1
    Heat = 1
state = State.Heating
This code serves to initialize any persistent state for the block and, in case above, to define the symbolic names for the states and actions using Python’s Enum class:
​enum - Support for enumerations - Python 3.10.4 documentation​
If the class definitions were in the Step field, they would be executed every time the block was activated. Each invocation would create new classes which, while identical, would nevertheless be distinct and the logic that follows would fail.
In the Step field:
if state is State.Heating:
    if temp <= 22:
        control = Control.Heat.value
    else:
        control = Control.Cool.value
        state = State.Cooling
elif state is State.Cooling:
    if temp >= 18:
        control = Control.Cool.value
    else:
        contol = Control.Heat.value
        state = State.Heating

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Importing Data

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Using the Predictor Block

Last modified 3mo ago