Review : This software uses a contemporary GUI with great outlook. Its symbolic and numeric solution capabilities are very advanced. The iconic modeling facility allows system-morphic model layout. The event handlers are a great bonus. It also has many post-processing facilities over the simulated result. This software requires pre-installed Microsoft Developer Studio™ (version 5.0 or above). The direct C++ compilation allows easy integration of external code. The controls module incorporates advanced state space, analog, digital routines for various conversions, filters, feedback systems. The controls module handles matrices, transfer functions, quadruples and numeric data equally. This software is recommended for use in research and industrial modeling of large systems.

Review : There are a lot of sentimental values attached with this product. It takes a very high position in the heart of bond graphers. This software was instrumental in growth of bond graph theory and applications. The new release Model Builder (MB) supports hierarchical model structuring by defining subsystem Components that can contain other Components; and it has display properties, such as an icon, that can be used in a graphical modeling environment. It structures equations for solution with MATLAB®. User-Defined Model Types (UDMTs), which are generalized model definition based on multiport templates that can be specialized for a particular purpose, are the latest improvements to this product. The MDI (Multiple document interface) architecture make it a suitable editing and development environment. However, the product is not available in a commercial scale and doesn't confirm to cutting-edge software development practices.

Review : The software is written in VB and C++, is object oriented and structured. It is yet not commercially available. The software allows determination of structural controllability, observability and invertibily of linear models. It is a high quality academic work based on the research at the "Ecole Centrale de Lille" catering mostly to automatic control theory. The user interface lacks modern features. Numerical simulation and control systems analysis are not within the scope of this product.

Review : A Preprocessor, based on a good GUI, doesn't support object based modeling. Equations derived are neither completely reduced nor sorted properly. Heavily depends on external software to perform post-processing. In the post-processing domain, relation to the base bond graph model is lost amidst mathematical abstractions.

Review: The product is a time-tested modeling tool evolved after the famous TutSim software. The sub-model facilities are big bonus. It supports hierarchical modeling, but sticks to a out-dated PDMT (Pre-Defined Model Type) object implementation. Doesn't require external compilers or any other post-processing software. Control systems analysis module is present only in form of simulation and some basic frequency domain charts. The object property and equation description language does'nt confirm to any current day programming languages like Pascal, Fortran, C, or C++. Overall, it is a good product recommended for modeling of small to medium sized systems. The graphics and hard copy output quality is poor. Use of non-standard menu and toolbar systems, difficult to access library windows and SDI (Single document interface) architecture make overall model creation very tedious.

Review : A product from Stanislaw Raczynski, who is an editor of open directory project on scientific simulation software, this product lives up to reputations of its author. It is an object-oriented, Pascal-related simulation language. The language has a clear process/event structure. It's translator generates Pascal source code that can be run using a Pascal compiler. The software computes transient process simulation as well as frequency response (Bode and Nyquist plots) are provided. State events, Discrete and continuous objects can run concurrently. Various frequently used processes are available in library form. Also includes a Post Mortem analyzer for stochastic (discrete and continuous) models. The Complex System Simulator (CSS) is very useful for combined systems, permits model coupling. Sub models of different types (queuing, continuous, etc.) can run concurrently in the same simulation program. Hierarchical model building features are not very advanced in bond graph domain. The GUI features are rather rudimentary. Recommended for class-room and tutorial purpose use by students and researchers.

Review : The GUI confirms to standard software practices. The editing tools are ergonomically placed. It is based on a SDI (single document interface) architecture in Win 32, which makes model building a bit difficult. A bond graph animation support is available. Overall, this product can be rated as an average software.

Review : CAMBAS is developed using the C programming language and the OSF/Motif graphics commands for RISC workstations. This software facilitates the development of proper models (simplest model with physically meaningful parameters and variables) using a two-level, Template-Based Modeling Approach. The proper model is detected when all the system eigenvalues within a user specified frequency range of interest are found. An additional accuracy criteria, which requires all of the critical system eigenvalue to converge to a user specified tolerance, can also be used. This product aims at generating proper models during the early stages of the design, shortening the design cycle and boosting the dynamic performance. Applicable to only linear systems, simulation and control analysis (besides eigenvalue inspection) are out of its scope. It is a freeware available from Automotive Research Center, University of Michigan.

Review : Handles large, complex multi-domain models, faster modeling by graphical model composition, symbolic pre-processing, allows user defined model components, 3D Animation and real-time simulation. Huge library modules make it an ideal platform for easy and quick model creation. Uses object oriented modeling language Modelica to support hierarchical structuring, reuse and evolution of large and complex models independent from the application domain. Acausal sub-model creation based on differential and algebraic equations gives flexibility of implementation. Learning Modelica language seems to be the only hitch. There are no major provisions for advanced frequency domain and control system analysis. It is rated a very high as a modeling language, but fails to impress in its bond graph processing capabilities.

Review : A small implementation, that is good for modeling and solving very small and linear tutorial problems using basic bond graph elements. The Internet version is a good learning tool.

Review : Hybrid bond graphs extend traditional bond graphs by an ideal switching element, the controlled junction. Simulation is based on graph propagation. No explicit system of equations is derived. It supports only ideal bond graph elements and a few block-diagram components for analysis of small linear systems. The software is still in development stage. Free java source code can be downloaded.

Review : The simulation and graphical editing interface of many software products like DYMOLA generate and use Modelica code. The latest release of Modelica language Version 1.4 was on December 15, 2000 by the Modelica Association. Modelica can be used for mixed continuous and discrete models (Hybrid models) as well as for Discrete Event and Discrete Time Models. It can deal with conditional equations with causality changes and generally adopts to a formal acausal (non-causal) modeling scheme at the front-end. It is suitable for modeling of large systems using hierarchical modeling scheme embeded as reusable sub-model classes. The lack of proper GUI drivers and difficulty in linking with other high-level programming languages like C and C++ code are a few short-comings.

Review : MS1 provides ways to call subroutines in C and Fortran. Hierarchical description is allowed using top-down and bottom-up approaches. The user interface (GUI) is outdated, has no scroll bars in the model viewing window (large models are clipped) and the overall design and ergonomics is awfully unprofessional. It fails to impress as a reliable, modern modeling and simulation package.

Review : MTT has been developed by Peter Gawthrop at the University of Glasgow. It is a non-comercial research tool. Besides command line and batch mode input, a simple menu driven interface is also available. GNU Octave is a freely redistributable high-level language software, primarily intended for numerical computations and is mostly compatible with Matlab®. It provides a convenient command line interface for solving linear and nonlinear problems numerically.

Review : As demonstrated at ICBGM'01, the attempt is note-worthy. However, it still is in a developmental stage and doesn't include any hierarchical modeling philosophy. Till review, the tool box did only support basic bond graph elements and junction structures. Recommended for tutorial use in modeling of very small simple systems.