6. Model simplification

As the design cycle progresses from the functional to the network level (the "top down" phase), models have become increasingly complex. When it comes to the integration phase ("bottom up" phase), it is advisable to test the control laws on more realistic and faithful models than those used to synthesize the control. Indeed, physical phenomena whose influence was ignored in the "top down" phase have been highlighted at network level, and it may be relevant to take them into account. However, these network-level models often include other phenomena which can lead to unnecessary complexity, or even incompatibility with the real-time computing objectives often desirable in this design validation phase (known as the "bottom up" phase). Access to model analysis and reduction tools is a key feature of simulation software. Two main classes of methods can be distinguished:

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