Tom Erkkinen
The MathWorks

A model is a mathematical representation of a dynamic system whose response at any time is a function of its inputs, current state, and current time. Historically, engineers and scientists have used block diagrams to create models and design dynamic systems within numerous scientific areas such as Feedback Control Theory and Signal Processing. In recent years, graphical modeling environments consisting of block diagrams and state machines have been used to analyze, simulate, prototype, specify, and deploy software algorithms within a variety embedded systems and applications. The term Model-Based Design is used when referring to the use of these models and modeling environments as the basis for embedded system development.