Thread implemented in MATLAB in a timer

Hello,

I have two processes (one for a camera that runs through a camera function and one for a robot that runs through a robot function), and I'd like to set up a thread to run them in parallel.

I'd like the robot process to run in the background if possible. I searched the internet and found parfeval but I don't really understand how it works.

I don't really understand how it works. Can you advise me on how to do this?

Answer 1

[Abhaya]

Hi Claire,

I understand that you want to run two processes in parallel: one for a camera function and another for a robot function, with the robot process running asynchronously in the background.

To achieve this, you can use MATLAB ‘parfeval’ function along with ‘parpool’ function. The MATLAB ‘parpool’ function starts a parallel pool of workers, while the MATLAB ‘parfeval’ function is used to run functions in the background.

To set this up, please refer to the steps given below.

• Start the parallel pool with two workers.

parpool(2);

• Run the camera and robot processes in the background.

f1 = parfeval(@cameraProcess, 0); % The second parameter represents number of output. ‘0’ means there is no output.
f2 = parfeval(@robotProcess, 0);

For more information, please refer to the MATLAB documentation for ‘parpool’ and ‘parfeval’ functions.

• https://www.mathworks.com/help/parallel-computing/parpool.html
• https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/parfeval.html

Additionally, you might find this MATLAB community discussion helpful.

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/195111-how-can-i-run-2-functions-in-parallel-with-matlab-parallel-computing-toolbox-looking-for-an-easy-ex

Hope this helps in solving your query.

[Claire]

Thanks for your answer.

I am not sure how to implement that with a timer. I have the main timer function running both process.

app.MeTimer = timer(...

'ExecutionMode', 'fixedSpacing', ... % 'fixedRate', ... % Run timer repeatedly

'Period', Period, ... % Period (second)

'BusyMode', 'queue', ... %'queue',... % Waits until the currently executing callback function finishes before queuing the next execution of the timer callback function.

'TimerFcn', @app.Streaming); % Specify callback function

Do I declare the parpool and the parfeval before the timer?

[Claire]

Found how to do it and it works. Thanks for your help