Introduction to Object-Oriented

Programming in MATLAB

Jamie Winter
Sr. Account Manager

Abhishek Gupta
Application Engineer

© 2011 The MathWorks, Inc.1

Agenda

 Object-oriented programming

 Basic object-oriented programming

syntax in MATLAB

 Classes in MATLAB

2
What is a program?
Data
x = 12
while (x < 100)
x = x+1
if (x == 23)
x = 12 disp('Hello')
while (x < 100) end
x = x+1 end
if (x == 23)
disp('Hello')
end Assignment
end Looping Test
Increment
Test to Act
Code Take Action
End
End

Actions 3
Progression of Programming Techniques

value Data
variable
structure

Level of Abstraction / Sophistication

function
script
command line
Algorithm
4
Example: Sensor Array

 Transmitting a signal
from a weather balloon

 Locating the signal

with a sensor array

 Computing the angle of

arrival (AoA) for the signal

5
Procedural Programming

 Easy to learn
 Minimal planning

 There is no formal
relationship between
data and functions.
 Every detail is exposed.

6
 Data and Actions to Implement

Number Determine peaks

Wavelength

Spacing Compute FFT

Location
Plot results

Reading
Synthesize measurements
Frequency

Data Actions

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 Related Data and Actions

Balloon Number Determine peaks

Wavelength Sensor
 Location
 Synthesize measurements
Sensor
Spacing Compute FFT peaks
 Determine
Signal
Location  Reading  Compute FFT Plot results
 Frequency  Spacing  Plot results
 Wavelength  Reading
Number
Synthesize measurements
Frequency

Data Actions

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 Grouping Related Data and Actions

Sensor
Balloon  Synthesize measurements
 Location  Determine peaksSensor
 Compute FFT  Synthesize measurements
Sensor  Determine peaks
 Plot results Sensor
Signal  Reading  Compute FFT
 Frequency  Spacing  Reading
 Plot results
 Wavelength  Number  Spacing
 Number

Data Class Actions

9
Progression of Programming Techniques

value Data
variable
structure

(properties)
Level of Abstraction / Sophistication
class
(methods)

function
script
command line
Algorithm
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Object-Oriented Terminology

 Class
– Outline of an idea
– Properties (data)
– Methods (algorithms)
An element of
the set – object
 Object
– Specific example of a class
– Instance Defined set – class

11
Agenda

 Object-oriented programming

 Basic object-oriented programming

syntax in MATLAB

 Classes in MATLAB

12
Demonstration: Building a Simple Class

 Define a class for

our radar blips

 Create the weather

balloon object

 Use the object in

place of the structure

13
Objects

 Are easy to create

 Manage their own data

 Are interchangeable
with a structure
– No other code changes are required.
– Properties behave similar to field names.
– Fields can’t be added arbitrarily.

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Demonstration:
Adding Methods to a Class
 Start from a sensor class
with existing properties
Sensor
Synthesize measurements
Determine peaks
 Add a method to compute
Compute FFT
angle of arrival (AoA) Plot results

 Integrate a sensor object

into the existing code

15
Objects with Methods

 Have immediate access to

their own data (properties)

 Allow you to overload

existing functions

 Allow you to perform

custom actions at
creation and deletion

16
Agenda

 Object-oriented programming

 Basic object-oriented programming

syntax in MATLAB

 Classes in MATLAB

17
Taking Methods and Properties Further

 Control access

 Create constants

 Make values interdependent

 Execute methods when properties change

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Demonstration: Applying Attributes

 Control access
Access = public
Access = protected

 Restrict modification
Constant
Dependent

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Encapsulation

Speed of
Noise Ratio Sensor Reading
Light

Number of Towers etc.

Synthesize
measurements
Plot Results

Determine
Tower Spacing Compute Peaks
FFT
Compute AoA
Sensor

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Encapsulation

 Separates the interface

from the implementation
Speed of
Noise Ratio Sensor Reading
Light

Simplifies
 Number object
of Towers use Number of Towers
etc.
Synthesize
measurements
Plot Results
 Becomes a building block
Determine
Tower Spacing Compute Tower Spacing
Peaks
FFT
Compute AoA
Sensor

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Using a Class as a Building Block

The Red Baron

The Balloon
All Moving Radar Blips

All Radar Blips

22
Demonstration:
Creating a Moving Target
 Define a new class
for moving blips

 Inherit from the existing

Position
class for blips
Move Blip
 Add a method
Signal
 Use the moving blip

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Inheritance

 Subclass substitutes
for the superclass

 Allows re-envisioning
and re-implementing
the superclass

 Builds on proven code

 Allows inheriting from the base MATLAB classes

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Object-Oriented Programming in MATLAB

 Class definition file describes object behavior

 Objects can substitute for structures
 Apply attributes for a clean interface
 Build on existing classes with inheritance

Extends the matrix-based language to objects

25
Additional Resources

26
Questions and Answers

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