Master Class on Object-Oriented Programming with MATLAB

Introduction

• Presenter: Lauren Shore, MathWorks (30+ years of experience)
• Objective: Introduction to object-oriented programming (OOP) in MATLAB
  • For MATLAB users needing to learn OOP
  • Users from other languages wanting to see OOP in MATLAB
• Resources: Maintains a blog on MathWorks website - "The Art of MATLAB"

Agenda

1. Why use OOP?
2. Basic concepts and terminology
3. How to create a class
4. Making classes more robust
5. Advanced features (overview only)

Example: Locating Balloons with Radar

• Problem: Finding and locating blips from radar deployed on balloons
• Scenario: Sensor array detects blips, computes angles of arrival over time

Progression of Programming Techniques

1. Direct command line calculations (e.g., calculating interest)
2. Using variables in a script
3. Grouping related variables into structures
4. Advanced techniques: Classes combining algorithms (methods) and data (properties)

Basic Concepts of OOP

• Class: Blueprint for an object containing properties (data) and methods (behavior)
• Object: Specific instance of a class
• Properties: Data attributes of a class
• Methods: Functions defining the behavior of a class
• Example: Class Dog with properties (breed, age, color) and methods (eat, sit, bark).

Creating a Class in MATLAB

• Basic Structure: Class definition, properties, methods
• Example: Create a class Blip with properties aoa, range, and signal
• Object Creation: b = Blip(), setting properties with b.aoa = -10, b.range = ...

Features of MATLAB Classes

• Self-documenting: Methods and properties are easily accessible
• Error Checking: Avoids mistakes like incorrect property names
• Customization: Constructors for initializing objects with preset values
• Indexing: Combination of array and dot notation
• Encapsulation: Hide implementation details, control property access

Method Example

• Define methods within a class to add functionality (e.g., function identify for Blip)
• Use object properties within methods using obj.propertyName

Procedural vs. Object-Oriented Programming

• Procedural: Focus on procedure and data separated, flexible but prone to errors
• OOP: Combines data and behavior, more robust and error-resistant

Advanced Features: Encapsulation and Data Protection

• Define public, private, and protected properties and methods
• Prevent arbitrary changes to important properties (e.g., speed of light)
• Use dependent properties and property validation for consistency

Inheritance

• Inheritance: Creating a subclass that inherits properties and methods from a superclass
• Example: MovingBlip inherits from Blip and adds deltaAOA
• Allows code reuse and extends functionality without rewriting

Practical Demonstration

• Scenario: Radar detecting multiple blips, some stationary and some moving
• Create and manipulate objects, use methods to simulate radar detection

MATLAB OOP Features

• Full support for OOP: class definitions, inheritance, method overloading
• Static Methods, Validators, Handle Classes, Destructor Methods
• Documentation and Examples: Extensive resources available on MathWorks website
• Training: MATLAB training courses available for deeper learning

Additional Resources

• MATLAB Expo 2020 on Demand: Technical talks on MathWorks products
• Simulink Student Challenge: Competitions with prizes
• MathWorks YouTube Channel: Subscribe for updates on events and tutorial videos

Conclusion

• Summary: Review of key concepts in OOP and its implementation in MATLAB
• Invitation: Engage with resources and further your learning in OOP with MATLAB