Mathworks simplifies parallel apps in MATLAB

NATICK, USA: The MathWorks announced the integration of its Parallel Computing Toolbox with its MATLAB optimization toolboxes to help further simplify the development of parallel applications.

Parallel computing capabilities are now integrated inside the optimization solvers of MathWorks Optimization Toolbox and Genetic Algorithm and Direct Search Toolbox, enabling users to solve computationally-intensive optimization problems on multicore computers and computer clusters without significantly changing their existing programs.

The MathWorks optimization toolboxes give engineers and scientists the tools needed to find optimal solutions, perform tradeoff analysis, balance multiple design alternatives, and quickly incorporate optimization methods in their algorithms and models. The integration of select optimization solvers with Parallel Computing Toolbox allows for the use of available computational resources to solve more computationally-intensive problems than previously possible on a single core.

The result is a reduction in the time to solution for optimization problems that are amenable to parallel computing.  Example applications include calibrating an automotive engine control unit with experimental data, identifying an aircraft design that minimizes noise while maximizing fuel efficiency and selecting a portfolio of stocks that maximize gains while minimizing risk.

Additional features with this release include support for two additional widely used schedulers in the Parallel Computing Toolbox: PBS Pro from Altair Grid Technologies and TORQUE. Support for third-party schedulers enable cluster administrators to integrate MathWorks parallel computing tools into their existing distributed computing environments.