Object-Oriented Input Signal Design for System Identification

The paper describes how object-oriented methods may be applied to the design of input signals for system identification. Their terminology and concepts are defined, and it is shown that although they are best known as computer programming methods, they are also modelling methods applicable to engineering design. In particular, the concepts of aggregation and inheritance lead to a new method for creating input signals with a wide range of levels and periods, with an additional advantage that the objects created can be reused. The method, which involves operations in Galois fields, is described in detail and illustrated by an example.