industry news
Subscribe Now

MathWorks Introduces Release 2021a of MATLAB and Simulink

Includes three new products, 12 major updates, and hundreds of new features

NATICK, Mass. – (March 16, 2021) – MathWorks today introduced Release 2021a of the MATLAB and Simulink product families. Release 2021a (R2021a) offers hundreds of new and updated features and functions in MATLAB® and Simulink®, along with three new products and 12 major updates. New capabilities in MATLAB include dynamic controls in live scripts as well as a new task for adding plots to live scripts without writing any code. Simulink updates enable users to import C code as reusable Simulink libraries and to speed up simulations. R2021a also introduces new products in the areas of satellite communications, radar, and DDS applications. More details are available in the Release 2021a video.

New products introduced in R2021a include:

  • Satellite Communications Toolbox

As the number of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites increases to serve the high-speed mobility market, Satellite Communications Toolbox is designed to help equipment makers and operators model, simulate, analyze, and verify satellite communications systems and links. The new toolbox provides a flexible environment in MATLAB for developing standards-based satellite communications signals, and configurability and extensibility for multi-domain simulation and verification of satellite communication, navigation, and remote sensing systems.

  • Radar Toolbox

Radar Toolbox includes algorithms and tools for the design, simulation, analysis, and testing of multifunction radar systems. As a result, radar system designers and integrators can assess system design trade-offs before radars are built or procured. Starting with R2021a, radar specific capabilities and examples previously found in Phased Array System Toolbox will be found in the new Radar Toolbox.

  • DDS Blockset

The new Simulink add-on, DDS Blockset, gives system and algorithm engineers developing software for DDS-based embedded systems a full Model-Based Design experience featuring modeling, simulation, verification, and code generation. As a result, engineers find errors much sooner while performing faster design and coding iterations.

In addition to the new products, R2021a includes major updates to Polyspace, Stateflow, and other products in the areas of Autonomous Systems, Computational Finance, Control Systems, Image Processing & Computer Vision, RF and Mixed-Signal, and Test & Measurement. R2021a is available immediately worldwide. For information on all new products, enhancements, and bug fixes to the MATLAB and Simulink product families, visit the R2021a Highlights page.

About MathWorks

MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software. MATLAB, the language of engineers and scientists, is a programming environment for algorithm development, data analysis, visualization, and numeric computation. Simulink is a block diagram environment for simulation and Model-Based Design of multidomain and embedded engineering systems. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on these products to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and development in automotive, aerospace, communications, electronics, industrial automation, and other industries. MATLAB and Simulink are also fundamental teaching and research tools in the world’s universities and learning institutions. Founded in 1984, MathWorks employs more than 5000 people in 16 countries, with headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. For additional information, visit mathworks.com.

Leave a Reply

featured blogs
Apr 2, 2026
Build, code, and explore with your own AI-powered Mars rover kit, inspired by NASA's Perseverance mission....

featured chalk talk

The Han® Connector
Sponsored by Mouser Electronics and HARTING
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Emily Kenny from HARTING and Amelia Dalton investigate the details of the HARTING Han® connector family. They also explore the trends in connector solutions today, the variety of options within this connector family and how you can get started using a HARTING Han® connector for your next design!
Feb 18, 2026
31,735 views