Dynamic Distributed Simulation of DEVS Models on the OSGi Service Platform

Interoperability among simulators is one of the key factors in distributed simulations. Several interoperability infrastructures such as HLA and DEVS/SOA have been utilised, but most of them do not provide any dynamics. This paper introduces the use of the OSGi service platform as universal middleware for dynamic distributed simulation of DEVS models. We have designed and implemented the DEVS/OSGi simulation framework, which is an approach similar to DEVS/SOA, but relies on an integrated service-oriented and protocol independent architecture. It enables standardized plug-and-play capabilities and dynamic reconfiguration within distributed simulations. The architecture and implementation has been validated in an analytical context against a traffic simulation model. We conclude that the standardised interoperability and run-time dynamics provided by the OSGi service platform are highly valuable for distributed simulations

Dynamic Distributed Simulation of DEVS Models on the OSGi Service Platform

Interoperability among simulators is one of the key factors in distributed simulations. Several interoperability infrastructures such as HLA and DEVS/SOA have been utilised, but most of them do not provide any dynamics. This paper introduces the use of the OSGi service platform as universal middleware for dynamic distributed simulation of DEVS models. We have designed and implemented the DEVS/OSGi simulation framework, which is an approach similar to DEVS/SOA, but relies on an integrated service-oriented and protocol independent architecture. It enables standardized plug-and-play capabilities and dynamic reconfiguration within distributed simulations. The architecture and implementation has been validated in an analytical context against a traffic simulation model. We conclude that the standardised interoperability and run-time dynamics provided by the OSGi service platform are highly valuable for distributed simulations

A State-of-the-art Integrated Transportation Simulation Platform

Nowadays, universities and companies have a huge need for simulation and modelling methodologies. In the particular case of traffic and transportation, making physical modifications to the real traffic networks could be highly expensive, dependent on political decisions and could be highly disruptive to the environment. However, while studying a specific domain or problem, analysing a problem through simulation may not be trivial and may need several simulation tools, hence raising interoperability issues. To overcome these problems, we propose an agent-directed transportation simulation platform, through the cloud, by means of services. We intend to use the IEEE standard HLA (High Level Architecture) for simulators interoperability and agents for controlling and coordination. Our motivations are to allow multiresolution analysis of complex domains, to allow experts to collaborate on the analysis of a common problem and to allow co-simulation and synergy of different application domains. This paper will start by presenting some preliminary background concepts to help better understand the scope of this work. After that, the results of a literature review is shown. Finally, the general architecture of a transportation simulation platform is proposed

Another way to manage supply chains: holonic and multicriteria approach

International audienceToday’s suppliers are challenged to deliver quality to their customers. Managers need to create and sustain internal systems and controls to ensure that their customers-focused strategies are being implemented. Many companies increasingly turn to their core activities to improve their reactivity and to manage their costs. This paper proposes an approach for self-organized control of relations between companies in which all the members of a partnership negotiate to guarantee good quality connections between customers and suppliers. Each partner is associated with a decision- making entity named “Autonomous Control Entity” (ACE) through which he can evaluate his performance. The integration of these ACEs into a holonic control system is presented. Operations of an ACE have been modelled through the Discrete EVent system Specification (DEVS) formalism. Then, the validation of such a control system for a self-organized logistic partnership network was done through a distributed High Level Architecture (HLA) simulation environmen

Teaching Modeling to Engineers in an Undergraduate Simulation Course

A significant challenge in teaching simulation to undergraduate students is to find a way to allow them to model a real world referent system within time and student skill constraints. Several research sources highlight not only the important challenge of model development (Garcia and Ceneno, 2009, Tako, 2011) but also the increased need for model development instruction among engineers (Grasas et. al., 2013, Saltzman and Roeder, 2013). One approach to this challenge is to use a general purpose discrete event simulation software package within the course, but this presents two challenges. Teaching the package to the students takes significant time, and the package introduces limitations which may restrict their ability to model certain real-world referents, particularly in the engineering domain. A conceptual approach to solving this problem is to use a model development paradigm that abstracts away the interface to the simulation infrastructure while still allowing the students to use the full expressive nature of a programming language. Two undergraduate courses at the United States Military Academy employed this strategy via the Discrete Events Specification System – Distributed Modeling Framework (DEVS-DMF) (Kewley et. al, 2016). The DEVS abstraction allowed students to think about their model as a simple state change function with defined inputs and outputs, and DMF allowed them to program in a cloud-based Jupyter Notebook using the Python language. Students in a combat modeling course employed a variety of models to understand drone jamming, and students in an engineering capstone project employed models to account for human factors in rifle marksmanship. The effectiveness of this approach was assessed through student grades, exit-interviews, and course-end surveys. These assessments showed an increased understanding of the model development process, and students also reported greater ownership of their models. However, this experiment also highlighted some weaknesses in their understanding of underlying methodologies and programming skills

A Generalized Discrete Event System (G-DEVS) Flattened Simulation Structure: Application to High-Level Architecture (HLA) Compliant Simulation of Workflow

International audienceThe objective of the paper is to specify a new flattened Generalized Discrete Event System simulation engine structure and the Workflow modeling and simulation environment embedding it. We express first the new flattened simulation structure and give the corresponding transformation functions. We analyze performance tests conducted on this new simulation structure to measure its efficiency. Then, having selected the essential concepts in the elaboration of the Workflow, we present a language of description to define the Workflow processes. Finally, we define a distributed Workflow Reference Model that interfaces components of the Workflow with respect to the High-Level Architecture standard. Today enterprises can take advantage of this platform in the context of networking where interoperability, flexibility, and efficiency are challenging concepts

SCS: 60 years and counting! A time to reflect on the Society's scholarly contribution to M&S from the turn of the millennium.

The Society for Modeling and Simulation International (SCS) is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Since its inception, the Society has widely disseminated the advancements in the field of modeling and simulation (M&S) through its peer-reviewed journals. In this paper we profile research that has been published in the journal SIMULATION: Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International from the turn of the millennium to 2010; the objective is to acknowledge the contribution of the authors and their seminal research papers, their respective universities/departments and the geographical diversity of the authors' affiliations. Yet another objective is to contribute towards the understanding of the overall evolution of the discipline of M&S; this is achieved through the classification of M&S techniques and its frequency of use, analysis of the sectors that have seen the predomination application of M&S and the context of its application. It is expected that this paper will lead to further appreciation of the contribution of the Society in influencing the growth of M&S as a discipline and, indeed, in steering its future direction

Composability model in a distributed simulation environment for supply chain

Distributed simulation becomes popular through the use of HLA standard and the necessity of sharing resources. Nevertheless, composability of model is still a problem to overcome. Many solutions propose the use of ontology and SOA architectures in the context of distributed simulation. This work presents a solution to compose simulation models in the context of supply chain simulation. The proposal presents a network ontology that conceptualizes different aspect to taking into account when a federation for supply chain is developed.Fil: Gutierrez, Maria del Milagro. Universidad Tecnologica Nacional. Facultad Regional Santa Fe. Centro de Investigacion y Desarrollo de Ingenieria en Sistemas de Informacion; ArgentinaFil: Leone, Horacio Pascual. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo y Diseño (i); Argentin

Composability model in a distributed simulation environment for supply chain

Distributed simulation become popular through the use of HLA standard and the necessity of sharing resources. Nevertheless composability of model is still a problem to overcome. Many solutions propose the use of ontology and SOA architectures in the context of distributed simulation. This work presents a solution to compose simulation models in the context of supply chain simulation. The proposal presents a network ontology that conceptualizes different aspect to taking into account when a federation for supply chain is developed.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Adding Executable Context to Executable Architectures: Enabling an Executable Context Simulation Framework (ECSF)

A system that does not stand alone is represented by a complex entity of component combinations that interact with each other to execute a function. In today\u27s interconnected world, systems integrate with other systems - called a system-of-systems infrastructure: a network of interrelated systems that can often exhibit both predictable and unpredictable behavior. The current state-of-the-art evaluation process of these system-of-systems and their community of practitioners in the academic community are limited to static methods focused on defining who is doing what and where. However, to answer the questions of why and how a system operates within complex systems-of-systems interrelationships, a system\u27s architecture and context must be observed over time, its executable architecture, to discern effective predictable and unpredictable behavior. The objective of this research is to determine a method for evaluating a system\u27s executable architecture and assess the contribution and efficiency of the specified system before it is built. This research led to the development of concrete steps that synthesize the observance of the executable architecture, assessment recommendations provided by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Code of Best Practice for Command and Control (C2) Assessment, and the metrics for operational efficiency provided by the Military Missions and Means Framework. Based on the research herein, this synthesis is designed to evaluate and assess system-of-systems architectures in their operational context to provide quantitative results