DEVS-based intelligent control of space adapted fluid mixing

The development is described of event-based intelligent control system for a space-adapted mixing process by employing the DEVS (Discrete Event System Specification) formalism. In this control paradigm, the controller expects to receive confirming sensor responses to its control commands within definite time windows determined by its DEVS model of the system under control. The DEVS-based intelligent control paradigm was applied in a space-adapted mixing system capable of supporting the laboratory automation aboard a Space Station

Design of a simulation environment for laboratory management by robot organizations

This paper describes the basic concepts needed for a simulation environment capable of supporting the design of robot organizations for managing chemical, or similar, laboratories on the planned U.S. Space Station. The environment should facilitate a thorough study of the problems to be encountered in assigning the responsibility of managing a non-life-critical, but mission valuable, process to an organized group of robots. In the first phase of the work, we seek to employ the simulation environment to develop robot cognitive systems and strategies for effective multi-robot management of chemical experiments. Later phases will explore human-robot interaction and development of robot autonomy

GA-optimization for rapid prototype system demonstration

An application of the Genetic Algorithm (GA) is discussed. A novel scheme of Hierarchical GA was developed to solve complicated engineering problems which require optimization of a large number of parameters with high precision. High level GAs search for few parameters which are much more sensitive to the system performance. Low level GAs search in more detail and employ a greater number of parameters for further optimization. Therefore, the complexity of the search is decreased and the computing resources are used more efficiently

A note on system modelling, aggregation and reductionism

Zeigler and Weinberg (1970) presented a system theoretic discussion of biological modelling. In this paper some implications of this formulation for the wider problem of reductionism are examined. It is argued that the reduction of biology to physics, for example, involves a relation between co-ordinates typical of biological models and those typical of quantum-mechanical models. This relation is shown to be rather special and not empirically or methodologically necessary.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33556/1/0000057.pd

Canonical realization of general time systems

The canonical realization of general time systems by dynamical systems is discussed employing the notation and definitions of Takahara and Mesarovic. Previous results are extended to the case of causal, but not necessarily stationary, systems and to stationary, strongly connected systems. Conditions are provided under which a time system is guaranteed to have a canonical representation from within a class of possible realizations.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23036/1/0000607.pd

SES and Ecore for Ontology-based Scenario Modeling in Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL)

The Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL) is a domain-specific language proposal which aims to provide a standard aviation scenario specification mechanism and enable the reuse of scenario generation methods among different simulators. This paper presents a model-based scenario development approach that exploits Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) core (Ecore) and System Entity Structure (SES) for metamodeling and modeling these elements. The construction of the ASDL metamodel using both platforms is described to illustrate the processes. As a result of comparing two approaches, it is concluded that they follow a similar structure in the hierarchical definition of modeled elements despite there being different toolsets available in each method. Thereby, each metamodel can be easily converted into the other type using transformations. As an application use case, the use of the proposed ontology-based scenario development in the aviation domain is discussed, where a training tool is being developed that utilizes SES/Ecore approach to build a scenario-driven training tool for air traffic controllers

Proof of a conjecture by A.W. Burks and H.Wang: Some relations between net cycles and states cycles

In a foundational paper on the theory of automata A. W. Burks and H. Wang (1957) conjectured that a certain complexity measure involving the size of the strong components of a logical net formed a hierarchy for net behavior. This conjecture was established by Rhodes and Krohn. In this paper a strengthened version of the conjecture is proved by establishing that any logical net can be interpreted as a series-parallel composition of nets associated with its strong components. Some properties of the periodic behavior of machines, shown to be preserved under simulation and composition operations, are used to complete the proof. The relationship of this approach to algebraic proofs of series-parallel irreducibility is discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34023/1/0000299.pd

Formalization and confirmation of the Boyd-Epley operating system model

An approach to operating system modelling is described in which the simultaneous and synergistic application of tractable queueing theory models and their simulatable refinements is essential. Cross checking of these models against each other and against the real system results in a degree of confirmation not achievable by relying on either analytic or simulation models alone.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23006/1/0000574.pd

Refounding of Activity Concept ? Towards a Federative Paradigm for Modeling and Simulation

Journal : Simulation, Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation InternationalInternational audienceCurrently, the widely used notion of activity is increasingly present in computer science. However, because this notion is used in specific contexts, it becomes vague. Here, the notion of activity is scrutinized in various contexts and, accord-ingly, put in perspective. It is discussed through four scientific disciplines: computer science, biology, economics, and epis-temology. The definition of activity usually used in simulation is extended to new qualitative and quantitative definitions. In computer science, biology and economics disciplines, the new simulation activity definition is first applied critically. Then, activity is discussed generally. In epistemology, activity is discussed, in a prospective way, as a possible framework in models of human beliefs and knowledge