Alberto Falcone

Simulation Exploration Experience: A Communication System and a 3D Real Time Visualization for a Moon Base Simulated Scenario

The paper presents UNICOM, a project based on HLA (High Level Architecture) that aims at providing: (i) flexible communication services to the entities populating a Moon base simulated scenario and (ii) a real-time 3D visualization of this scenario by connecting the MÄK RTI (Run Time Infrastructure) and Unity 3D. UNICOM has been developed in the context of the 2014 edition of the Simulation Exploration Experience (SEE), an event organized by the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO), in collaboration with NASA and other research and industrial partners, with the objective to promote the adoption of the HLA standard and compliant tools by involving university teams in the distributed simulation of a Moon base. The paper aims also to share the experience of the University of Calabria Team in participating to the SEE initiative so to encourage and guide the participation of new teams to the next editions of this exciting event.

A Prototype HLA Development Kit: Results from the 2015 Simulation Exploration Experience

The IEEE 1516-2010 High Level Architecture for distributed simulation is used to facilitate the development of large-scale simulations. However, there is a steep learning curve. The annual Simulation Exploration Experience (SEE) presents the opportunity for multiple international student-led teams to gain experience in developing distributed simulations in an interesting lunar-based scenario. To support the student learning process, a prototype HLA Development Kit has been created that has the goal of reducing the complexity of distributed simulation design and implementation. A student-led team used the Kit to create a lunar excavator federate using agent-based simulation implemented in REPAST. The excavator federate successfully interoperated with the University of Liverpool UAV during SEE 2015. This paper presents a short overview of the Kit and experiences in developing the lunar excavator federate.

Easing the development of HLA Federates: the HLA Development Kit and its exploitation in the SEE Project

The Modeling & Simulation (M&S) of modern cyber-physical systems is presenting new challenges. New M&S techniques, methods and tools are emerging that take advantage of distributed simulation environments. One of the most mature and popular standard for distributed simulation is the IEEE 1516-2010 - High Level Architecture (HLA) that, although originally developed for military applications, is increasingly exploited in a great variety of application domains due to its capabilities to enable the interoperability and reusability of distributed simulation components. However, the development of fully fledged simulation models, based on the IEEE 1516-2010 standard, is still a challenging task and requires considerable development effort that often results not only in an increase in development time but also in low reliability. In this context, the paper presents a general-purpose, domain-independent framework that aims to ease the development of HLA-based simulations. Its effectiveness is exemplified in the context of the Simulation Exploration Experience (SEE) project lead by NASA and which involves several U.S. And European Institutions.

Promoting a-priori interoperability of HLA-based Simulations in the Space domain: the SISO Space Reference FOM initiative

Distributed and Real-Time Simulation plays a key-role in the Space domain being exploited for missions and systems analysis and engineering as well as for crew training and operational support. One of the most popular standards is the 1516-2010 IEEE Standard for Modeling and Simulation (M&S) High Level Architecture (HLA). HLA supports the implementation of distributed simulations (called Federations) in which a set of simulation entities (called Federates) can interact using a Run-Time Infrastructure (RTI). In a given Federation, a Federate can publish and/or subscribes objects and interactions on the RTI only in accordance with their structures as defined in a FOM (Federation Object Model). Currently, the Space domain is characterized by a set of incompatible FOMs that, although meet the specific needs of different organizations and projects, increases the long-term cost for interoperability. In this context, the availability of a reference FOM for the Space domain will enable the development of interoperable HLA-based simulators for related joint projects and collaborations among worldwide organizations involved in the Space domain (e.g. NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and JAXA). The paper presents a first set of results achieved by a SISO standardization effort that aims at providing a Space Reference FOM for international collaboration on Space systems simulations.

A Model-Driven Approach to Enable the Distributed Simulation of Complex Systems

The increasing complexity of modern systems makes their design, development and operation extremely challenging and therefore new Systems Engineering and Modeling and Simulation (M&S) techniques, methods and tools are emerging, also to benefit from distributed simulation environments. In this context, one of the most mature tools is the IEEE 1516-2010—Standard for M&S High Level Architecture (HLA). However, building and maintaining distributed simulations components, based on the IEEE 1516-2010 standard, is still a challenging and costly task. To ease the development of full-fledged HLA-based simulations, the paper proposes the MONADS method that, according to the model-driven systems engineering paradigm, allows one to generate the HLA-based simulation code from SysML models by the use of a chain of model-to-model and model-to-text transformations. The effectiveness of the method is shown through a case study that concerns an Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) approaching and docking to the International Space Station (ISS).

Simplifying the development of HLA-based distributed simulations with the HLA development kit software framework (DKF)

The IEEE 1516-2010 — Standard for Modeling and Simulation High Level Architecture (HLA) range of standards are widely used for distributed simulation, interoperability, reusability and the modeling of large-scale systems in many application domains. Although it provides several advantages, the development of distributed simulations based on the HLA standards remains a challenging task that requires a considerable effort in terms of time, cost and expertise. The HLA Development Kit software framework (DKF) is a software framework that aims to facilitate the development of HLA-based distributed simulations. This tutorial presents an overview of the DKF and a methodology for its use. Examples of the DKF in action are given from the Simulation Exploration Experience (SEE), a worldwide project led by NASA that annually gives the opportunity to build collaboratively a distributed simulation of a scientific base placed on the moon surface.

On the execution control of HLA federations using the SISO space reference FOM

In the Space domain the High Level Architecture (HLA) is one of the reference standard for Distributed Simulation. However, for the different organization involved in the Space domain (e.g. NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, and JAXA) and their industrial partners, it is difficult to implement HLA simulators (called Federates) able to interact and interoperate in the context of a distributed HLA simulation (called Federation). The lack of a common FOM (Federation Object Model) for the Space domain is one of the main reasons that precludes a-priori interoperability between heterogeneous federates. To fill this lack a Product Development Group (PDG) has been recently activated in the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) with the aim to provide a Space Reference FOM (SRFOM) for international collaboration on Space systems simulations. Members of the PDG come from several countries and contribute experiences from projects within NASA, ESA and other organizations. Participants represent government, academia and industry. The paper presents an overview of the ongoing Space Reference FOM standardization initiative by focusing on the solution provided for managing the execution of an SRFOM-based Federation.