Use of Components and Agents in Web-Based

Simulation

Perakath Benjaminpbenjamin@kbsi.com

www.kbsi.com

“Innovative Ideas and Technologies”

Knowledge Based Systems, Inc.

Position

Web-Based Simulation Benefits FromComponent Technology (Near Term)andAgent Technology (Medium Term)

Outline

Web-based simulation Challenges and opportunities The component technology opportunity

Component-based software development Role of components in web simulation

The agent technology opportunity Agent software technology Role of agents in web-based simulation

Potential benefits Future challenges and research opportunities

DevelopDetailedModel

DevelopConceptual

Model

DefineProblem

Approach

Collect &Compile

Data

ExecuteSimulations

Verify &ValidateModel

DesignExperiments

Refine &Optimize

Model

AnalyzeOutputDone?

RealWorld

Start

Yes

No

The Simulation Modeling Process

ModelDevelopment

ModelApplication

Problems and Opportunities

Simulation modeling is expert-dependent expensive distributed collaborative

Absence of simulation knowledge management domain knowledge and simulation knowledge

capture, representation, and re-use failure to exploit rationale and experience between projects lack of inter-operability between multiple tools

Aging commercial simulation tools no fundamental change over the last two decades

- monolithic, non-composable, inflexible, non adapting

•COM+/DCOM/ActiveX•Java/JavaBeans•CORBA/OMA/IIOP

•Virtual Enterprise Management•Collaborative Engineering•Distributed Planning•Electronic Commerce

•Objects•Patterns•Components•Frameworks•Architectures

Technology

Levels

Applications

Component Software Technology

Component =Independently deployableset of re-usable services

DataAcquisition

LegacySystems

Composabilityvs. Utility

TechnicalBarriers

SimulationImpact Areas

ModelingMethods

Visualization ModelV & V

ModelExecution

Analysis &Optimization

Testing andCertification

Role of Components in Web-Simulation

D ataAcquis ition V isua liza tion Valida tion O ptim ization

Procurem entD esign M anufacturing D istribu tionIdentificationEvaluationSelectionRefinem

ent

IntegrationTestDeployment 1

23

T im e

D ataD ata

D ata

?!

SimulationComponents

ApplicationArea Libraries

Co m

po n

ent

Si m

ul a

t io n

Met

ho d

•Autonomy•Cooperation•Learning•Knowledge sharing•Reasoning•Planning•Mobility•Personality

•Personal Assistants•Entertainment•Collaborative Work•Economic Modeling•Monitoring

•Collaborative•Interface•Information•Mobile•Reactive•Hybrid•Smart

ModelDesign

KnowledgeDiscovery

LegacySystems

MonitoringOntology

TechnicalBarriers

SimulationImpact Areas

Properties

Types

Applications

Agent Software Technology

Reasoning,Coordination

DataManagement

ModelV & V

ModelExecution

Analysis &Optimization

Agent =An autonomous softwareentity that can communicateand interact with the environment and with otheragents

Know ledgeAcquis ition

InputAna lys is

M odelD esign

O utputAna lys is

C O AP lann ing

ThreatAssessm ent

O pera tionsP lann ing

M iss ionO pera tionsIdentification

EvaluationSelectionRefinem

ent

IntegrationTestDeployment 1

23

T im e

D ataD ata

D ata

Role of Agents in Web-Simulation

SimulationAgents

ApplicationArea Libraries

Ag e

nt

Sim

ul a

t io n

Met

ho d

Potential Benefits

Distributed Modeling Global Resource Exploitation Modeling Agility Robustness Low Life Cycle Costs Effective Knowledge Management Rationale Capture and Re-use

Challenges Knowledge sharing

Semantic interoperability Shared ontologies

Composability vs. utility Learning, cooperation, control Legacy systems Standards and languages Lack of technology readiness

Components more mature than agents

Need for industry and research initiatives Problem->Solution and Solution->Problem

Opportunities

Need paradigm shift within simulation modeling community Learn from HLA, components, agents

Architecture, frameworks, and methods Standards and languages Component and agent simulation development

tools Simulation knowledge libraries

Build and sell

Components and agents Build and sell