A Language and Platform Independent Co-Simulation Framework Based on the Functional Mock-Up Interface

Lars Ivar Hatledal,Geir Hovland,Houxiang Zhang,Arne Styve

doi:10.1109/access.2019.2933275

Abstract

The main goal of the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard is to allow the sharing of simulation models across tools. To accomplish this, FMI relies on a combination of XML-files and compiled C-code packaged in a zip archive. This archive is called a Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU). In theory, an FMU can support multiple platforms, but not necessarily in practice. Furthermore, software libraries for interacting with FMUs may not be available in a particular language or platform. Another issue is related to the protection of intellectual property (IP). While an FMU is free to only provide the C-code in its binary form, other resources within the FMU may be unprotected. Distributing models in binary form also opens up the possibility that they may contain malicious code. In order to meet these challenges, this paper presents an open-source co-simulation framework based on FMI, which is language and platform independent thanks to the use of well-established remote procedure call (RPC) technologies. One or more FMUs are wrapped inside a server program supporting one or more language independent RPC systems over various network protocols. Together, they allow cross-platform invocation of FMUs from multiple, including previously unsupported, languages. The client-server architecture allows the effective protection of IP while also providing a means of protecting users from malicious code.

Highlights

No one simulation tool is suitable for all purposes, and complex heterogeneous models may require components from several different domains, perhaps developed in separate, domain-specific tools
By parallelizing the test case onto a computer cluster with the same per-Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) computational power as the desktop used in this particular test, one could in theory achieve similar or even better results than running in-memory
WORK This paper has presented a language- and platform- independent co-simulation framework based on the Functional Mockup Interface

Summary

INTRODUCTION

No one simulation tool is suitable for all purposes, and complex heterogeneous models may require components from several different domains, perhaps developed in separate, domain-specific tools. VOLUME 7, 2019 builds on the work presented in [10], which introduced a framework for accessing models compatible with FMI 2.0 for CS and ME in a language and platform-independent manner. This is achieved using well-established remote procedure call (RPC) technologies, allowing cross-platform clients and servers to be written in most major languages, overcoming the issues listed above. This kind of architecture protects IP and prevents unintended distribution [11].

RELATED WORK

IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS

CASE STUDY AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK