An improved approach on the model checking for an agent-based simulation system

Abstract

Model checking is an effective way to verify behaviours of an agent-based simulation system. Three behaviours are analysed: operational, control, and global behaviours. Global behaviours of a system emerge from operational behaviours of local components regulated by control behaviours of the system. The previous works principally focus on verifying the system from the operational point of view (operational behaviour). The satisfaction of the global behaviour of the system conforming to the control behaviour has not been investigated. Thus, in this paper, we propose a more complete approach for verifying global and operational behaviours of systems. To do so, these three behaviours are firstly formalized by automata-based techniques. The meta-transformation between automata theories and Kripke structure is then provided, in order to illustrate the feasibility for the model transformation between the agent-based simulation model and Kripke structure-based model. Then, a mapping between the models is proposed. Subsequently, the global behaviour of the system is verified by the properties extracted from the control behaviour and the operational behaviour is checked by general system performance properties (e.g. safety, deadlock freedom). Finally, a case study on the simulation system for aircraft maintenance has been carried out. A counterexample of signals sending between Flight agent and Plane agent has been produced by NuSMV model checker. Modifications for the NuSMV model and agent-based simulation model have been performed. The experiment results show that 9% out of 19% of flights have been changed to be serviceable.