AutoDEVS: A Methodology for Automating Modeling and Simulation Software Development and Testing of Interoperable Systems

Abstract

Despite the increasing use of software system development methodologies that follow a highly-structured and systematic process, there remain critical limitations that need more advanced treatment. One such limitation is the failure to explicitly incorporate modeling and simulation (M&S) methodology, which becomes essential as the scale of systems under development exceeds the range supported by analytical tools. Other limitations include the lack of automation to reduce routine work and incoherence among the abstractions developed at various stages in development. Originally introduced as formalism for discrete event M&S, the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) methodology has become an engine for advances within the wider area of information technology. In this paper, we present a new DEVS-based tool called the ‘AutoDEVS’ that automates systems development and exploits ‘model continuity’ to maintain coherence through the development process and to support test artifact continuity and traceability through phases of system development. The AutoDEVS creates models and systems that can be mapped to DEVS/service-oriented architecture (SOA), a DEVS implementation compliant with a SOA infrastructure, such as that adopted by the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Global Information Grid initiative.After describing the AutoDEVS environment, we show how it provides a rapid means of integrated development and testing of defense command and control systems for interoperability.