Interactive Simulation Tool Research Articles

RAGE: AJava-implemented Visual Random Generator

Carefully designed Java applications turn out to be efficient and platform independent tools that can compete well with classical implementations of statistical software. The project presented here is an example underlining this statement for random variate generation. An end-user application called RAGE (Random Variate Generator) is developed to generate random variates from probability distributions. A Java class library called JDiscreteLib has been designed and implemented for the simulation of random variables from the most usual discrete distributions inside RAGE. For each distribution, specific and general algorithms are available for this purpose. RAGE can also be used as an interactive simulation tool for data and data summary visualization.

Development of Internet-Based Traffic Simulation Framework for Transportation Education and Training

Many traffic simulation software packages are available to help traffic engineers and researchers study and evaluate the potential impact of proposed traffic management strategies and policies. However, the existing tools require a significant investment in time to learn how to create models, perform calibrations, and, finally, analyze the results. This substantial learning curve severely restricts their application and makes it difficult for engineering students, the general public, and policy makers to take advantage of these tools. An Internet-based traffic simulation framework was developed to enhance the learning experience for transportation students and engineers. Pregenerated traffic scenarios were first implemented as part of an undergraduate civil engineering class. An interactive simulation tool was developed to allow users to make changes to the model and examine the impacts on traffic. This now allows students, for example, to minimize the queue length at the traffic signal by changing the cycle length or splits. This interactive traffic simulation tool was deployed and tested in an undergraduate class of 73 students. Feedback was collected from the instructors and the students and will lead to additional enhancements of the laboratory module. This web-based traffic simulation framework can also incorporate larger road networks that allow one to consider a multiplicity of traffic management strategies, thus providing a valuable tool for educating and training transportation professionals.

Development of Internet-Based Traffic Simulation Framework for Transportation Education and Training

Many traffic simulation software packages are available to help traffic engineers and researchers study and evaluate the potential impact of proposed traffic management strategies and policies. However, the existing tools require a significant investment in time to learn how to create models, perform calibrations, and, finally, analyze the results. This substantial learning curve severely restricts their application and makes it difficult for engineering students, the general public, and policy makers to take advantage of these tools. An Internet-based traffic simulation framework was developed to enhance the learning experience for transportation students and engineers. Pregenerated traffic scenarios were first implemented as part of an undergraduate civil engineering class. An interactive simulation tool was developed to allow users to make changes to the model and examine the impacts on traffic. This now allows students, for example, to minimize the queue length at the traffic signal by changing the cycle length or splits. This interactive traffic simulation tool was deployed and tested in an undergraduate class of 73 students. Feedback was collected from the instructors and the students and will lead to additional enhancements of the laboratory module. This web-based traffic simulation framework can also incorporate larger road networks that allow one to consider a multiplicity of traffic management strategies, thus providing a valuable tool for educating and training transportation professionals.

Interactive Online Undergraduate Laboratories Using J-DSP

An interactive Web-based simulation tool called Java-DSP (J-DSP) for use in digital signal processing (DSP)-related electrical engineering courses is described. J-DSP is an object-oriented simulation environment that enables students and distance learners to perform online signal processing simulations, visualize Web-based interactive demos, and perform computer laboratories from remote locations. J-DSP is accompanied by a series of hands-on laboratory exercises that complement classroom and textbook content. The laboratories cover several fundamental concepts, including z transforms, digital filter design, spectral analysis, multirate signal processing, and statistical signal processing. Online assessment instruments for the evaluation of the J-DSP software and the associated laboratory exercises have been developed. Pre/postassessment data have been collected and analyzed for each laboratory in an effort to assess the impact of the tool on student learning.

An Interactive Simulation Tool for the Study of Multirate Sampled Data Systems

Dealing with practical applications of digital control, the assumption of a regular and uniform sampling pattern is questionable. On the other hand, the theoretical analysis of the controlled system performances is much more computationally involved. In this paper, an interactive simulation tool to deal with non-uniform sampling pattern situations is presented. It allows an easy understanding of the performance degrading or improvement when changing the sampling pattern parameters.

Special issue on specialized computer architecture simulators that see the present and may hold the future

Special issue on <i>specialized</i> computer architecture simulators that see the present and may hold the future

Preliminary experience with the Internet release of AIDA—an interactive educational diabetes simulator

This paper overviews the Internet release of AIDA, a freeware interactive educational diabetes simulator. Since its release on the World Wide Web as a non-commercial contribution to continuing diabetes education over 14 000 people have visited the AIDA Web site—http://www.diabetic.org.uk/aida.htm—and over 5000 copies of the program have been downloaded, without charge. User responses thus far have been very encouraging. Example feedback and clinical experience reported by two insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic patients, a patient's carer, the father of a diabetic teenager, a diabetes doctor and nurse educator, an endocrinologist and a postgraduate educator are presented. While such anecdotal, qualitative assessments are worthwhile and form a necessary step in the overall evaluation process—they are clearly subjective in nature and fully recognised as such. Given this, definitive outcome measures are highlighted as being required for the next stage in the evaluation process, and various objective evaluation criteria are proposed. A general protocol for the evaluation of interactive educational simulation tools, like AIDA, with patients is described and the concept of applying this in multiple centres—as a way of increasing study sample sizes—is discussed. It is highlighted that such a protocol could also be used to objectively compare a number of different interactive educational diabetes simulators. Clinicians who are interested in collaborating by enrolling patients into such a study are invited to contact the author, by email, at aida@globalnet.co.uk

Multimedia courseware sparks interest in the industry

The PowerLearn approach to power engineering education is under development by a core group of faculty and students at Iowa State University (ISU) and Virginia Tech (VT), under funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Four basic features characterize the approach. Courseware modularity provides that the material is organized by topic rather than by course. A Web site provides module storage and dissemination. Interactive visualization and simulation tools are heavily used in module construction. In addition, this project is integrated with efforts at both schools to develop new introductory undergraduate courses in electric power engineering. These courses serve well to illustrate the modular approach to course design.

New tools for laboratory design and management

The clinical laboratory is changing from a place of activity based on sample analysis to an in vitro diagnostic network. To convince our team, partners, and administrators, we need new comprehensive tools to define a strategy with limited risk of failure or conflicts. Specific quality goals should be established before choosing automated tools for sample handling, analytical systems, laboratory information systems, communication systems, or advanced technologies. A system approach maps and simplifies the process, based more on a functional study than on classical disciplines. A customer-supplier approach establishes the requirements between partners either inside or outside the laboratory. The quality system must be a management tool, linking samples, tasks, information, and documents. Quantitative simulation modeling explores different automation alternatives and their impact on laboratory workflow. Finally, integration of results in interactive semirealistic simulation tools for laboratory design or reengineering can be used as communications tools to involve laboratory professionals in the change of their practice.

Interactive Reservoir Simulation With the World Wide Web

Summary Technology transfer through the World Wide Web (WWW) allows efficient use of available computing resources. A centralized highspeed computer can be accessed through the Internet by many users (independents) who otherwise may be handicapped by lack of such resources. The Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC) has a regional lead office in New Mexico dedicated to this objective. As an example of sharing resources, we have coupled an automatic history-matching algorithm to an analytical polymer/waterflood simulator that may be accessed over the Internet. The polymer/waterflood predictive model (PFPM) was developed for the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) and is available to the public as a freeware from the Internet site http://www.bpo.gov. The simulator has been tested by various users over a period of time and is considered to be reliable. We attached a user-friendly, Web-based graphical user interface (GUI) to the PFPM model and put it on a fast, dedicated Internet server. This paper describes the development and implementation of this new Internet-based, interactive simulation tool.

Collaborative Virtual Environments Used in the Design of Pollution Control Systems

In this paper the authors describe the development of an interactive simulation and analysis tool for injective pollu tion control systems for commercial boilers and incinera tors. This tool uses three-dimensional, immersive visuali zation techniques in the CAVE, which allows several sci entists to collaborate to quickly and effectively place mul tiple injectors and evaluate the resulting spray coverage. The required particle dynamics calculations and several techniques for the interactive visualization of computa tional fluid dynamics data and spray simulation are dis cussed. For optimizing system performance, the particle dynamics calculations are separate from the visualization process, and data are transferred to one or more CAVEs by using the CAVEcomm message-passing library. The authors discuss the demonstration of this tool as part of the I-WAY GII testbed and present performance results for different architectures and network configurations using both ethernet and ATM connectivity. The experiments show that ethernet bandwidth is insufficient for remote, interactive collaboration.

A parallel cellular tool for interactive modeling and simulation

The paper discusses Camel, an interactive parallel programming environment based on cellular automata. With Camel users can develop high-performance applications in science and engineering. Examples in geology, traffic planning, image processing, and genetic algorithms show its usefulness.

A learning tool in medical imaging: using procedure graphs in radiographic process simulation.

Teaching the procedural elements of imaging protocols and understanding the interrelationships and interdependencies of diagnostic X-ray system parameters and their effects on image quality, are among the main objectives of medical imaging training programs. A teaching tool is designed and implemented to support these goals. Tool design is influenced by hybrid learning system architectures and it is based on a graph approach, which is described. Implementation is carried out using a hypermedia development environment (Toolbook) coupled with a database (Paradox). The core of the system is an attributed priority graph, capable of supporting the organization of the domain knowledge, monitoring of user-machine interaction and managing the user-system dialogue. Use of this approach resulted in an interactive simulation tool, which provides computer aided learning support, to radiology related personnel, such as radiologists and radiographers. The potential value of the tool is not restricted only to didactic tasks, but may include trouble-shooting and documentation.

MIST: a user-friendly metabolic simulator.

The Metabolic Interactive Simulation Tool, MIST, is a software package, running under Microsoft Windows 3.1, which can be used for dynamic simulations, stoichiometric calculations and control analysis of metabolic pathways. The pathways can be of any complexity and are defined by the user in a simple, interactive way. The user-defined enzymatic rate equations can be compiled either by an external or an internal compiler. Simulations of pathways compiled by an external compiler run significantly faster, but since these compilers are commercial software, they are not distributed together with MIST. The simulations are performed by numerical integration of a set of ordinary differential equations. The integration can be done by either an explicit fourth-order Runge-Kutta algorithm or a semi-implicit third-order Runge-Kutta algorithm, both with adjustable step size. The second algorithm can be used if the set of differential equations is stiff. Vector-based drawing facilities are included in the program, with which results can be presented in graphs. Results of simulations, including graphics, can be stored in files. MIST is a very user-friendly, flexible and yet powerful program, with the mathematical details regarding models, simulations and calculations hidden from the user. This makes it suitable for scientists and students with limited computer experience.

Man-Machine Aspects of Computer-aided Interactive Grasp Planning

Abstract Features of the interactive, graphical simulator for supporting robot fine motion operations are discussed. Some preliminary experiences with using the implemented modules of the simulator are reported. The stress is put on the man-machine aspects of the planning procedure while using this computer-aid. We support the operator planning an action with partly automated, interactive simulation tools based on the simplified models of the scene. The eventual consequences of the decisions taken are evaluated and communicated to the user in graphic form in order to accept or to modify the actual step of the plan. We expect that the adopted approach would help to decompose and structure the decision/action process related to the fine motion of robotics hand and in that way it should enable further studies on error recovery strategies. These experiences might be useful for anyone interested in problems of the tele-operation or of the autonomous fine motion of robots and of dexterous hands in particular.

Development of a model-based intelligent training system

This paper describes an effort to develop an artificial intelligence-based generic training system (GTS) for industrial uses. Through the use of artificial intelligence technology and interactive simulation tools such as qualitative modeling, it is possible to build robust, individualized training systems. Topics covered in this paper include the system architecture, system modules and the main features. As an example, a model-based intelligent tutoring system (ITS) for a power distribution training system (PDTS) is also provided.

MOSLAP???A Circuit Simulation Program for Teaching Short-Channel MOS Circuit Design

The current approach to teaching MOS circuit design is based on the classic square-law MOSFET device model. This model is capable of adequately modeling long-channel devices; however, current levels of technology are providing short-channel MOS devices which exhibit significant second-order effects which cannot be accounted for by the square-law model. Due to inherent increases in model complexity, the need arises for the use of computers to aid in designing MOS circuits containing short-channel devices. Presented here is MOSLAP (MOS loadline analysis program), a new interactive circuit simulation tool for teaching short-channel MOS circuit design. MOSLAP contains a complete short-channel MOSFET model, and is capable of analyzing general MOS circuits. MOSLAP can perform dc analysis, small-signal ac analysis, dc transfer function analysis, and can generate various loadlines for visual inspection of dc operating point information. This last feature makes MOSLAP unique.

Interactive computer simulation tools for use in teaching mathematical modelling

The motivation for developing some easy‐to‐use interactive simulation packages is described. The underlying development philosophy for the software is also highlighted together with brief outlines of the structure of the packages. Some informal conclusions on the utility of the packages in courses on mathematical modelling are summarized.

An interactive computer simulation program for the design of statistical control procedures in clinical chemistry

A computer simulation program has been developed to aid in the design of statistical quality control procedures in clinical chemistry. This ‘QC simulator’ permits the user to study the effects of parameters in the analytical procedure (method standard deviation, components of variance, rounding of data) and parameters in the control procedure (choice of statistics, control limits, decision criteria, number of control observations). The performance of the control procedures being studied are characterized by their probability for rejection, estimated at several different levels of random and systematic error, and presented by plots of statistical power vs the size of the analytical errors. The relative performance of different control procedures can be compared based on these performance characteristics. Another important application of the program is in the design of control procedures to assure that a specified level of analytical quality is achieved in routine laboratory analyses. The utility of this interactive simulation tool is illustrated in two typical sample runs.

Critical Remarks and Proposals on Modelbuilding and Simulation of Processes

Insiders of modelbuilding and simulation know that too much exactness in detail, paradoxically, can also reduce the overall exactness of the simulation result. Therefore, in the first part, an adopted simulation depth from an industrial point of view is suggested. In the second part the mathematical artificialness of some well-known models is regarded. It is shown that often, disappointment of practicians arises trying to apply these models because the very preconditions or demands made by practice are not given by theory. This is due to the fact that the important engineering practical approach, which is so important for application, is due to the very thing that is lacking. In the third part some regards are made to the realisticness of the models. It is shown that with models, where unnecessarily the transparency to the object or process has been lost, certain difficulties in calculation and handling may occur. The right choice of the simulation method is the topic of the fourth part. From a very practical point pf view is shown that e.g. black box and white box methods produce no real alternative. Rather these methods complete each other. Sometimes a black box process is much more useful than a too-detailed and too-expensive white box would be.In the following, some aspects of analog and digital simulation with special respect to multi-microprocessor simulations are given. Some relations to modern distributed process control systems are regarded. Finally, the special relevance of modern tools for interactive observation and manipulation with CRT displays, in respect to modelling and simulation of dynamic processes is regarded. It is supposed that special interactive simulation tools can be a key for some hard problems of today.