Development Of Simulation Environment Research Articles

Verification and validation of automated driving systems utilizing probabilistic FMEA and simulation approaches

One of the main challenges for deploying highly automated driving is the need for a new strategy for verification and validation ensuring a safety and reliability in all traffic scenarios and conditions. In this context, the two projects of the German PEGASUS family VV Methoden and Set Level are focusing on this challenge addressing advanced methods for verification and validation as well as a holistic simulation environment for development and testing of automated driving functions. Within this paper, the overall concept of defining system and test requirements based on a probabilistic FMEA will be presented and discussed in view of applicability and limitations. The discussion will be complemented by outlining the closed-loop simulation approach and demonstration its potential by means of a first XiL test rig for a camera system applying a virtual traffic scenario.

Simulation Environment for Development of Automated Process Control System in Coal Mining

This paper describes a visual interactive simulation system of technological processes intended for the development and execution of simulation and emulation models for automated process control systems in coal mining. A set of simulation models of various subsystems of a mine was developed with the help of this simulation system. These models united to create simulation environment. Simulation environment is visually interactive, include emulation models of technological equipment and allow simulating complex situations in mines and working faces. Simulation environment was used for testing of control programs executed in programmable logic controllers.

Design and Practice of a Model-Based Development Education in Hydraulic Systems

This paper proposes educational simulation environment for the model-based development (MBD) of hydraulic systems. In recent years, customer requirements for different products have become more diversified and increasingly complicated. Thus, companies must respond to such demands promptly. Many companies are beginning to adopt an MBD as a solution to this problem because such an approach can reduce the development time and cost. However, most engineers in such companies lack experience with an MBD. Therefore, establishing a training environment that can allow them to learn the MBD process experientially within a short timeframe is an effective approach. Moreover, because hydraulic systems are mainly used in construction machines, this study focuses on educational materials for hydraulic systems through an MBD educational program jointly developed between Hiroshima University and Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.

Simulation Environment for Development and Testing of Autonomous Learning Agents

Training an autonomous agent in the real world is a cumbersome process. The hardware modules required are expensive and they need routine maintenance. The data collection process is time-consuming and it is difficult to collect data in different conditions and scenarios. Moreover, testing these agents in the real world requires many permissions and could be potentially hazardous. This paper introduces a virtual environment for training and testing of autonomous driving agents. The environment has features like customizable car parameters and sensors, different terrains, customizable data extraction parameters, and simulated pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The environment can connect to any learning agent via a communication interface. Therefore, the environment introduced in this paper expedites the training and testing process and the learned knowledge representations can be scaled to the real world.

12. Information Management

As the electricity industry becomes increasingly competitive, knowledge concerning the capacity, constraints and reliability of the electric system will become a commodity of great value. Electricity markets can be fast changing; understanding the implications of these changes before others can give an important competitive advantage. Power systems, however, are characterized by extremely large sets of data that cover spatial, temporal and contingent dimensions.Therefore, the focus of this mini-track is on the management of the information associated with power markets and power systems. This year there were four accepted papers. The first paper, ?A virtual environment for protective relaying evaluation and testing? addresses the important issue of visualization of the power relaying systems using an interactive 3D approach. In electrical power, systems the relays are charged with protecting the electrical system from potentially catastrophic disturbances. For example, when lightning strikes an electric transmission lines it is the relays, which must quickly sense that there is a problem. They then direct the line's circuit breakers to open, de-energizing the line but hopefully saving the system. This paper presents exciting new work at modeling and testing relays using a virtual environment.The second paper, ?Simulation Environment for Development and Testing of Plug Compatible Power System Applications? looks at the important issue of software management in a large energy control center environment. Traditionally a single manufacturer using a proprietary approach has developed these systems. Such a closed system made it well nigh impossible for outside vendors to supply software components for the system. Thankfully, recent work by EPRI and others has resulted in the opening of the energy control center. The second paper in the session describes recent work in the development and testing of these new ?plug compatible? power system applications.The third paper, ?Optimization and Visualization of the North American Eastern Interconnect Power Market? looks at the optimization and visualization of a proposed power market covering the entire Eastern Interconnect power system. The Eastern Interconnect electrical system covers almost all of North America east of the Rocky Mountains. This paper investigates the potential for operating this entire system as a single regional transmission organization (RTO). Surprisingly, so long as the lines and generators are operating as planned, the paper concludes that there is sufficient low cost capacity and transmission to keep prices uniform across the system. However, loss of just a few key devices can quickly result in market segmentation.The last paper in the mini-track, ?Human Factors Analysis of Power System Visualizations? describes an experimental approach to formally testing the usability of different power system visualizations. Power systems are in need of new visualization techniques. However, hand in hand with this work there must be a formal testing of whether these new visualizations are actually helpful. The last paper in the mini-track describes some recent human factor experiments to help meet this critical need.

Developing a Computational Chemistry Framework for the Exascale Era

Within computational chemistry, the NWChem package has arguably been the de facto standard for running high-accuracy numerical simulations on the most powerful supercomputers. In order to better address the challenges presented by emerging exascale architectures, the decision has been made to rewrite NWChem. Design of the resulting package, NWChemEx, has been driven by exascale computing; however, significant additional design considerations have arisen from the team's involvement with the Molecular Sciences Software Institute (MolSSI). MolSSI is a National Science Foundation initiative focused on establishing coding and data standards for the computational chemistry community. As a result, NWChemEx is built upon a general computational chemistry framework called the simulation development environment (SDE) that is designed with a focus on extensibility and interoperability. The present manuscript describes the modular approach of the SDE and how it has been used to implement the self-consistent field algorithm within NWChemEx.

Construction of simulation environment for manned multicopter development

Construction of simulation environment for manned multicopter development

Practical aspects of the DesignDEVS simulation environment

DesignDEVS is a simulation development environment based on the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism. This paper provides an in-depth overview of the software while focusing on the practical considerations influencing its design. Practitioners who stand to benefit from systems engineering will approach formalism-based simulation tools with little knowledge of the underlying theory. It is therefore important that theoretical principles, such as the separation of model and simulator, be emphasized by the user interface. Other practical aspects of DesignDEVS include the simplicity of atomic model code, a focus on coupling for collaboration purposes, the enforcement of essential modeling constraints, and a reliance on best practices in cases where strict enforcement might inconvenience users. In DesignDEVS, an issue we refer to as the Insidious Pointer Problem is aggressively tackled through run-time error handling. By contrast, the separation of output values from state transitions is left as a best practice for the sake of user convenience. The design decisions explained in this paper are relevant to developers of other formalism-based tools seeking widespread adoption of scalable modeling and simulation practices.

전압계측기반 CVR제어 알고리즘 개발 및 검증을 위한 RTDS-MATLAB 연동 시뮬레이션 환경 개발

CVR은 계통의 전압을 감소시켜 소비 전력을 줄이는 기술로, 과거 많은 실증과 연구가 진행되어 왔다. 최근, SCADA 기반 또는 AMI 기반의 VVC가 개발되면서 CVR이 중요한 운영 방식이 되었다. CVR은 다양한 계측기를 사용하여 폐루프 제어(closed loop control)방식으로 최적 VVC제어 지령치를 결정한다. 본 논문에서는 전압 계측기반 CVR제어 알고리즘 개발 및 검증을 위한 RTDS-MATLAB 연동 환경을 구현하였다. RTDS를 이용하여 배전 계통의 전압제어기기들을 모델링하고 MATLAB으로 RTDS의 모의 계통의 전압을 계측하고 제어할 수 있는 제어기를 구성하였다. 무효전력 제어기기인 캐패시터는 계통의 전압을 평탄화하고 계통의 전압 기반으로 OLTC의 탭 제어를 하여 계통의 전압을 낮추는 제어 알고리즘을 MATLAB을 통해 구현하였다. 시뮬레이션을 통해 제안한 시스템을 검증하였다. CVR is a technique for reducing power consumption by reducing the voltage of the system and many demonstrations and studies have been conducted in the past. Recently, SCADA-based or AMI-based VVC have been developed and the CVR is used as an important operation mode. Using a variety of instruments, CVR determines the optimal VVC control references by closed loop control. In this paper, we implemented RTDS-MATLAB integrated simulation environment for development and verification of CVR control algorithm based on voltage measurement. The voltage control device of distribution system was modeled using RTDS and MATLAB has constructed a controller that can measure and control the voltage of the simulation system of RTDS. After the capacitor, which is a reactive power control device, flattens the voltage of the system, the control algorithm reduces the voltage of the system by tap control of the OLTC based on the flatten voltage. The proposed system was verified by simulations.

3rd Generation accessibility: information and communication technologies towards universal access

New technologies offer several opportunities for people with disabilities, such as the acquisition of new skills in using innovative assistive technologies, the raise of their employability and the increase in their levels of social integration. The impact that accessible information and communication technologies (ICT) could have on the lives of people with disabilities is mainly centred on facilitating their everyday activities and job opportunities (in the mainstream labour market) and providing support on a daily basis, whether it is to access their phone, mobile or computer or even the TV. However, while for most of the existing devices an accessible choice is available, accessibility was never the main focus during the development phase of those products. Their accessibility features are more an add-on than a really embedded feature. Clearly, there is a need to make assistive technologies widely available to a large group of citizens, but the fact is that there is no significant generalised accessibility support. The 3rd generation of accessible ICT applications, tools and systems constitutes a main bridge for facilitating universal access to ICT through embedding accessibility support in the core of web, desktop and mobile environments. The exploitation of these technologies, behind the recent expansion of accessibility tools and standardisation methodologies, provides a new approach for generalised access to mainstream ICT and contributes towards better accessibility for all citizens in all context of use, empowering individuals to fully participate in the knowledge society. This special issue comes after the successful finalisation of two European research projects: AEGIS (Open Accessibility Everywhere: Groundwork, Infrastructure, Standards; http://www.aegis-project.eu), and ACCESSIBLE (Accessibility Assessment Simulation Environment for New Applications Design and Development; http:// www.accessible-eu.org/), both partially funded under the EU 7th Framework Programme. This UAIS special issue is focused on research work related to the design, development, evaluation and use of new ICT applications, tools and systems that integrate support for accessibility into every aspect of ICT in order to enhance the quality of life and personal autonomy of all citizens. As a result, seven (7) papers describing methodologies, systems, case studies and evaluations from the universal access area comprise this special issue. Heiko Desruelle, Simon Isenberg, Andreas Botsikas, Paolo Vergori and Frank Gielen’s ‘‘Accessible user interface support for multi-device ubiquitous applications. Architectural modifiability considerations’’ presents the core architectural modifiability considerations for designing a multidevice ubiquitous platform for accessible web-based applications using the Webinos platform. Five proof-of-concept application scenarios were selected to demonstrate the potential impact. The five applications were evaluated in different focus groups usingLikert questions. The input of 41 participants from across Europe was collected, confirming people’s need for accessible human computer interaction within the ubiquitous computing domain. In their paper, ‘‘Towards Standardization of User Models for Simulation and Adaptation Purposes’’, Kaklanis N. et al., present the efforts of the VUMS cluster of projects towards the development of an interoperable user model, able to describe both able-bodied and people with various kinds of disabilities. The results show the definition of VUMS Exchange Format, a common format for the definition of user models. M. F. Cabrera-Umpierrez (&) Life Supporting Technologies, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain e-mail: chiqui@lst.tfo.upm.es

A simulation environment for ITER PCS development

A simulation environment known as the Plasma Control System Simulation Platform (PCSSP), specifically designed to support development of the ITER Plasma Control System (PCS), is currently under construction by an international team encompassing a cross-section of expertise in simulation and exception handling for plasma control. The proposed design addresses the challenging requirements of supporting the PCS design. This paper provides an overview of the PCSSP project and a discussion of some of the major features of its design. Plasma control for the ITER tokamak will be significantly more challenging than for existing fusion devices. An order of magnitude greater performance (e.g. [1,2]) is needed for some types of control, which together with limited actuator authority, implies that optimized individual controllers and nonlinear saturation logic are required. At the same time, consequences of control failure are significantly more severe, which implies a conflicting requirement for robust control. It also implies a requirement for comprehensive and robust exception handling. Coordinated control of multiple competing objectives with significant interactions, together with many shared uses of actuators to control multiple variables, implies that highly integrated control logic and shared actuator management will be required. It remains a challenge for the integrated technologies to simultaneously address these multiple and often competing requirements to be demonstrated on existing fusion devices and adapted for ITER in time to support its operational schedule. We describe ways in which the PCSSP will help address these challenges to support design of both the ITER PCS itself and the algorithms that will be implemented therein, and at the same time greatly reduce the cost of that development. We summarize the current status of the PCSSP design task, including system requirements and preliminary design documents already delivered as well as features of the ongoing detailed architectural design. The methods being incorporated in the detailed design are based on prior experience with control simulation environments in fusion and on standard practices prevalent in development of control-intensive industrial product designs.

A Simulation Environment for Construction Project Manager Competence Development in Construction Management

According to the forthcoming ICB4, project manager's competencies include delivery management encompassing such elements as managing stakeholders, scope, time, cost and risks. Competence development is based on knowledge and experience from applying this knowledge in practice. However, most College/University courses related to construction are by and large confined to traditional class teaching delivery methods. In the past various attempts have been made to integrate different technologies (such as multimedia) to teaching delivery; in this paper we examine simulation modeling in particular as a tool for construction project manager c*ompetence development. For this purpose, a simulation system used for productivity analysis of a complex infrastructure project is utilized as a learning vehicle. A class of volunteer students, in addition to attending theoretical classes, has been trained in the use of the system and by using it in the elaboration of particular construction situations. The whole process has then been evaluated using ICB3 taxonomy analogies and Kirkpatrick's hierarchical model (in lack of a comprehensive ICB4 taxonomy). The findings reveal distinct benefits accruing from this approach which relate to better comprehension of knowledge, increased problem-solving abilities, better decision making and achievement of a welcoming by the students learning experience. A different class of seasoned construction managers also reported positively after using the system. This denotes the applicability of the approach to different competency levels and corroborates further ICB4's ideal for lifelong learning.

Key advances in the presilicon functional verification of the IBM zEnterprise microprocessor and storage hierarchy

This paper highlights key advances in the presilicon verification effort of the IBM zEnterprise® 196 (z196) microprocessor and storage hierarchy. It focuses on the unique set of verification challenges as well as the process innovations that address them. At the time of product launch, the z196 system represented the industry's fastest and most scalable enterprise system, with up to 80 customer-configurable out-of-order core processors operating at 5.2 GHz. In addition to offering industry-leading performance, the z196 system builds upon its leadership in reliability by introducing a new redundant array of independent memory (RAIM) technology into its memory subsystem. The new product features in this system drove innovations in all aspects of processor functional verification, including stimulus generation, functional checking, debugging, and coverage. A new hybrid RAIM verification methodology, which includes both formal and random methods, is described. Many process and methodology improvements were made to improve developmental collaboration across a global team. These enhancements include a simulation development environment that uses common shared components across functional partitions, as well as a shared cache loader that was used across multiple environments. We also present a self-configuring test-case generation process that focused on the coverage of functional stimulus.

A hardware-in-the-loop simulation environment for real-time systems development and architecture evaluation

In this paper, we present a technology for integration of distributed real-time embedded systems (RTES) based on hardware-in-the-loop simulation. The environment to support this technology is described. This environment also enables simulation-based development of RTES software and evaluation of RTES architecture on early stages of RTES development.

Trends in programming languages for neuroscience simulations

Neuroscience simulators allow scientists to express models in terms of biological concepts, without having to concern themselves with low-level computational details of their implementation. The expressiveness, power and ease-of-use of the simulator interface is critical in efficiently and accurately translating ideas into a working simulation. We review long-term trends in the development of programmable simulator interfaces, and examine the benefits of moving from proprietary, domain-specific languages to modern dynamic general-purpose languages, in particular Python, which provide neuroscientists with an interactive and expressive simulation development environment and easy access to state-of-the-art general-purpose tools for scientific computing.

A HLA-Enabling Method in Collaborative Simulation Environment for Complex Product Development

HLA-based collaborative simulation is an effective way to integrate different disciplinary models together for the design and development of complex product. In this paper, the HLA-enabling method based on HLA agent model is proposed to make models created through commercial software compatible with HLA standard. Next, a prototype system for forging manipulator system based on such HLA-enabling method is developed accordingly, where an approach of developing ABAQUS engine agent is proposed, which solves the difficulty of wrapping ABAQUS software. Finally, a case study on forging and manipulating process is conducted and verifies the high fidelity and effectiveness of our collaborative simulation technology.

UNISIM: An Open Simulation Environment and Library for Complex Architecture Design and Collaborative Development

Simulator development is already a huge burden for many academic and industry research groups; future complex or heterogeneous multi-cores, as well as the multiplicity of performance metrics and required functionality, will make matters worse. We present a new simulation environment, called UNISIM, which is designed to rationalize simulator development by making it possible and efficient to distribute the overall effort over multiple research groups, even without direct cooperation. UNISIM achieves this goal with a combination of modular software development, distributed communication protocols, multilevel abstract modeling, interoperability capabilities, a set of simulator services APIs, and an open library/repository for providing a consistent set of simulator modules.

FACET: Future ATM Concepts Evaluation Tool

FACET (Future Air Traffic Management Concepts Evaluation Tool) is a simulation and analysis tool developed at the NASA Ames Research Center. This paper introduces the design, architecture, functionalities and applications of FACET. The purpose of FACET is to provide a simulation environment for exploration, development and evaluation of advanced Air Traffic Management concepts. FACET models system-wide airspace operations over the contiguous United States. The architecture of FACET strikes an appropriate balance between flexibility and fidelity, enabling it to model the trajectories of over 5,000 aircraft on a single desktop computer running on any of a wide variety of operating systems. FACET has proto-types of several advanced Air Traffic Management concepts: airborne self-separation; a decision support tool for direct routing; advanced traffic flow management techniques; and the integration of space launch vehicle operations into the U.S. National Airspace System.

An Object-Oriented Modeling and Simulation Environment for Reactive Systems Development

An environment to support the modeling, analysis, simulation, and development of state transition models, SMOOCHES (State Machines for Object-Oriented Concurrent Hierarchical Engineering Specifications), is presented. SMOOCHES allows the hierarchical construction, analysis, and simulation of state transition models in an object-oriented distributed environment. Statecharts (see Harel 1987b), a powerful mechanism for state transition specification, are fundamental to the development of SMOOCHES. To assist in the specification of hierarchical state transition models for distributed and reactive systems, statecharts are extended by introducing the concept of exit-safe states. SMOOCHES allows the specification of objects in the system with hierarchical state transition models and the derivation of new classes of objects through inheritance. A graphical monitoring system has been developed to represent and simulate the object state life cycles and monitor event generations. The example presented illustrates the modeling and simulation of different state life cycles of an assembly robot.

An interface for hierarchical modeling in object-oriented simulation

A graphical interface for a new simulation development environment is presented. This interface is described in relation to information hiding and visual layers. In the simulation development environment distinct types of entities may easily be modeled. This results in simulation models which are good representations of real world systems. We introduce two nodes which facilitate discrete event simulation modeling. Sequences of tasks may be assigned to various entities in a queue/server node. A multi-queues/multi-servers node permits the modeler to formulate server selection rules and queue selection rules for each type of entity. Servers may also have a queue selection rule.