Evolution of the Standard Simulation Architecture

Abstract : This paper proposes the standardization of a layered simulation architecture that addresses the critical modeling needs of the DoD simulation community. The Standard Simulation Architecture works with HLA to provide the additional infrastructure necessary for developing highly inter-acting, decoupled software models, while simultaneously supporting technology infusion from R&D organizations. A layered architecture is proposed to modularize critical capabilities including high-speed communications between nodes in a multiprocessing federate, general-purpose software utilities, modeling semantics, time management, interest management, and automated interoperability with HLA. The interface layers must be standardized to promote (1) model development, (2) portability and interoperability with other models, (3) scalable high performance, and (4) technology infusion from the research community. Through the standardization process, COTS, GOTS, and Open Source business models are supported. The Standard Simulation Architecture extends interoperability and reuse principles to (1) the entities residing within a multiprocessing federate and to (2) the components hierarchically residing within an entity or within components. This standardized hierarchical modeling paradigm promotes development of reusable entity and component repositories that can be reused to support different modeling applications. Instead of providing only course-grained interoperability through HLA, the Standard Simulation Architecture also supports medium and fine-grained interoperability between entities and their components.