Experiences in Leveraging M&S Expertise
by Hiding Software Complexity
Martin Tapp
CAE Inc.
Context – Simulator Software
Replicating an aircraft and its environment involves the interaction
of several systems within a Full Mission Simulator (FMS)
2
Problem Description
3
To meet new FMS needs
Software increased in complexity
Subject matter experts (SMEs) developing FMS
Utopian to ask SMEs to be experts in parallel processing
Unrealistic to expect SMEs to translate their domain
knowledge directly into software
SME
Hardware Performance
4
Array of Structure (AoS) Structure of Array (SoA)
Hiding Software Complexity
5
Model (Domain Specific Language)
Model Compiler
Software Application (C/C++, .NET, Java)
Know-How
What
How
Subject Matter Expert
Software Expert
Unfolding of What into How requires Know-
How not shared by majority of SMEs
(Subject Matter Experts)
Domain-Specific Language
6
SELECT * FROM Book
WHERE price > 100.00 (Structured Query Language)
SQL Engine
Locate, retrieve and filter
the expected Books from
a persistent storage.
Know-How
What
How
Subject Matter Expert
Software Expert
Simplifying System Modeling
7
System models should focus on What needs to be replicated from
their real system counterpart rather than How to do so in software
Graphical System Modeling
8
System Models (System Modeling Language)
Model Interpreter Know-How
What
How
Aircraft Systems
Simplifying Graphical Display Design
9
Replicating today’s displays became an increasing challenge
which our existing tool base was inadequate at addressing
Graphical Display Design
10
Graphic Displays (Graphical Display Language)
Model Compiler Know-How
What
How
Cockpit Displays
Simplifying Qualification Test Guide Implementation
11
Qualification Test Guide (QTG) details tests required to
qualify a simulator for its intended training purposes
DSL automates QTG tests (stimulate & record sim. parameters)
Qualification Test Guide DSL
12
QTG Tests (QTG Test Language)
Model Compiler Know-How
What
How
Perform QTG Tests
Upcoming Challenges
13
Know-How
What
How
-Hardware-Aware Software
-Legacy Assets Integration
-Multi-Language Integration -Debugging at the DSL Level
Conclusion
• Requiring SMEs to be experts both in their
domain and in software
– Global problem not limited to FMS
• Leveraging the complete expertise of SMEs
and harnessing the full power of tomorrow’s
hardware
– Only achievable through Know-How handled by
Software Experts
• Supporting SME’s workflow throughout the
full product lifecycle
– Move towards Workflow-Driven Development
14
