extensible modeling and simulation framework (xmsf) opportunities

Extensible Modeling and Simulation Framework (XMSF) Opportunities

Don Brutzman and Michael ZydaNaval Postgraduate School

Mark Pullen, George Mason University (GMU)

Katherine L. Morse, SAIC

Andreas Tolk, Old Dominion University (ODU)

Interservice Interoperability Training, Simulation and Education Conference IITSEC, December 2002, Orlando Florida

IITSEC, December 2-5 2002XMSF Overview 2

Topics

XMSF problems, motivation, precepts, definition

Workshop synopsis

Symposium synopsis

Opportunities: C4I, M&S, Web, collaboration

Path forward


Problems

Current approaches are not compatible with effective use of emerging Web technologies

Military modeling & simulation has little or no apparent impact on warfighters’ daily tactical operations

Diverse simulations do not scalably interoperate with warfighting systems

Global systems are not yet possible without connection to common interoperable framework

numerous physical and logical “stovepipes” prevent this


Motivation

Transformational technologies are needed to scale up defense modeling/simulation to meet real-world needs

Can we use Web technologies as common framework?

Dynamic capabilities, open standards, Web business model provide lift to support government and commercial success

Easy use and open extensibility for developers and users, fueling rapid growth of interoperable simulations

Bring defense modeling/simulation/tactical support into mainstream of enterprise-wide best-business practices


XMSF precepts

Web-based technologies can provide an extensible modeling and simulation architecture, to support a new generation of interoperable applications

Simulation support is needed for operational warfighting capabilities

XML-based architecture can provide a bridge between emerging rehearsal/reality/replay requirements and open/commercial Web standards

Web = best tech strategy + best business case


XMSF Definition

The Extensible Modeling and Simulation Framework (XMSF) is defined as a set of Web-based technologies and services, applied within an extensible framework, that enables a new generation of modeling & simulation (M&S) applications to emerge, develop and interoperate.

Current work in Web Services appears to be an appropriate basis for organizing and composing the many necessary capabilities of Web/XML and Internet/networking needed for M&S applications.


Preparing for change, quick start

Technical Challenges WorkshopNPS, August 19-20, focused expert efforts

Strategic Opportunities SymposiumGeorge Mason University, September 6 – welcome! Immediately precedes SIW for good participationBroader feedback: right track? what else is needed?

Exemplar Demonstrations I/ITSEC demos, Orlando Florida December 2-5

Next steps for XMSF …Establish partnerships with collaborators + sponsors


XMSFTechnical Challenges Workshop

Monterey California USA, 19-20 August 2002preceding annual NPS MOVES Open House

Goal: initial technical survey and assessmentModeling & Simulation via Web technologies feasible?XMSF white paper provided basis for discussionReport back to this group for strategic planning

Diverse technical experts invited in 3 areasWeb/XML, Internet/network, Modeling & SimulationPoint papers online, undiluted snapshots of key ideas


Workshop Observations

Significant agreement, consensus on principles

Web technologies for networked modeling & simulation appears to be feasible and useful

Lots of different ideas about how to execute Interestingly: few (if any) contradictions


Workshop Conclusions 1, 2

Close working relationship across all three technical areas will continue to be neededWeb / XML, Internet/networking, and M&S Benefit from broad technical insights Interrelated goals and concerns

XMSF approach must be further refined from a high-level concept to definitive technical recommendations, practices, and applicationsFew (if any) new specifications are needed to proceed


Workshop Conclusions 3, 4

Need exemplar applications identified, initiatedCollectively and clearly demonstrate the application

potential of XMSF conceptsA number of existing and emerging programs were

discussed as possible contexts for the exemplars

Web Servicespromising area for future worksufficiently mature to begin exemplar systems


Web Services

Repositories

Where approved services resideAdministrative

Exemplar: DoD XML Registry

Services Discovery

Publish, search capabilities

UDDI, LDAPUniversal Description, Discovery Integration,

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol

Services Description

Detailed methods, parametersWSDL

Web Services Description Language

XML Messaging

Simple XML encoding/decodingXML-RPC, SOAP, XMLP

Remote Procedure Calls, XML Protocol

Service Transport

Move messages between appsHTTP, SMTP, FTP, BEEP

Transfer is independent of messages


Workshop Conclusions 5

Security concerns are cross-cutting for all areas, must be addressed throughout design processor unforeseen vulnerabilities occurApproximately equal number of Web-related technical

challenges & solutions presentedLikely feasible but recurring throughout lifecycle Independent of classical physical/military security

NOT military classificationmaybe: FOUO


Symposium summary

Friday 6 September 2002, GMU Fairfax Virginia

Keynote address by Anita Jones:

“Modeling & Simulation is next killer app for Web”

Diverse speakers presented their considered opinions, in reaction to the workshop whitepaper

•Across-the-board support for XMSF goals

•Recognition: all need shared Web approach


Opportunities: C4I, M&S, Web

Fall SIW 2002 showed many common goals : C4I plenary, Rob Walker DISA COE program manager C4ISR/Simulation Technical Reference Model report Navy night, Gene Layman NRL

Web interoperability can expose legacy systems without major retooling of internals

changes connectivity challenge from 1-N hookups into N-N logic

Semantic interoperability possible, via oporder messaging NPS exercising XML-MTF, Generic Hub (LC2IEDM), X3D, SVG NUWC can ingest same XML oporder into submarine CCS


Path forward

XMSF outreach Report, demos, meetings, discussions, papers I/ITSEC, Web3D Symposium, 2003 Spring SIW, Euro SIW New partners: Andreas Tolk and Bowen Loftin, ODU VMASC Mail lists live at http://www.MovesInstitute.org/xmsf/xmsf.html

Early-adopter collaborators and sponsor strategies February 7, SAIC Tysons Corner, McLean Virginia

DMSO workshop on components/composability

Joint groups, SISO and Web3D Consortium

All feedback welcome


IITSEC 2002 Events: XMSF, X3D

Daily

1000-1800

XMSF Project Demonstrations

Booth 120, 1340 on show floor.

Monday

1300-1500

Tutorial: X3D Virtual Environments for Web. Continuing-education credit. Room 209AC.

Tuesday

1800-1900

XMSF Collaboration Opportunities.

"Government" Room 307CD.

Wednesday

1800-1900

XMSF Sponsorship Opportunities.

"Government" Room 307CD.

Wednesday 1530-1700

Paper: Emerging Web-Based 3D Graphics, Education/Experimentation. Room 304GH.


Contacts

http://www.MovesInstitute.org/xmsf

Don Brutzman [email protected] 831.656.2149Michael Zyda [email protected] 831.656.2305Don McGregor [email protected] 831.656.4090Andrzej Kapolka [email protected] 831.656.2253

Mark Pullen [email protected] 703.993.1538

Katherine Morse [email protected] 858.826.6728Steve Fouskarinis [email protected] 858.826.4407

Andreas Tolk [email protected] 757.686.6203Bowen Loftin [email protected] 757.686.6200

Backup slides


Related work: workshop on software componentization

July 2002, DMSO, DC two dozen attendees, POC Phil ZimmermanSIW paper available 02F-SIW-052

Consensus seemed to be:components are a worthwhile approach to consider for

improving composability and interoperability of diverse interacting simulations

component technology is sufficiently mature and well defined for building exemplars


Workshop strategy 1

How to solve big problems? Divide & conquer.

Three technical perspectivesWeb technologies, XML Internet and NetworkingModeling and simulation (M&S)

White paper lays out initial basic frameworkplease use, extend, correct, disagree


Workshop strategy 2

How to solve big problems? Divide & conquer.

Triage approach for all three technical areas:What do we agree on: determine consensusWhat do we disagree on: more work neededWhat are most important directions for further work

Document workshop and symposium resultsMost important outcomes may be education, direction


Application Domains

Discrete-event and constructive simulations

Virtual worlds and continuous simulations

Multi-agent systems

Interactive, man-in-the-loop, equipment-in-loop systems

Live and virtual entities, mixed seamlessly

Distance learning for interaction among participants Audio and video (both needed for WAN testing anyway) Multiformat whiteboard; recording and playback Teaching and training compatibility via ADL SCORM Simulations usable for training, also training for simulation use


Top-Level Requirements 1

Ability to interact directly and scalably over the network

Compatible with Web architecture and technologies Highly distributed

Not necessarily connected to Web, but using Web technologies

Use by humans and software agents equally important

Support for composable, reusable model components Root data-structure representations specified using XML schema

Representations in other languages autogenerated directly

Connection point between syntax and RDF Schema, semantics



Simple learning curve and repeatable examples Support users and developers

Modular structure Ability to directly interact with network layer Plug-ins connecting into kernel plug-ins at run time

Standards-based IEEE, ISO, W3C, IETF, Web3D

Integrate with tactical systems Augment group shared picture of operations Producers and consumers System life-cycle patterns, repeatability



Support for XML and multiple programming languages

Dynamically extensible at run time: “always on” software + hardware, diversity includes backwards compatibility loose coupling, verification/validation, repair, graceful degradation,

redundancy, etc.

Security levels consistent with current Web technology

Public library of useful reusable components

Cross-platform capabilities

Rendering support and architectural hooks for visual simulations



Expected computer performance: Small, fast, inexpensive computers

Reconnect via GRID computing (distributed operating systems)

Expected network performance: Modems through ADSL (0.05-1.5 Mbps) for limited participation

10 - 1Gbps for local participation

OC3 up through gigabit wide-area networking

Backward compatibility with existing architectures and protocols, where it makes sense

e.g. DIS, HLA/RTI, ALSP, probably many others


Web/XML group Moderator:

Dr. Don Brutzman, NPS

Erik Chaum NUWC Rob Glidden Sun Jack Jackson,

TRAC Monterey Dr. David Kwak, MITRE

Recorders:

Steve Fouskarinis SAIC, Curt Blais NPS

Dr. Francisco Loaiza, IDA Dr. Edward Sims, Vcom3D Dr. Chenghui Luo, Fraunhofer

CRCG Phil Zimmerman, DMSO


Internet/networking group

Moderator: Dr. Mark Pullen, GMU

Dr. Rusty Baldwin, AFIT Scott Bradner, IESG, Harvard Dr. Suleyman Guleyupoglu,

NRL Dr. Sue Numrich, DMSO

Recorders: Don McGregor, NPS Dave Laflam, AMSO Denny Moen GMU

Dr. Steve Carson, GSC Assoc. Dr. Norbert Schiffner, CRCG Dr. Marcelo Zuffo, University

Sao Paolo

two last-minute dropsDr. Sandeep Singhal ReefedgeDr. Mikel Petty ODU


Modeling & simulation group

Moderator: Dr. Katherine Morse, SAIC

Dr. Mike Bailey USMC TECOM Dr. Paul Diefenbach,

OpenWorlds Dr. Niki Deliman Goerger, USA

ERDC Alan Hudson, Yumetech

Recorders: Joerg Wellbrink, NPS Simon Goerger, NPS

Dr. Kalyan S. Perumalla, Georgia Inst. of Technology

Dr. Dick Puk, Intelligraphics Dr. Cristina Russo dos

Santos, Eurecom, University Toulon

Dr. Andreas Tolk, ODU Dr. Sanjeev Trika, Intel


Symposium speakers

Keynote: M&S and Web Anita Jones

XMSF Workshop Results Brutzman, Pullen, Morse, Zyda

Technologists' Perspectives Rob Glidden, Sun Sanjeev Trika, Intel Philip Dodds, ADL Walt Zimmers, DTRA

Tactical Warfighter Support Mike Bailey, MCMSMO Dana Paterson, FORCENet Phil Zimmerman, DMSO

Programmatic Perspective MAJ David Laflam, AMSO Steve Swenson, NAVMSMO Alan Murashige, HQ USAF

extensible modeling and simulation framework (xmsf) opportunities

Documents

web services

web technologies feasible

set of web

simulation architecture

web business model

assessmentmodeling simulation

extensible framework

xmsf overviewpreparing