Pluggable Brains : Separating the Intelligent Behavior from the Simulated Player
conference paper
The use of simulated environments in the military domain has increased significantly over the past years,
and with it the demand for more realistically behaving autonomous systems. The autonomous systems
become ever more complex and need to support advanced human-machine interactions when applied for
training and instruction (virtual role players) or concept development and experimentation (e.g. adjustable
autonomy of unmanned vehicles).
In order to remain flexible, cost-effective and maintainable, a re-evaluation is needed of the way in which
these autonomous systems are integrated in the simulated environment.
In this paper we describe our approach of separating behavior components (‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) or
‘Brains’) from the simulation engine. To make this decoupling as efficient as possible, both the simulation
engine and the AI need to provide a suitable interface. To enable maintainability and reusability the
interface should support legacy simulation components and enable iterative development. We therefore
developed the idea of using a double decoupling. In this approach the interface has a part that can be reused
in other systems and a part that is specific for every system.
The selected data exchange mechanism between the simulator and the AI is the High Level Architecture
(HLA IEEE1516). HLA is the widely used standard for coupling distributed simulators. The modular
Federation Object Model (FOM) feature introduced by the latest HLA version, IEEE1516-2010, supports
the idea of decoupling reusable and specific modules very well, and allows gradual development of
extension modules and (scenario) specific modules.
The feasibility of our approach was demonstrated by two experiments, in which several commercial of the
shelf (COTS) and proprietary tools and simulation components were integrated, in different formation,
through HLA.
The paper will present the design and development of the ‘Pluggable Brains’ approach and discuss the
initial results of the two experiments.
and with it the demand for more realistically behaving autonomous systems. The autonomous systems
become ever more complex and need to support advanced human-machine interactions when applied for
training and instruction (virtual role players) or concept development and experimentation (e.g. adjustable
autonomy of unmanned vehicles).
In order to remain flexible, cost-effective and maintainable, a re-evaluation is needed of the way in which
these autonomous systems are integrated in the simulated environment.
In this paper we describe our approach of separating behavior components (‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) or
‘Brains’) from the simulation engine. To make this decoupling as efficient as possible, both the simulation
engine and the AI need to provide a suitable interface. To enable maintainability and reusability the
interface should support legacy simulation components and enable iterative development. We therefore
developed the idea of using a double decoupling. In this approach the interface has a part that can be reused
in other systems and a part that is specific for every system.
The selected data exchange mechanism between the simulator and the AI is the High Level Architecture
(HLA IEEE1516). HLA is the widely used standard for coupling distributed simulators. The modular
Federation Object Model (FOM) feature introduced by the latest HLA version, IEEE1516-2010, supports
the idea of decoupling reusable and specific modules very well, and allows gradual development of
extension modules and (scenario) specific modules.
The feasibility of our approach was demonstrated by two experiments, in which several commercial of the
shelf (COTS) and proprietary tools and simulation components were integrated, in different formation,
through HLA.
The paper will present the design and development of the ‘Pluggable Brains’ approach and discuss the
initial results of the two experiments.
TNO Identifier
461862
Article nr.
11148
Source title
Proceedings I/ITSEC 2011. Interservice / industry training, simulation and education conference Orlando, Florida November 28 - December 1, 2011 : 'Prepare the Force Secure the Future'
Files
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