Abstract
Mission simulators are in widespread use for the evaluation of military systems under circumstances of appropriate realism. This thesis reports on a series of investigations into the architectures which could result from a synthesis of existing simulation methodologies with novel computing techniques being developed largely for the needs of the internet. The techniques selected were component architectures and mobile agent systems. A framework for simulation based on a component architecture is presented. Entitled MulTiSIM, it permits models to be distributed over a network, and for their interactions to be unaffected by changes in physical distribution and model type. Instances of models can be assembled into arbitrarily complex distributed structures to permit modelling of complex entities, while a degree of structural transparency over interactions with such entities is maintained. Examples of real-time simulators developed using this framework are presented, including a driving simulator for the Thrust super-sonic car and a helicopter mission simulator at DERA. The thesis goes on to suggest various generic roles for mobile agents in medium and large-scale simulations. These roles include communications management functions, dynamic control over model distribution and mediation of specific interactions. Prototypes of the communications management and mediation roles are described, the latter being implemented in the form of what has here been termed an 'ambassador system', employing only a sub-set of the facilities normally required for a system of frilly autonomous mobile agents, while representing the specific interests of a simulation model within a remote operator's station.