Using the HLA for distributed continuous simulations

Abstract

Distributed computing offers many advantages for all types of computational applications. Realizing heterogeneous simulation platforms may benefit from many facilities of distributed computing. However, distributing simulation components over a network raises many challenges concerning communications, data exchange, numerical stabilities and others. A well-known solution that addresses some of these challenges is the High Level Architecture (HLA). The HLA is an industry standard for distributed simulation and interoperability. So far the HLA has been used in industry for Discrete Event Simulations (DES). In this paper it is presented how the HLA can also be employed for continuous simulations. Two HLA specific algorithms for distributing explicitly coupled continuous simulation components over the network are presented. The simulation components follow the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) specification. The FMI is a specification for model exchange and co-simulation among simulation tools. Any simulation component conforming to FMI, generated from any of the more than forty simulation tools1 that are supporting or planning to support the FMI, can be considered in the proposed architecture.