SIMNET SIMNET
Technical challenges Technical challenges
how to fabricate high-how to fabricate high-quality, lowquality, low--cost simulatorscost simulators
how to network them together to create a consistent battlefieldhow to network them together to create a consistent battlefield
Testbed Testbed
11 sites with 5011 sites with 50––100100simulators at each sitesimulators at each site
a simulatora simulatorisisthe portal to the synthetic environmentthe portal to the synthetic environment
participantsparticipantscan interact/play with otherscan interact/play with others
play was unscriptedplay was unscriptedfree playfree play
confined to the chainconfined to the chainof commandof command
SIMNET NSA SIMNET NSA
Basic
Basic components components
i.i.
An object An object -event architecture - event architecture
ii.
ii.
A notion of autonomous simulator nodes A notion of autonomous simulator nodes
iii.
iii.
An embedded set of predictive modelling An embedded set of predictive modelling algorithms (i.e., algorithms (i.e.,
‘dead
‘dead reckoning’) reckoning’)
i. Object
i. Object - - Event Event Architecture Architecture
Models Models the world as a collection of the world as a collection of objects objects
vehicles and weapon systems that can interactvehicles and weapon systems that can interact
a single object is usually managed by a single hosta single object is usually managed by a single host
‘selective functional fidelity’‘selective functional fidelity’
Models Models interactions between objects as a interactions between objects as a collection
collection of of events events
messages indicating a change in the world or object statemessages indicating a change in the world or object state
The basic terrain and structures are separate from the collection The basic terrain and structures are separate from the collectio n of objects
of objects
if the structure can be destroyed then it has to be reclassifiedif the structure can be destroyed then it has to be reclassifiedas an as an object,
object, whose statewhose stateis continually transmitted onto the networkis continually transmitted onto the network
ii. Autonomous
ii. Autonomous Simulator Nodes Simulator Nodes
Individual players, vehicles, and weapon systems on the network are Individual players, vehicles, and weapon systems on the network are responsible
responsiblefor transmitting accuratelyfor transmitting accuratelytheir current statetheir current state
Autonomous nodes do not interact with the recipients by any other wayAutonomous nodes do not interact with the recipients by any other way
Recipients are responsible forRecipients are responsible for
receiving state change informationreceiving state change information
making appropriate changes to their local model of the worldmaking appropriate changes to their local model of the world
Lack of a central serverLack of a central server
single pointsingle pointfailures do not crash the whole simulationfailures do not crash the whole simulation
players can join and leave at any time (persistency)players can join and leave at any time (persistency)
Each node is responsible for one or more objectsEach node is responsible for one or more objects
the node has tothe node has tosendsendupdate packetsupdate packetstotothe network whenever its objects have the network whenever its objects have changed enough
changed enough to notify the other nodesto notify the other nodesof theof thechangechange
a ‘heartbeat’a ‘heartbeat’message, usually every 5 secondsmessage, usually every 5 seconds
iii. Predictive
iii. Predictive Modelling Modelling Algorithms 1 (3) Algorithms 1 (3)
An embedded and well- An embedded and well -defined set of defined set of predictive predictive modelling
modelling algorithms algorithms called called dead dead reckoning reckoning
Originally each change was reported Originally each change was reported
for some objects packets were generated as fast as possible (i.e., atfor some objects packets were generated as fast as possible (i.e., at frame
framerate)rate)
floodedfloodedthe network and the network and overloadedoverloadedthe CPUsthe CPUs
Objects and ghosts paradigm to reduce the packet traffic: Objects and ghosts paradigm to reduce the packet traffic:
objectsobjectsplace packets onto the network only when their home node place packets onto the network only when their home node determines that the others can
determines that the others can no longer predictno longer predicttheir state within a their state within a certain threshold
certain threshold
the otherthe othernodes maintain nodes maintain ‘ghost’‘ghost’copiescopies
predict the currentpredict the currentlocation using location using the lastthe lastknown direction, velocity, known direction, velocity, and location
and location
iii. Predictive
iii. Predictive Modelling Modelling Algorithms 2 (3) Algorithms 2 (3)
When new packets arrive, the ghost object is seen to move When new packets arrive, the ghost object is seen to move over or back slightly
over or back slightly
Larger Larger thresholds mean fewer packets but larger jumps thresholds mean fewer packets but larger jumps
Helps also to cope with packet losses Helps also to cope with packet losses
Current properties are good for prediction if the object does not Current properties are good for prediction if the object does no t move wildly
move wildly
ififit does, another packet is most likely to be receivedit does, another packet is most likely to be receivedsoonsoon
The heartbeat packets The heartbeat packets also update also update the object state the object state
iii. Predictive
iii. Predictive Modelling Modelling Algorithms 3 (3) Algorithms 3 (3)
Average SIMNET Average SIMNET packet rates: packet rates:
1 per second for slow-1 per second for slow-moving ground vehiclesmoving ground vehicles
3 per second for air vehicles3 per second for air vehicles
Some of the information is relatively static Some of the information is relatively static
single bit for indicating whether thesingle bit for indicating whether thevehicle is stationaryvehicle is stationary
if stationary, the ghostif stationary, the ghostcomputations are turned offcomputations are turned off
Other packets Other packets
fire: a weapon has been launcedfire: a weapon has been launced
indirectindirectfire: a ballistic weapon has been launcedfire: a ballistic weapon has been launced
collision: a vehicle hits an objectcollision: a vehicle hits an object
impact: a weapon hits an objectimpact: a weapon hits an object
SIMNET Major Software Modules SIMNET Major Software Modules
Computer Image Computer Image--
Generator Generator Software Software
Other Other--Vehicle Vehicle
State Table State Table
Network Interface Network Interface
Software Software
Control and Control and Interface Software Interface Software
Own Own--Vehicle Vehicle
Dynamics Dynamics
Sound
Sound--Generator Generator Software Software Local Area
Local Area NetworkNetwork
Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS)
SIMNET protocol was designed to satisfy a contract with the SIMNET protocol was designed to satisfy a contract with the U.S.
U.S. government government
diddidnot define the NSA for general purpose simulationnot define the NSA for general purpose simulation
lacklackof documentationof documentation
DIS DIS was an attempt to formally generalize and extend the was an attempt to formally generalize and extend the SIMNET protocol
SIMNET protocol
First version of the IEEE standard for DIS appeared 1993 First version of the IEEE standard for DIS appeared 1993
Goals Goals
to allowto allowany type of any type of player,player,on any type of machineon any type of machine
totoachieve larger achieve larger simulationssimulations
DIS NSA DIS NSA
Derived from SIMNET Derived from SIMNET
object-object-eventeventarchitecturearchitecture
autonomousautonomousdistributed simulation nodesdistributed simulation nodes
predictivepredictivemodeling algorithmsmodeling algorithms
Covers more simulation requirements Covers more simulation requirements
Protocol data unit (PDU) Protocol data unit (PDU)
determine whendetermine wheneach vehicle (node) should issue a each vehicle (node) should issue a PDUPDU
the DIS standardthe DIS standarddefines 27 different defines 27 different PDUsPDUs
only 4 of them interact with the environmentonly 4 of them interact with the environment
~
~entity state, fire, detonation, and collisionentity state, fire, detonation, and collision
the restthe restof the definedof the definedPDUsPDUs
~
~simulation control, electronic emanations, and supporting simulation control, electronic emanations, and supporting actionsactions
~
~not supported and disregarded by most DIS applicationsnot supported and disregarded by most DIS applications
Issuing Issuing PDUs PDUs
The vehicle’s node is responsible of The vehicle’s node is responsible of issuing issuing PDUs PDUs
entity state PDU entity state PDU
~
~when when positionposition, orientation, , orientation, velocity changesvelocity changessufficiently (i.e.,sufficiently (i.e.,others others cannot accurately predict the
cannot accurately predict the position any more)position any more)
~~as a heartbeat if as a heartbeat if the timethe timethreshold (5 seconds) isthreshold (5 seconds) isreached after the lastreached after the last entity state PDU
entity state PDU
fire PDUfire PDU
detonation PDUdetonation PDU
~~a fired projectile explodesa fired projectile explodes
~
~node’s vehicle has died (death selfnode’s vehicle has died (death self--determination)determination)
collision PDUcollision PDU
~
~vehicle has collided with somethingvehicle has collided with something
~~detection is detection is left upleft upto the individual nodeto the individual node
Receiving Receiving PDUs PDUs
The recipient is responsible for The recipient is responsible for
receivingreceivingthe PDUthe PDU
changingchangingthe appropriate state tablesthe appropriate state tables
updatingupdatingthe displaythe display
entity state PDU entity state PDU
~
~update the otherupdate the other--vehicle state tablevehicle state table
fire PDUfire PDU
~~create a new vehiclecreate a new vehicle
detonation PDUdetonation PDU
~~compute the effectscompute the effects
~
~change the otherchange the other--vehicle and ownvehicle and own--vehicle state tablesvehicle state tables
collision PDUcollision PDU
~
~process similarlyprocess similarly
Computer Image- Generator Software
Other- Vehicle State Table
Network Interface Software
Control and Interface Software
Own- Vehicle Dynamics
Sound- Generator
Software Local Area Network
Lost
Lost PDUs PDUs 1 (2) 1 (2)
Packets are sent via unreliable UDP broadcast Packets are sent via unreliable UDP broadcast
State tables may differ among the hosts State tables may differ among the hosts
Lost detonation PDU Lost detonation PDU
‘
‘fromfromthe the afterlife’afterlife’
Lost Lost PDUs PDUs 2 (2) 2 (2)
Lost entity state PDU Lost entity state PDU
not a big problemnot a big problem
larger jumps on the displaylarger jumps on the display
Lost fire PDU Lost fire PDU
receive entity state PDU for which no ghost entry existsreceive entity state PDU for which no ghost entry exists
Lost collision PDU Lost collision PDU
continue to display a vehicle as livecontinue to display a vehicle as live
next heartbeat packet solves the situationnext heartbeat packet solves the situation
The Fully
The Fully Distributed, Heterogeneous Distributed, Heterogeneous Nature
Nature of DIS of DIS
Any computer that reads/writes Any computer that reads/writes PDUs and manages the state of PDUs and manages the state of those
those PDUs PDUs can can participate a DIS environment participate a DIS environment
The virtual environment can include The virtual environment can include
virtual players (humansvirtual players (humansat computerat computerconsoles)consoles)
constructive players (computer-constructive players (computer-driven players)driven players)
live players (actual weapon systems)live players (actual weapon systems)
Problem of the advantages of the low- Problem of the advantages of the low -end end machines machines
the less details in the scenery, the better visualitythe less details in the scenery, the better visuality
Problems with modelling Problems with modelling
dynamic terrain dynamic terrain
~~soil soil movementmovement
environmental effectsenvironmental effects
~~weather, smoke, weather, smoke, dust,…dust,…
Additional Properties Additional Properties
DIS DIS standard defines 9 dead reckoning algorithms standard defines 9 dead reckoning algorithms
fields in the entity state PDUfields in the entity state PDU
deaddeadreckoning will bereckoning will bediscussed discussed later in the courselater in the course
DIS DIS packets are larger than SIMNET packets packets are larger than SIMNET packets
the entity state PDU has a lot of static informationthe entity state PDU has a lot of static information
position of a vehicle can be expressed in a subnanometerposition of a vehicle can be expressed in a subnanometerresolution resolution (64
(64--bit bit coco--ordinateordinatefield)field)
couldcouldbe redesigned to 20% of the current sizebe redesigned to 20% of the current size
Designed Designed for fewer than 300 for fewer than 300 units units but DoD but DoD wants even wants even 300,000 units
300,000 units
Does not define how to define new types of information nor Does not define how to define new types of information nor how to modify the DIS NSA
how to modify the DIS NSA
High High - - Level Architecture (HLA) Level Architecture (HLA)
Aims at providing a general architecture and services for Aims at providing a general architecture and services for distributed data exchange.
distributed data exchange.
While the DIS protocol is closely linked with the properties of While the DIS protocol is closely linked with the properties of military
military units and vehicles, HLA does not prescribe any units and vehicles, HLA does not prescribe any specific implementation or technology.
specific implementation or technology.
could be used also with non-could be used also with non-military applications (e.g., computer military applications (e.g., computer games)
games)
targeted towards new simulation developmentstargeted towards new simulation developments
HLA was issued as IEEE Standard 1516 in 2000. HLA was issued as IEEE Standard 1516 in 2000.
Academic Academic NVEs NVEs
DoD’s projects DoD’s projects
large-large-scalescaleNVEsNVEs
mostmostof the research is unavailableof the research is unavailable
lack-lack-ofof--availabilityavailability, lack, lack--ofof--generalitygenerality
Academic community has reinvented, extended, and Academic community has reinvented, extended, and documented what
documented what DoD DoD has done has done
NPSNETNPSNET
PARADISEPARADISE
DIVEDIVE
BrickNetBrickNet
NPSNET NPSNET
Naval Postgraduate School (NPS Naval Postgraduate School ( NPS), Monterey, California ), Monterey, California
‘Longest‘Longestcontinuing academic research effort in NVEs’continuing academic research effort in NVEs’
‘The‘Thecomplete breadth of human-complete breadth of human-computer interaction and software computer interaction and software technology’
technology’
…that can be useful for …that can be useful for DoDDoD
(Guess where our course books authors come from...) (Guess where our course books authors come from...)
Evolution
Evolution of NPSNET of NPSNET
NPSNET-1
NPS-Stealth NPSNET-2 & 3
NPSNET-IV
NPSNET-V
NPS invented protocol for LANs only
SIMNET protocol and Bridged LAN for WAN communications
DIS protocol and IP Multicast for WAN communications
vrtp and HLA for communications
PARADISE PARADISE
Performance Architecture for Advanced Distributed Interactive Performance Architecture for Advanced Distributed Interactive Simulations Environments (PARADISE)
Simulations Environments (PARADISE)
Initiated in 1993 at Stanford University Initiated in 1993 at Stanford University
Explicitly addressed NSA issues in the case of thousands users Explicitly addressed NSA issues in the case of thousands users
Assign a different multicast address to each active object Assign a different multicast address to each active object
Object updates similar to Object updates similar to SIMNET and DIS SIMNET and DIS
A hierarchy of area A hierarchy of area- -of of- -interest interest servers servers
monitor the positions of objectsmonitor the positions of objects
which multicast addresses are relevantwhich multicast addresses are relevant
S
PARADISE
PARADISE (cont’d) (cont’d)
All objects, including terrain, are capable of transmitting state All objects, including terrain, are capable of transmitting stat e updates
updates
Recognizes that update need varies for objects Recognizes that update need varies for objects
Improved Improved dead reckoning protocols dead reckoning protocols
positionpositionhistory-history-basedbaseddeaddeadreckoningreckoning
Support for multiple communication flows per object Support for multiple communication flows per object
unique dead reckoning for each flowunique dead reckoning for each flow
Combine information about groups of objects Combine information about groups of objects
based on their locationbased on their locationand on their typeand on their type
Support for slowly changing entities Support for slowly changing entities
to eliminate the heartbeat messages of DISto eliminate the heartbeat messages of DIS
DIVE DIVE
Distributed Interactive Virtual Distributed Interactive Virtual Environment (DIVE)
Environment (DIVE)
Swedish Institute of Computer Swedish Institute of Computer Science
Science
To solve problems of To solve problems of collaboration and interaction collaboration and interaction
Simulate a large shared memory Simulate a large shared memory over a network
over a network
Distributed, fully replicated Distributed, fully replicated database
database
Entire database is dynamicEntire database is dynamic
add new objectsadd new objects
modify the existing databasesmodify the existing databases
reliabilityreliabilityand and consistencyconsistency
BrickNet BrickNet
NationalNationalUniversity of Singapore, University of Singapore, started in 1991
started in 1991
Support for graphical, Support for graphical, behavioural
behavioural, and network , and network modelling
modellingof virtual worldsof virtual worlds
Allows objects to be shared by Allows objects to be shared by multiple
multiple virtual worldsvirtual worlds
No replicated databaseNo replicated database
The virtual world is partitioned The virtual world is partitioned among the various clients among the various clients
PowerPC
7137
