Practical aspects of the DesignDEVS simulation environment

SIMULATION ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhys Goldstein ◽  
Simon Breslav ◽  
Azam Khan
Keyword(s):  
Systems Engineering ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Development Environment ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Model Code ◽  
Strict Enforcement ◽  
Devs Formalism

DesignDEVS is a simulation development environment based on the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism. This paper provides an in-depth overview of the software while focusing on the practical considerations influencing its design. Practitioners who stand to benefit from systems engineering will approach formalism-based simulation tools with little knowledge of the underlying theory. It is therefore important that theoretical principles, such as the separation of model and simulator, be emphasized by the user interface. Other practical aspects of DesignDEVS include the simplicity of atomic model code, a focus on coupling for collaboration purposes, the enforcement of essential modeling constraints, and a reliance on best practices in cases where strict enforcement might inconvenience users. In DesignDEVS, an issue we refer to as the Insidious Pointer Problem is aggressively tackled through run-time error handling. By contrast, the separation of output values from state transitions is left as a best practice for the sake of user convenience. The design decisions explained in this paper are relevant to developers of other formalism-based tools seeking widespread adoption of scalable modeling and simulation practices.

scholarly journals Towards an automatic model transformation mechanism from UML state machines to DEVS models

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariel González ◽  
Carlos Luna ◽  
Roque Cuello ◽  
Marcela Pérez ◽  
Marcela Daniele
Keyword(s):  
Modeling And Simulation ◽  
Model Transformation ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
State Machines ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Transformation Mechanism ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Uml State Machines ◽  
Devs Formalism

The development of complex event-driven systems requires studies and analysis prior to deployment with the goal of detecting unwanted behavior. UML is a language widely used by the software engineering community for modeling these systems through state machines, among other mechanisms. Currently, these models do not have appropriate execution and simulation tools to analyze the real behavior of systems. Existing tools do not provide appropriate libraries (sampling from a probability distribution, plotting, etc.) both to build and to analyze models. Modeling and simulation for design and prototyping of systems are widely used techniques to predict, investigate and compare the performance of systems. In particular, the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism separates the modeling and simulation; there are several tools available on the market that run and collect information from DEVS models. This paper proposes a model transformation mechanism from UML state machines to DEVS models in the Model-Driven Development (MDD) context, through the declarative QVT Relations language, in order to perform simulations using tools, such as PowerDEVS. A mechanism to validate the transformation is proposed. Moreover, examples of application to analyze the behavior of an automatic banking machine and a control system of an elevator are presented.

The high level language for system specification: A model-driven approach to systems engineering

2016 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 1641003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamzat Olanrewaju Aliyu ◽  
Oumar Maïga ◽  
Mamadou Kaba Traoré
Keyword(s):  
Systems Engineering ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
Discrete Event System ◽  
High Level Language ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Event System ◽  
Visual Formalisms ◽  
Devs Formalism ◽  
High Level

We present HiLLS (High Level Language for System Specification), a graphical formalism that allows to specify Discrete Event System (DES) models for analysis using methodologies like simulation, formal methods and enactment. HiLLS’ syntax is built from the integration of concepts from System Theory and Software Engineering aided by simple concrete notations to describe the structural and behavioral aspects of DESs. This paper provides the syntax of HiLLS and its simulation semantics which is based on the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism. From DEVS-based Modeling and Simulation (M&S) perspective, HiLLS is a platform-independent visual language with generic expressions that can serve as a front-end for most existing DEVS-based simulation environments with the aid of Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) techniques. It also suggests ways to fill some gaps in existing DEVS-based visual formalisms that inhibit complete specification of the behavior of complex DESs. We provide a case study to illustrate the core features of the language.

Metamodel-based formalization of DEVS atomic models

SIMULATION ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003754972110456
Author(s):  
María Julia Blas ◽  
Silvio Gonnet
Keyword(s):  
Programming Languages ◽  
Formal Specification ◽  
Formal Model ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Atomic Models ◽  
Devs Formalism ◽  
Definition Of

The Discrete-Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism is a modeling formalism based on systems theory that provides a general methodology for hierarchical construction of reusable models in a modular way. When concrete DEVS models are developed using programming languages, it is difficult to ensure they conform to their formal model. Hence, building an implementation of formal models in a way that ensures DEVS formalism correctness is not easy. In this paper, we improve the interplay of abstraction (i.e., formal specification) and concreteness (i.e., programming code implementation) in advancing the theory and practice of DEVS using a specific-designed metamodel. The main contribution is a novel conceptualization of classic DEVS with ports founded on existing approaches but that also includes new improved elements related to the definition of atomic models. That is, our metamodel includes all the concepts and relationships needed to define the formal specification of DEVS atomic models. This allows us to define instances of our conceptualization that comply with the DEVS formal specification. To instantiate our metamodel, we propose a computer-aided environment that has been developed using the Eclipse Modeling Project. As an example, we show how our metamodel can be used to define the classic “switch” model. As a conclusion, we discuss how the final metamodel can be used to support interoperability with DEVS simulation tools.

scholarly journals multiPDEVS: A Parallel Multicomponent System Specification Formalism

Complexity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damien Foures ◽  
Romain Franceschini ◽  
Paul-Antoine Bisgambiglia ◽  
Bernard P. Zeigler
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Automata ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
Multicomponent System ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Atomic Model ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Discrete Event System Specification ◽  
Simulation Procedure ◽  
Event System

Based on multiDEVS formalism, we introduce multiPDEVS, a parallel and nonmodular formalism for discrete event system specification. This formalism provides combined advantages of PDEVS and multiDEVS approaches, such as excellent simulation capabilities for simultaneously scheduled events and components able to influence each other using exclusively their state transitions. We next show the soundness of the formalism by giving a construction showing that any multiPDEVS model is equivalent to a PDEVS atomic model. We then present the simulation procedure associated, usually called abstract simulator. As a well-adapted formalism to express cellular automata, we finally propose to compare an implementation of multiPDEVS formalism with a more classical Cell-DEVS implementation through a fire spread application.

scholarly journals Emergence at the Fundamental Systems Level: Existence Conditions for Iterative Specifications

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Zeigler ◽  
Alexandre Muzy
Keyword(s):  
Discrete Event ◽  
Sufficient Conditions ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Global State ◽  
Uniqueness Of Solutions ◽  
Fundamental Level ◽  
Mathematical System ◽  
Special Cases ◽  
Fundamental Systems ◽  
Devs Formalism

Conditions under which compositions of component systems form a well-defined system-of-systems here are formulated at a fundamental level. Statement of what defines a well-defined composition and sufficient conditions guaranteeing such a result offers insight into exemplars that can be found in special cases such as differential equation and discrete event systems. For any given global state of a composition, two requirements can be stated informally as: 1) the system can leave this state, i.e., there is at least one trajectory defined that starts from the state, and 2) the trajectory evolves over time without getting stuck at a point in time. Considered for every global state, these conditions determine whether the resultant is a well-defined system and if so, whether it is non-deterministic or deterministic. We formulate these questions within the framework of iterative specifications for mathematical system models that are shown to be behaviorally equivalent to the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism. This formalization supports definitions and proofs of the afore-mentioned conditions. Implications are drawn at the fundamental level of existence where the emergence of a system from an assemblage of components can be characterized. We focus on systems with feedback coupling where existence and uniqueness of solutions is problematic.

scholarly journals Discrete event simulation of Maglev transport considering traffic waves

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moo Hyun Cha ◽  
Duhwan Mun
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Simulation Technology ◽  
Event Simulation ◽  
Train Operation ◽  
Railway Passenger ◽  
Devs Formalism ◽  
Traffic Wave ◽  
Demand Changes

Abstract A magnetically levitated vehicle (Maglev) system is under commercialization as a new transportation system in Korea. The Maglev is operated by an unmanned automatic control system. Therefore, the plan of train operation should be carefully established and validated in advance. In general, when making a train operation plan, statistically predicted traffic data is used. However, a traffic wave often occurs in real train service, and demand-driven simulation technology is required to review a train operation plan and service quality considering traffic waves. We propose a method and model to simulate Maglev operation considering continuous demand changes. For this purpose, we employed a discrete event model that is suitable for modeling the behavior of railway passenger transportation. We modeled the system hierarchically using discrete event system specification (DEVS) formalism. In addition, through implementation and an experiment using the DEVSim++ simulation environment, we tested the feasibility of the proposed model. Our experimental results also verified that our demand-driven simulation technology can be used for a priori review of train operation plans and strategies.

scholarly journals A conceptual framework for the modelling and simulation of social systems

DYNA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (212) ◽  
pp. 189-198
Author(s):  
Gabriel Awad ◽  
Hernán Darío ÁLVAREZ ZAPATA
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
Modelling And Simulation ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Modelling Language ◽  
Event System ◽  
Systems Modelling ◽  
Devs Formalism ◽  
Critical Literature

This paper presents a conceptual framework for the modelling and simulation of properties, interactions and processes of social systems based on computational templates using discrete event system specification (DEVS) formalism and OMG Systems Modelling Language (SysML) diagrams. No antecedents of this combination were found in the literature, and so this is one of the contributions of this paper. Additionally, this article explains how the principles and rules of SysML can be applied to the analysis of social systems. An example of the proposed framework based on a basic Agent_Zero model is shown. The conceptual framework was built based on a critical literature review, and included new additional elements to create a complete but simple conceptual framework. The codes for the simulations were written in Python 3.

scholarly journals Conjoining Wymore’s Systems Theoretic Framework and the DEVS Modeling Formalism: Toward Scientific Foundations for MBSE

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 4936
Author(s):  
Paul Wach ◽  
Bernard P. Zeigler ◽  
Alejandro Salado
Keyword(s):  
Systems Engineering ◽  
Mathematical Theory ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Software Application ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Modeling Formalism ◽  
Model Based Systems Engineering ◽  
Initial Results

The objective of this research article is to re-introduce some of the concepts provided by A. Wayne Wymore in his mathematical theory of Model-Based Systems Engineering, discuss why his framework might have not been adopted, and define a potential path to modernize the framework for practical application in the digital age. The dense mathematical theory has never been converted to a practical form. We propose a path to modernization by creating a metamodel of Wymore’s mathematical theory of MBSE. This enables explaining the concepts in simple to understand terms and shows the internal consistency provided by the theory. Furthermore, the metamodel allows for conversion of the theory into software application, for which we show some initial results that open the research to the art of the possible. In recognition of limitation of the theory, we make the case for a merger of the theoretical framework with the enhanced formalism of Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS). This will establish a path toward the scientific foundations for MBSE to enable future implementations of the complementary pairing and their empirical results.

scholarly journals Integration of Activity Specification into DEVS Modeling & Simulation Development Environment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdurrahman Alshareef ◽  
Bernard P. Zeigler
Keyword(s):  
Modeling And Simulation ◽  
Code Generation ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
Model Development ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Development Environment ◽  
Discrete Event System Specification ◽  
Modeling Simulation ◽  
Behavior Monitoring ◽  
Event System

We propose an integrative environment for the modeling and simulation of activity specification. The devised approach relies on the DEVS (Discrete Event System Specification) formalism for the foundational semantics of the essential activity elements. The code generation takes place afterward, targeting specific DEVS-compliant modeling and simulation (M\&S) environments such as DEVS-Suite and MS4 Me. The modelers can set parameters or modify the code to satisfy specific needs. The simulation can then be conducted with behavior monitoring and visualization. We demonstrate the approach with observations about performance evaluation and tracking. Such environments have the potential to facilitate computational model development for System of Systems via full-scale simulation support.

System theoretic foundations of modeling and simulation: a historic perspective and the legacy of A Wayne Wymore

SIMULATION ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (9) ◽  
pp. 1033-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuncer I Ören ◽  
Bernard P Zeigler
Keyword(s):  
System Theory ◽  
Modeling And Simulation ◽  
Systems Engineering ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
Systems Design ◽  
General System ◽  
System Specification ◽  
Simulation Languages ◽  
Engineering Department ◽  
Theoretic Foundations

AW Wymore, the founder of the world’s first systems engineering department at the University of Arizona, has been at the origin of the system theoretic foundations of modeling and simulation. Wymore’s intellectual family tree, which goes back to Gauss and Weierstrass, is given. How the authors met, cooperated, and advocated system theory for the advancement of modeling and simulation are explained. The concept of model-based simulation was also one of the outcomes of this cooperation. This article reviews the emergence of systems-theory-based modeling and simulation languages and environments, such as the General System Theory implementor and Discrete Event System Specification, and their relation to Wymore’s concepts. We also discuss the application of powerful software development frameworks to support user-friendly access to systems concepts and to increase the power to support systems design and engineering.

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