The Distributed Time-Triggered Simulation Scheme: Core Principles and Supporting Execution Engine

Distributed real-time simulation is a young technology field but its practice is under increasing demands. In recent years the author and his collaborators have been establishing a new approach called the distributed time-triggered simulation (DTS) scheme which is conceptually simple and easy to use but widely applicable. The concept was initiated in the course of developing a new-generation object-oriented real-time programming scheme called the time-triggered message-triggered object (TMO) programming scheme. Some fundamental issues inherent in distributed real-time simulation that were learned during recent experimental studies are discussed along with some approaches for resolving the issues. An execution engine developed to support both the TMOs engaged in control computation and the TMOs engaged in DTS is also discussed along with its possible extensions that will enable significantly larger-scale DTSs.