Researchers at the Federated Advanced Research Center for Engineering have made a major breakthrough in military training simulation. Using state-of-the-art Domain Engineering techniques an architecture of the Universe was developed and a subset isolated to represent the military training domain. This approach uses object oriented analysis and design techniques, but goes a step further by applying an architecture to the real world problem space rather than the simulation solution space. The resulting architecture, labeled PerfectArch by its creators, describes the major components that must belong to any military simulation.
The architectural unity of PerfectArch brings with it a level of interoperability previously unimaginable. Since the same architecture is applied to all simulations within the domain they are naturally interoperable from the highest to the lowest levels. In effect, simulations built to the architecture, are all subsets of a larger, conceptual mega-simulation. Interoperability is a non-issue, receding into the architecture to the level of an interface specification between system sub-components. There is no longer a barrier between virtual and constructive level simulations, rather each is able to operate with the other with the same ease that they previously operated with internal sub-components. The same perfect level of operations exist for live training events that are structured according to the architecture. At the lowest level, individual soldiers can not be restructured without significant effort, so are encapsulated to present interfaces to the external world that are compliant with the architecture. This comonality allows the system to effectively train all echelons from Commander-in-Chief down to individual riflemen simultaneously.
A prototype of PerfectArch, labeled PerfectSim, was constructed from existing software modules and components. The software contributors were 60% virtual systems, 20% constructive systems, 11% commercial software products, 2% internet freeware utilities, and only 7% new code. This 7% solution provides the same capabilities as a new system at a fraction of the cost. The developers implemented the architecture from a foundation of four base classes: earth, air, fire, and water. With these they were able to derive or reconfigure objects to represent all of the military and civilian objects of interest in a training scenario.
All of the software within PerfectSim was developed according to both MIL-STD-2167A and MIL-STD-498 simultaneously. It was written in Ada95, with compatibility features that will convert it into AdaXX automatically once that language is fully defined. Tools that accompany the system also convert reused legacy code into the Ada95 language without programmer intervention. The 7% solution listed above was achieved through database and internet browsers which are able to locate appropriate software, translate it, bind it into a an executable, and deliver it to a simulation center just moments before a major training exercise. PerfectSim is able to identify the software it needs as a result of its ability to read, interpret, and understand the contents of military operations and exercise plans residing in its file system.
The research center developed PerfectSim to run on a network of discarded 80286 PCs and discontinued parallel computers. It is interpreted by a software virtual machine so that the simulation is independent of the underlying operating system and hardware platforms. Developers predict that the executable can be run on any machine for which a virtual execution engine exists.
Recognizing the importance of training soldiers in their natural environment, PerfectSim is able to interface and exchange data with all fielded combat computers: command systems, radar systems, signal processors, and message communications systems. It also interfaces seamlessly with field telephones, most major video games, and mil-spec toasters.
PerfectSim can be operated by a single, untrained operator and a dog. For optimum performance, the operator must be replaced each year, as their understanding increases to a level that causes them to intervene in system execution.
The one drawback inherent in PerfectSim is its user interface. Developed as a command line application, it has defied all attempts to add a graphical control layer. This has lead to some uncertainty that it actually represents an advancement in the state-of-the-art. PerfectSim and PerfectArch face sever procurement barriers and their future as viable programs is uncertain.