NPSNET: Physically Based, Autonomous, Naval Surface Agents
Abstract
The Computer Science Department at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California has developed a low-cost real-time interactive simulation system using the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Protocol, known as NPSNET, that works on commercially available Silicon Graphics MIS workstations. In NPSNET, vehicular movement is determined by either a script or by control through input devices. A few vehicles have a reactive intelligent capability, but none possess the ability to cooperate and interact with one another. Additionally, there are no ships incorporated into NPSNET. Therefore, the problem addressed by this thesis is to add intelligent, autonomous movement to physically based vehicles in NPSNET. The approach is to use an expert systems tool, CLIPS, to simulate naval surface units, modeled using computer graphics, for evaluating the effectiveness of this control method. The rules were developed and debugged on a test platform and then networked to NPSNET. Under the NPSNET harness, the autonomous forces are handled separately from the main program, thus reducing processor time and allowing for more complex environments. There are several noteworthy accomplishments resulting from this work. First is the ability to interface graphics C functions with CLIPS, actually invoking and controlling graphics programs from the CLIPS prompt. Second is the development of an autonomous agents test bed. The rules from this test bed are then incorporated into the NPSNET autonomous agent control program. Finally, there are autonomous, physically based naval surface forces that can operate over a DIS network realistically, in real-time. Graphics, CLIPS, Autonomous, Expert Systems, Physically Based Modeling, Ships
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA273231
Entities
People
- John H. Hearne Jr.
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School