Network Evaluation for Training and Simulation

Abstract

Advancements in networking hardware and software have increased the numbers of training and research simulators being used in networked environments. Various technical issues and problems involved with networking simulations exist, one of the most notable being latency. The Training Systems Product Group (ASC/YWE) of the Aeronautical Systems Center commissioned a study into some of these networking issues. This study was conducted by the Control Integration and Assessment Branch (AFRL/VACD), of Air Force Research Laboratory. The purpose of this study was to analyze different simulation network configurations to determine an optimized architecture for training purposes. This program was aimed at Unit Training Device (UTD) applications with low numbers of entities and sites. The basic training architecture of two LANs with a few local nodes connected together by a WAN was assumed. The ideal network configuration would minimize LAN/WAN latencies while maintaining simulation data accuracy. Analysis on both the local and entire network configurations was performed relative to effects of network loading. Issues such as bandwidth, latency, accuracy, thresholds, and delay compensation were investigated. Distributed Interactive Simulating (DIS) and DIS Lite protocols were used. DIS Lite, developed under a SBIR contract with MaK Technologies is a low bandwidth protocol for networked high fidelity flight simulations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1997
Accession Number
ADA344849

Entities

People

  • David Barnhart
  • Roger Wuerfel
  • Ron Ewart
  • Stephen G. Purdy

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Dead Reckoning
  • Graphical User Interface
  • Liquid Crystal Displays
  • Local Area Networks
  • Military Research
  • Network Architecture
  • Network Protocols
  • Operating Systems
  • Simulations
  • Training
  • Training Devices

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computer Networking
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation
  • Systems Analysis and Design