Automatic Generation of VR Scripts from IDEF3 Behavior Descriptions

This project will apply virtual reality (VR) technology, in the context of system engineering, to develop a more effective, convenient, and realistic virtual prototyping technology that will improve the capacity to develop and assess complex computer-based systems. An intermediate goal of this Phase I initiative is automatically generating executable VR-based simulation code from IDEF3 behavior descriptions. Based on KBSI's previous successful research results [KBSI 93, 94], the objectives of the Phase I project are the following: + demonstrate the effectiveness of KBSI's PROCAP¿ tool, which is based on the Air Force IDEF3 Process Flow and Object description method, for input of the behaviors of virtual systems in a virtual environment, + leverage existing COTS VR tools and their API scripting languages to encode the behaviors captured under IDEF3 semantics, + develop reasoning strategies to assemble the behavior codes to generate a simulation model executed under the COTS VR environment, and + develop a preliminary proof-of-concept system to use for prototype analysis of a sample Navy problem such as a combat system for a major surface combatant. The Phase I activities include: system requirements specification, system design, system implementation, prototype analysis, and Phase I report and Phase II proposal preparation.