DISTRIBUTED INTERACTIVE SIMULATION PROTOCOL EXTENSIONS FOR LOGISTICS SIMULATION

THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE FIDELITY OF LOGISTICS IN DISTRIBUTED INTERACTIVE SIMULATIONS (DIS). THE SIMNET SYSTEM AND PROTOCOLS ARE USED AS A WORKING MODEL. SIMNET (SHORT FOR SIMULATOR NETWORKING) IS A SYSTEM OF NETWORKED COMBAT VEHICLE SIMULATORS DESIGNED FOR COMBINED ARMS TACTICAL TRAINING. THE LOGISTICS PORTIONOF SIMNET IS A LOW FIDELITY MODEL, SUPPLYING THE BARE MINIMUM LOGISTICS SUPPORT NECESSARY TO SUPPLY COMBAT TRAINING MISSIONS. VERY LITTLE EFFORT WAS MADE TO PROVIDE LOGISTICIANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE THEIR SKILLS. SINCE THERE WAS NO REQUIREMENT FOR A HIGH FIDELITY LOGISTICS MODEL, MANY NECESSARY FEATURES WERE LEFT OUT OF THE VIRTUAL WORLD.THIS PROPOSAL IDENTIFIES SOME OF THE SHORTCOMINGS IN THE SIMNET MODELAND OFFERS POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. A FOUR-PRONGED APPROACH IS OUTLINED: 1) ADD PERSONNEL CONSIDERATIONS TO SIMNET COMBAT MODELS AND LOGISTICS SYSTEMS; 2) INCREASE FIDELITY OF LOGISTICS VEHICLES LEVERAGING ON SIMNET SEMI AUTOMATED FORCES TECHNOLOGY; 3) ENHANCE DIS PROTOCOLS TO ENABLE TOWING AND OTHER NEWTONIAN INTERACTIONS BETWEEN VEHICLES; 4) ENHANCE DIS PROTOCOLS TO ENABLE REPAIR OF COMBAT SYSTEMS, BY DESCRIBING THEM AS COMPLEX COMPOSITE OBJECTS. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS/POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS - THE PROPOSED PROTOCOLS WILL ENABLE TRAINING AND SIMULATION APPLICATION NOT POSSIBLE IN CURRENT DIS SYSTEMS. THESE INCLUDE: CARRIER LANDING, IN-FLIGHT REFUELING, AIR-DROP OF COMBAT VEHICLES, AND TRAINING IN MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF COMPLEX COMBAT SYSTEMS.