Modeling and Simulation Techniques for Large-Scale Communications Modeling

Modeling and simulation (M&S) provides the potential of serving as a cost-effective expedient for developing, acquiring, testing, and fielding new technologies for the future battlefield-provided the limitations of existing tools and techniques can be overcome. As the Army focal point for communications M&S, the U.S. Army Communications-Electronic Command (CECOM) has the lead for performing M&S to support systems engineering and analysis needed to evolve Army legacy systems and to introduce evolving communications systems technology needed to meet Warfighter requirements for seamless and integrated multimedia services. To date, CECOM efforts have focused on the Tactical Internet and echelons brigade and below in preparation for the Task Force XXI Advanced warfighting Experiment (AWE), planned for early 1997. As the Army moves forward, however, the requirement exists for simulations of echelons Corps and Division-which will include interfaces to joint and coalition forces. This will greatly increase the scope and complexity of the simulations. Such large-scale simulations, utilizing today's technology and methods, are computer resource and time intensive, in some cases requiring several days of computer run time. Objectives of the Phase I Small Business Innovation Research effort are to provide a model improvement plan that will provide recommendations for reducing simulation setup and run times, increase confidence in results and decrease life-cycle costs. This will be accomplished by presenting a number of prioritized enhancements and modifications to existing models. The follow-on Phase II effort will result in a demonstrable prototype of those enhancements and/or modifications deemed to provide the greatest benefit/cost ratio. Supports ongoing Army initiatives in support of Force XXI.