Distributed simulation is the execution of a scenario by simulations running on multiple host computers. Each simulation is usually responsible for simulating the behavior of one or more players (“entities”) in the scenario. The simulations exchange entity state and entity interaction data using a computer network and an agreed-upon communications protocol.

FLAMES^® supports distributed simulation by providing built-in, customizable support for the High Level Architecture (HLA), described below, and the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) standards. Because each standard is supported independently, FLAMES can participate in a DIS and an HLA exercise simultaneously. FLAMES also has other capabilities that support interactive and analytical simulation.

FLAMES HLA Option

The High Level Architecture (HLA) was developed under the leadership of the United States Department of Defense to support interoperability between different simulations. HLA supports interoperability by specifying a set of standards that govern the exchange of information between simulations as they execute their respective scenarios. Multiple simulations executing concurrently and exchanging data in accordance with HLA standards are referred to as an HLA federation.

The FLAMES HLA option allows FLAMES-based simulations to communicate with other simulations in an HLA federation according to HLA standards. Various windows in FORGE allow the specification of HLA exercise parameters and the supplemental, HLA-related attribute data required for each player in the scenario. With HLA enabled, FLAMES will automatically communicate with other properly configured simulations during scenario execution.

Simulations in an HLA federation communicate with each other using middleware referred to as a Runtime Infrastructure (RTI). RTI software is not included with FLAMES; it is available from a number of sources and must be obtained separately. FLAMES has been tested successfully with the RTIs available from MAK Technologies® (HLA 1.3) and Pitch Technologies (pRTI 1.3). FLAMES can participate in HLA federations using HLA IEEE 1516 and HLA Evolved using readily available adapters.

In HLA, information is exchanged among simulations within a federation using instances of the object and interaction classes defined in a Federation Object Model (FOM). FLAMES is completely independent of any particular FOM. All FOM-specific processing occurs in special software objects that are developed separately and plugged into FLAMES. This allows FLAMES-based applications to be modified easily to support any FOM.

The HLA Option is bundled with several HLA software objects that provide support for a subset of the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) Real-time Platform Reference (RPR) FOM. As a result, FLAMES can participate in many HLA federations that use the RPR FOM right off the shelf without any software development.

The HLA option includes the source code to all of the bundled HLA software objects and everything you need to add support for additional FOMs.

Licensing

Trial versions of the FLAMES Engine and most of the FLAMES Options, including the HLA Option, are included with the FLAMES Developer. These trial versions are fully functional, but they have limited capacity, and may be used only for development and evaluation purposes. To unlock the full capacity, you must purchase an unrestricted license.