System Simulation Task

A System Simulation Task is an information processing task that requires the reproduction of some system's behavior over time, typically through computational models.

• Context:
  • It can (typically) be supported by a Simulation System (that implements a simulation algorithm).
  • It can range from being a Piece-Simulation to being a Whole-System Simulation.
  • It can range from being a Numerical Simulation to being a Categorical Simulation.
  • It can be a part of a Simulation Project, which encompasses a broader range of simulation activities.
  • It can be a Static (time-independent) System Simulation Task to being a Dynamic (time-dependent) System Simulation Task.
  • It might involve Physical Simulation, where physical objects are used to imitate real systems.
  • It can be an Interactive Simulation, involving human operators interacting with the simulation.
  • It might use Continuous Simulation for systems that change over continuous time.
  • Discrete-event simulation for systems whose states change at discrete points in time.
  • It could be Stochastic Simulation, involving randomness or Deterministic Simulation where outcomes are predetermined.
  • A Hybrid Simulation might integrate continuous and discrete-event simulations.
  • It can be conducted on a single workstation as a stand-alone simulation or across multiple systems in a distributed simulation.
  • It can involve Parallel Simulation to speed up execution.
  • It could be used for training, system analysis, decision support, or research and development.
  • It can be used to create a synthetic environment for human-in-the-loop simulations.
  • It can be used in Failure Analysis to understand and prevent equipment or system failures.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Flight Simulation for pilot training.
  • Epidemic Modeling to study the spread of diseases.
  • Financial Market Simulations for economic forecasting.
  • Traffic Simulations for urban planning.
  • Weather Simulations for meteorological forecasting.
  • Clinical Trial Simulation for clinical trial design.
  • Software-System Simulation for a software system.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • A calculator performing simple arithmetic is not simulating a system.
  • A static database query.
• See: Formal System, Analysis Task, Real-World Task, Scientific Modelling, Computer Experiment, Safety Engineering, Performance Tuning.

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References

2023

• (Wikipedia, 2023) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/simulation Retrieved:2023-6-13.
  • A simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Simulations require the use of models; the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors of the selected system or process, whereas the simulation represents the evolution of the model over time. Often, computers are used to execute the simulation.

    Simulation is used in many contexts, such as simulation of technology for performance tuning or optimizing, safety engineering, testing, training, education, and video games. Simulation is also used with scientific modelling of natural systems or human systems to gain insight into their functioning, as in economics. Simulation can be used to show the eventual real effects of alternative conditions and courses of action. Simulation is also used when the real system cannot be engaged, because it may not be accessible, or it may be dangerous or unacceptable to engage, or it is being designed but not yet built, or it may simply not exist.

    Key issues in modeling and simulation include the acquisition of valid sources of information about the relevant selection of key characteristics and behaviors used to build the model, the use of simplifying approximations and assumptions within the model, and fidelity and validity of the simulation outcomes. Procedures and protocols for model verification and validation are an ongoing field of academic study, refinement, research and development in simulations technology or practice, particularly in the work of computer simulation.

2023

• (Wikipedia, 2023) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/simulation#Classification_and_terminology Retrieved:2023-6-13.
  • Historically, simulations used in different fields developed largely independently, but 20th-century studies of systems theory and cybernetics combined with spreading use of computers across all those fields have led to some unification and a more systematic view of the concept.
  • Physical simulation refers to simulation in which physical objects are substituted for the real thing (some circles use the term for computer simulations modelling selected laws of physics, but this article does not). These physical objects are often chosen because they are smaller or cheaper than the actual object or system.
  • Interactive simulation is a special kind of physical simulation, often referred to as a human-in-the-loop simulation, in which physical simulations include human operators, such as in a flight simulator, sailing simulator, or driving simulator.
  • Continuous simulation is a simulation based on continuous-time rather than discrete-time steps, using numerical integration of differential equations.
  • Discrete-event simulation studies systems whose states change their values only at discrete times. For example, a simulation of an epidemic could change the number of infected people at time instants when susceptible individuals get infected or when infected individuals recover.
  • Stochastic simulation is a simulation where some variable or process is subject to random variations and is projected using Monte Carlo techniques using pseudo-random numbers. Thus replicated runs with the same boundary conditions will each produce different results within a specific confidence band.
  • Deterministic simulation is a simulation which is not stochastic: thus the variables are regulated by deterministic algorithms. So replicated runs from the same boundary conditions always produce identical results.
  • Hybrid simulation (or combined simulation) corresponds to a mix between continuous and discrete event simulation and results in integrating numerically the differential equations between two sequential events to reduce the number of discontinuities.
  • A stand-alone simulation is a simulation running on a single workstation by itself.
  • A distributed simulation is one which uses more than one computer simultaneously, to guarantee access from/to different resources (e.g. multi-users operating different systems, or distributed data sets); a classical example is Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS).
  • Parallel simulation speeds up a simulation's execution by concurrently distributing its workload over multiple processors, as in High-Performance Computing.
  • Interoperable simulation is where multiple models, simulators (often defined as federates) interoperate locally, distributed over a network; a classical example is High-Level Architecture.
  • Modeling and simulation as a service is where simulation is accessed as a service over the web.
  • Modeling, interoperable simulation and serious games is where serious game approaches (e.g. game engines and engagement methods) are integrated with interoperable simulation.
  • Simulation fidelity is used to describe the accuracy of a simulation and how closely it imitates the real-life counterpart. Fidelity is broadly classified as one of three categories: low, medium, and high. Specific descriptions of fidelity levels are subject to interpretation, but the following generalizations can be made:
    • Low – the minimum simulation required for a system to respond to accept inputs and provide outputs
    • Medium – responds automatically to stimuli, with limited accuracy
    • High – nearly indistinguishable or as close as possible to the real system
  • A synthetic environment is a computer simulation that can be included in human-in-the-loop simulations.Template:Refn
  • Simulation in failure analysis refers to simulation in which we create environment/conditions to identify the cause of equipment failure. This can be the best and fastest method to identify the failure cause.

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