Collaborative Simulation Method with Spatiotemporal Synchronization Process Control

When designing a complex mechatronics system, such as high speed trains, it is relatively difficult to effectively simulate the entire system＇s dynamic behaviors because it involves multi-disciplinary subsystems. Currently, a most practical approach for multi-disciplinary simulation is interface based coupling simulation method, but it faces a twofold challenge： spatial and time unsynchronizations among multi-directional coupling simulation of subsystems. A new collaborative simulation method with spatiotemporal synchronization process control is proposed for coupling simulating a given complex mechatronics system across multiple subsystems on different platforms. The method consists of 1） a coupler-based coupling mechanisms to define the interfacing and interaction mechanisms among subsystems, and 2） a simulation process control algorithm to realize the coupling simulation in a spatiotemporal synchronized manner. The test results from a case study show that the proposed method 1） can certainly be used to simulate the sub-systems interactions under different simulation conditions in an engineering system, and 2） effectively supports multi-directional coupling simulation among multi-disciplinary subsystems. This method has been successfully applied in China high speed train design and development processes, demonstrating that it can be applied in a wide range of engineering systems design and simulation with improved efficiency and effectiveness.

A Practical Specialization of MDA/MBSE Approach to Develop AUV Controllers

The model-driven architecture(MDA)/model-based systems engineering(MBSE)approach,in combination with the real-time Unified Modeling Language(UML)/Systems Modeling Language(SysML),unscented Kalman filter(UKF)algorithm,and hybrid automata,are specialized to conveniently analyze,design,and implement controllers of autonomous underwater vehicles(AUVs).The dynamics and control structure of AUVs are adapted and integrated with the specialized features of the MDA/MBSE approach as follows.The computation-independent model is defined by the specification of a use case model together with the UKF algorithm and hybrid automata and is used in intensive requirement analysis.The platform-independent model(PIM)is then built by specializing the real-time UML/SysML’s features,such as the main control capsules and their dynamic evolutions,which reflect the structures and behaviors of controllers.The detailed PIM is subsequently converted into the platform-specific model by using open-source platforms to quickly implement and deploy AUV controllers.The study ends with a trial trip and deployment results for a planar trajectory-tracking controller of a miniature AUV with a torpedo shape.