Optimizing Distributed Air Traffic Control Simulator Implementation

1. Implementation of Distributed Air Traffic Control Simulator Ranko Radovanović, Miloš Cvetanović, Zaharije Radivojević School of Electrical Engineering, Belgrade University 13th Workshop “Software Engineering Education and Reverse Engineering” Bansko, Bulgaria 26-31 August 2013

2. Agenda • Simulation related courses • Bachelor thesis • Structure of traffic control simulator • Implementation details • Conclusions 13th Workshop SEE and RE

3. Motivation • Defining set of bachelor thesis based on simulator design • Courses related to simulator design are in 6th semester (of 8 semesters) • Computer Architecture and Organization 2 • Concurrent and Distributed Programming • Modifying requirements for particular student based on the developed core • Balancing with different techniques necessary for the project 13th Workshop SEE and RE

4. Computer Architecture and Organization 2 • Type: Mandatory course (now elective) • Starts: 6 semester • Prerequisites: Basics of Computer Engineering, Computer Architecture, Computer Architecture and Organization 1 • Class hours: 2+2+1 • Format: • Midterm 20 • Laboratory 20 • Project 40 • Final 20 • CE ~100 students 13th Workshop SEE and RE

5. Concurrent and Distributed Programming • Type: Mandatory course • Starts: 6 semester • Prerequisites : Operating Systems, Object Oriented Programming • Class hours: 2+2+1 • Format: • Midterm 40 • Laboratory 20 or • Project 20 (Distributed Processing, single student) • Final 40 • CE ~110 students 13th Workshop SEE and RE

6. Existing simulators limitations • Single or limited number of sectors • Static roll handling (computer IP addresses must be known in advance) • No interactions (standalone) • No pilot application • Platform dependence 13th Workshop SEE and RE

7. Simulator requirements • Modularity • Multiple implementations • Creating scenarios (exercises) • Controllability (Start/pause/stop option) • Platform independence • Realistic • Unlimited number of sectors • Using standard hardware • Scalability 13th Workshop SEE and RE

8. Control system 13th Workshop SEE and RE

9. Outline of the simulator architecture 13th Workshop SEE and RE

10. Automatic coordination • Communication between two control applications by using central serer • Using European stand OLDI type of messages • Centralized application where server sends coordinates messages to clients 13th Workshop SEE and RE

11. Automatic coordination – request sending 13th Workshop SEE and RE

12. Automatic coordination – request sending 13th Workshop SEE and RE

13. Automatic coordination-request receiving 13th Workshop SEE and RE

14. Pilot application • Controls airplanes using standard models (changeable) • Planes are in separate threads (changeable) • Communication with central server 13th Workshop SEE and RE

15. Pilot application 13th Workshop SEE and RE

16. Scalability • Simulator was tested using optimal number of sectors (4 sectors – 8 clients) • Number of airplanes was 16 to 64 in sectors • Processor utilization (5 до 10%), • Memory utilization (~ 4MB) • Network utilization (0.1 mbps). 13th Workshop SEE and RE

17. Conclusion • Core classes for support in simulator design • Support for laboratory exercises • Modular and extendable structure • Interdisciplinarity 13th Workshop SEE and RE

18. Thank you! Radivojevic Zaharije