Section: New Results

Multi-modeling and co-simulation tools for the evaluation and development of Smart* and other Pervasive Computing systems

Participants : Laurent Ciarletta [contact] , Olivier Festor, Ye-Qiong Song, Yannick Presse, Emmanuel Nataf, Benjamin Segault.

Vincent Chevrier (Maia team, LORIA) is a collaborator and the correspondant for the MS4SG project, Benjamin Camus, Victorien Elvinger and Christine Bourjot (Maia team, LORIA) are collaborators for the AA4MM. Julien Vaubourg's PhD is under the co-direction of V. Chevrier and L. Ciarletta.

In Pervasive or Ubiquitous Computing, a growing number of communicating/computing devices are collaborating to provide users with enhanced and ubiquitous services in a seamless way.

These systems, embedded in the fabric of our daily lives, are complex: numerous interconnected and heterogeneous entities are exhibiting a global behavior impossible to forecast by merely observing individual properties. Firstly, users physical interactions and behaviors have to be considered. They are influenced and influence the environment. Secondly, the potential multiplicity and heterogeneity of devices, services, communication protocols, and the constant mobility and reorganization also need to be addressed. Our research on this field is going towards both closing the loop between humans and systems, physical and computing systems, and taming the complexity, using multi-modeling (to combine the best of each domain specific model) and co-simulation (to design, develop and evaluate) as part of a global conceptual and practical toolbox.

We proposed the AA4MM meta-model [51] that solves the core challenges of multimodeling and simulation coupling in an homogeneous perspective. In AA4MM, we chose a multi-agent point of view: a multi-model is a society of models; each model corresponds to an agent and coupling relationships correspond to interaction between agents. In the MS4SG projet which involves MAIA, Madynes and EDF R&D on smart-grid simulation, we developed a proof of concepts for a smart-appartment case[12] .

In 2014 we worked on the following research topics:

• Assessment and evaluation of complex systems.

  This work, centered on the problem of controlling complex systems proposed a control architecture within Tomas Navarrete's work [22] , [23] . This “equation-free” approach uses a multi-agent model to evaluate the global impact of local control actions before applying the most pertinent set of actions. Based on a partial perception of the system state, we determine which actions to execute in order to avoid or favor certain global states of the system.

  Associated to our architecture, an experimental platform has been developed to confront the basic ideas or the architecture within the context of simulated “free-riding” phenomenon in peer to peer file exchange networks. We have demonstrated that our approach allows us to drive the system to a state where most peers share files, despite given initial conditions that are supposed to drive the system to a state where no peer shares.

• Cyber Physical Systems [13]

  We have led the design and implementation of the Aetournos platform at Loria. The collective movements of a flock of flying communicating robots / UAVs, evolving in potentially perturbed environment constitute a good example of a Cyber Physical System. Applying co-simulation technique we plan to develop a hybrid "network-aware flocking behavior" / "behavior aware routing protocol".

  We have provided a working set of tools: multi-simulation behavior / network / physics and generic software development using ROS (Robot Operating System). The UAVs carry a set of sensor for location awareness, their own computing capabilities and several wireless networks.

  The effort put in the UAVs gathers academic and research ressources from the Aetournos platform, the R2D2 ADT and the 6PO project, while applied, industrial and more R&D projects have been pursued this year (Outback Joe Search and Rescue Challenge, Alerion, Hydradrone) .

• MS4SG has given us the opportunity to link multi-simulations tools such as HLA (High Level Architecture) and FMI (Functional Mockup Interface) thanks to our AA4MM framework. We have so far successfully applied our solution to the simulation of smart apartment complex and to combine the electrical and networking part of a Smart Grid[12] .

In 2015, we will continue working on the hybrid protocols and on the UAV platform, and apply our co-simulation work to Smart Grids and other Smart*.