Extending Training Capability Extending Training Capability Through The Use of Through The Use of

Embedded Domain-Specific Embedded Domain-Specific Languages in Training Languages in Training

DevicesDevices

John AugheyJohn Aughey

Point of this discussionPoint of this discussion

Incorporate a scripting language into Incorporate a scripting language into all softwareall software

Leverage that embedded scripting Leverage that embedded scripting language during developmentlanguage during development

Expose that language to the end userExpose that language to the end user Allow end users to use this language Allow end users to use this language

to extend and enhance usabilityto extend and enhance usability

Typical Flight Training SimulatorTypical Flight Training Simulator

Instructor/Operator Station

Brief/Debrief System

Threat Stations

Crew Station

Tactical Environment

Visual System

Interface

Interface

Interface

Interface

Interface

Interface

Inte

rnal

Inte

rfaces

Real-Time HostReal-Time Host

System of SystemsSystem of Systems

Collaboration of many systems

Examples of embedded domain-Examples of embedded domain-specific languagesspecific languages

3-D Modeling

SpreadsheetsInteractive Content

Internet Browsers

Available Scripting LanguagesAvailable Scripting Languages

Ruby Ruby PerlPerl PythonPython ECMAScriptECMAScript LUALUA

SmalltalkSmalltalk TclTcl ChCh RBScriptRBScript GuileGuile

Don’t reinvent the wheel!

Exposed InterfaceExposed Interface

1.1. aircraft.digital_inputs[FLAPS] = 2;aircraft.digital_inputs[FLAPS] = 2;2.2. threat_environment->addThreat(new threat_environment->addThreat(new

ThreatAircraft(MIG_29, aircraft.altitude, ThreatAircraft(MIG_29, aircraft.altitude, position_offset(aircraft.latitude,aircraft.position_offset(aircraft.latitude,aircraft.longitude,aircraft.bearing,3*MILES_TO_FEET)longitude,aircraft.bearing,3*MILES_TO_FEET)));));

1.1. aircraft.extend_flapsaircraft.extend_flaps2.2. create_threat create_threat “MIG29”“MIG29”, :distance => , :distance => 3.miles3.miles

In contrast to…

Readable, approachable language

How to EmbedHow to Embed

Frame-basedFrame-based Top-of-loopTop-of-loop SCRIPT(begin)SCRIPT(begin) ComputationComputation SCRIPT(end)SCRIPT(end) LoopLoop

Event BasedEvent Based Mouse ClicksMouse Clicks Button PressesButton Presses Weapons LaunchWeapons Launch Entity DamageEntity Damage Entity InteractionEntity Interaction

Application includes “hooks” where the scripting language can control the application.

Life cycle of Embedded DSLLife cycle of Embedded DSL

Improved Requirements DefinitionImproved Requirements Definition

Automated TestingAutomated Testing

Rapid IntegrationRapid Integration

Simplified User InterfacesSimplified User Interfaces

Extendable SoftwareExtendable Software

Requirements DefinitionRequirements Definition The The gear shall not extend abovegear shall not extend above 10,000 10,000

feetfeet

DSL specificationDSL specificationcontext “context “The aircraft above 10,000 feetThe aircraft above 10,000 feet” {” { setup { ………………… }setup { ………………… } specify “specify “should not allow gear to extendshould not allow gear to extend” ” {{ ………………… …………………

}}}}

context context “The aircraft above 10,000 feet"“The aircraft above 10,000 feet" { { setup {setup { initial_conditions :altitude => 10000.feetinitial_conditions :altitude => 10000.feet }} specify specify “should not allow gear to extend"“should not allow gear to extend" { { aircraft.lower_gearaircraft.lower_gear aircraft.gear_should_be “up”aircraft.gear_should_be “up” }} specify specify “should not allow flaps to extend"“should not allow flaps to extend" { { aircraft.extend_flapsaircraft.extend_flaps aircraft.flaps_should_be “retracted”aircraft.flaps_should_be “retracted” }}}}

Conceptual vs Functional Conceptual vs Functional RequirementsRequirements

Functional Requirements have a Functional Requirements have a measurable behaviormeasurable behavior

Conceptual Requirements are Conceptual Requirements are difficult to define concretelydifficult to define concretely• User Interface InteractionUser Interface Interaction• Incomplete Understanding of use caseIncomplete Understanding of use case• Results in over defined or ill-defined Results in over defined or ill-defined

requirementsrequirements

ExampleExample

The operator software must provide The operator software must provide a way to induce the following failure a way to induce the following failure conditions:conditions:• Engine fireEngine fire• Loss of rudder controlLoss of rudder control• COMM failureCOMM failure• HUD failureHUD failure

Defined by curriculumDefined by curriculum

ImplementationImplementation

Provide the operator a menu with a Provide the operator a menu with a list of these failures, and a button to list of these failures, and a button to induce the selected failureinduce the selected failure

Next software updateNext software update

New requirementNew requirement• Define a conditional value into the Define a conditional value into the

failure menu to avoid needing to failure menu to avoid needing to monitor the altitude indicator manually. monitor the altitude indicator manually. Other failures might need different Other failures might need different conditionals for altitude, airspeed, conditionals for altitude, airspeed, orientation, flight time, and so on.orientation, flight time, and so on.

• All of these different possible conditions All of these different possible conditions are added to the requirement in lengthy are added to the requirement in lengthy detail.detail.

Discovered problemDiscovered problem

In practice, however, the operator soon In practice, however, the operator soon discovers the failure event triggers too discovers the failure event triggers too fast, because the instant the altitude fast, because the instant the altitude hits 20,000 feet, the engine fire failure hits 20,000 feet, the engine fire failure triggers. The training need is really triggers. The training need is really engine failure at level flight, so the engine failure at level flight, so the failure really needs to happen as a failure really needs to happen as a result of two conditions being met, a result of two conditions being met, a given altitude and a given rate of climb.given altitude and a given rate of climb.

Next software updateNext software update

New RequirementNew Requirement• All failure conditions must have an operator All failure conditions must have an operator

defined conditional statement. Once the entire defined conditional statement. Once the entire conditional statement is satisfied, the failure conditional statement is satisfied, the failure will occur. At least 10 different conditional will occur. At least 10 different conditional statements must be definable by the operator statements must be definable by the operator for each failure condition with the option to for each failure condition with the option to chain the statements together with AND or OR chain the statements together with AND or OR logic operators. At least 16 failure conditions logic operators. At least 16 failure conditions can be ready to be triggered at any point in the can be ready to be triggered at any point in the training scenario.training scenario.

DSL SolutionDSL Solution

Expose the following failure triggers Expose the following failure triggers to the scripting languageto the scripting language• Engine fireEngine fire• Loss of rudder controlLoss of rudder control• COMM failureCOMM failure• HUD failureHUD failure

Operator ProgramOperator Program

description “Fail the rudder 10 seconds description “Fail the rudder 10 seconds after wheels-up”after wheels-up”

trigger :action => trigger :action => { Failures.trigger :rudder },{ Failures.trigger :rudder },

:when => { wheels_up_time > 10 }:when => { wheels_up_time > 10 }

Engine Fire ProgramEngine Fire Program

description “Trigger an engine fire once the description “Trigger an engine fire once the aircraft reaches 20000 feet”aircraft reaches 20000 feet”

trigger :action => { Failures.trigger trigger :action => { Failures.trigger :engine_fire_left }, :engine_fire_left },

:when => { altitude > 20000.feet :when => { altitude > 20000.feet and rate_of_climb < 10.feet.per.second and rate_of_climb < 10.feet.per.second }}

Simplified/Extendable User Simplified/Extendable User InterfacesInterfaces

Push “decision making” out to the Push “decision making” out to the scripting languagescripting language• Native codeNative code

Processor intensive computationProcessor intensive computation Graphics/RenderingGraphics/Rendering Device interactionDevice interaction

• Scripting codeScripting code What, where, when, whyWhat, where, when, why

Spot Meter Lab SoftwareSpot Meter Lab Software

when_created dowhen_created doopen_log_fileopen_log_file "gammameasurements" "gammameasurements"

set_intensityset_intensity 0 0 set_time_of_dayset_time_of_day “ “midnightmidnight””set_test_patternset_test_pattern " "rectanglerectangle""set_testpattern_sizeset_testpattern_size 4.0 4.0drop_readingsdrop_readings 20 20

endendfor_each_reading dofor_each_reading do

write_logwrite_log intensity,measured_intensity intensity,measured_intensityincrement_intensity_byincrement_intensity_by 4 4drop_readingsdrop_readings 4 4

endend

Customer Extendable SoftwareCustomer Extendable Software