Simulations technologies in the mission operational environment

This paper proposes a methodology for applying simulation technology to the monitoring and control of operations, focusing on the use of intelligent agents. These agents monitor the course of the real operation and compare if with the near-real-time simulation of that operation. When these agents detect significant differences between the planned operation and the real operation, they explore the discrepancies to determine the impact on the desired outcome of the operation. These agents can launch additional simulations or other fools to make this determination. In eases in which the success of the plan is threatened, the agents advise the decision maker. The contributions of this research are (I) to help identify the requirements for a simulation designed for Else during operations and (2) the development of a methodology for using simulation, along with rational agents, to compare the real, ongoing operation with the planned operation and make recommendations when appropriate. While several training simulations have been developed, there are currently no tools that provide this simulation-based, agent-assisted operation monitoring analysis capability to decision makers.