Timing Issues and Experiment Scheduling in Faster-Than-Real-Time Simulation

Abstract

Faster-than-real-time simulation (FRTS) can be used for the performance evaluation of systems behavior in real time, providing significant capabilities for studying systems with a time-varying behavior. FRTS enables model validation through comparing simulation results with the corresponding system observations. However, experimentation proves to be rather demanding because delivering output results and ensuring their reliability must be accomplished within a predetermined time frame. Output analysis of system observations and model results and relevant timing issues are discussed. A method is introduced for determining the “optimal” faster-than-real-time experiment, in terms of the number of replications that may be scheduled for execution and whether a compromise is required between the ability to predict for the long future and the degree of reliability achieved for predictions. Experimental results are presented to validate and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. A case study in which this method is applied is also discussed.