| dc.description.abstract | Computer simulations are the last resort for many complex problems such as swarm
applications. However, to the best of the author's knowledge, there is no convincing work
in proving ''What You Simulate ls What You See'' (WYSIWYS). Many models are built
on long, subjective code that is prone to abnormalities, which are about corrupted virtual
scientific laws rather than software bugs. Thus, the task of validating scientific simulations
is very difficult, if not impossible. This dissertation provides a new process methodology
for solving the problems above: Virtual-Experiment-Driven Process Model (VEDPM).
VEDPM employs simple yet sound virtual experiments for verifying simple, short virtual
laws. The proven laws, in turn, are utilized for developing valid models that can achieve
real goals. The resulted simulations (or data) from proven models arc WYS1WYS. Two
complex swarm applications have been developed rigorously and successfully via
VEDPM--proving that VEDPM is workable. In addition, the author also provides
innovative constructs for developing autonomous unmanned vehicles--swarm software
architecture and a modified subsumption control scheme, and their design philosophies.
The constructs are used repeatedly to enable unmanned vehicles to switch behaviors
autonomously via a simple control signal. | en_US |
