G-8 Simulations

Definitions:

Model: A model consists of a set of equations, which describe the behaviour of a process or object.

Expert System: A program that behaves in the same way as a human expert in a specialist field.

Simulation: The imitation with a computer program of some system (e.g. aircraft flight)

Examples of simulations

• experiments in chemistry
• nuclear physics in experiments
• airlines ticketing
• queues at petrol pump filling stations
• traffic light systems
• queues at supermarket checkouts

Expert systems:
Expert systems are computer-based systems that make use of a wide range of human knowledge on specific topic to solve
various problems

Components of an expert system

1. Knowledge base: It contains facts and judgmental knowledge, which gives it the ability to make a good guess, like a
human expert.
2. a rule base that stores rules for decision-making, usually in the form of if … then … statement;

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 3. an inference engine that processes the user’s problem using the contents of knowledge and rule bases;
4. a user interface that enables the user to communicate with the inference engine;
5. explanation system that providing a trace of the reasoning that produced a decision

Advantages:

• More expertise than a single expert

• Always asks a question that a human expert may forget to ask.
• Fewer mistakes
• Less time to train
• Cheaper than a human expert.

Disadvantages:

• They lack common sense – the human has common sense so they are able to decide whether as answer is sensible
or ridiculous
• The expert system can only react to answers entered by the user where as human has multiple senses.
• Expert system relies on rules

Application areas of expert systems

• Mineral Prospecting

• Investment Analysis

• Financial Planning

• Insurance Planning

• Car Engine Fault Diagnosis

• Medical Diagnosis

• Plant and Animal Identification

• Strategy games such as chess

Flight simulators

• Flight simulators have been produced that are programmed

to react as an actual aircraft would.

• The system consists of

– a number of screens that show high-quality

animated scenes

– speakers that generate the typical sounds of take-

off and engine bursts

• The cockpit that the pilots sit in is an exact replica of an

actual plane cockpit that includes

– Sensors to detect e.g. movements

– large/high resolution monitors...to display video/images of simulations

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 – Joystick/yoke to move items/change direction

– Headphones/set to output audio/hear instructions or warnings

– Loudspeakers to produce ambient sounds eg: engine sounds

– Microphone/headset microphone to input sound/voice

– Hydraulic rams are used to cause movement of the plane

– LEDs for information on buttons/switches to show

status/warnings

– TFT displays for aircraft status readout/in instrument panels

– Alarm buzzers when state is dangerous

• An operator controls the whole process and is able to change the computer program in order to create an incident

• It is possible to create several different types of dangerous incidents without causing loss of life or damage

• The pilot can be automatically assessed by the system.

Advantages:

• Safer method of learning to fly

• Cheaper than using real aircraft/flights

• Extremely unusual events can be programmed into the simulator

• Events can be repeated as often as required

• Dangerous scenarios can be simulated with no risk to the pilot

• Weather conditions can be created at will

• The operator can adapt the program to suit trainee’s performance

• Training can be recorded for future use/automatic assessment

• Airline can get printouts of pilot performance

• May be a requirement of Aviation Authority

• Can be scheduled more flexibly than aircraft

Disadvantages:

• Pilots may not consider the simulator as real

• Simulators are very expensive to buy and run

• Not all events/parameters/conditions can be simulated

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Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is where computers are used to create an artificial environment that users can interact with as if it were real.
It uses technology like headsets, sensor suits, data gloves or helmets to simulate situations or environments.

VR systems can be classified into 3 major categories based These are:

▪ Non-immersive
▪ Immersive
▪ Semi-immersive

Non-immersive

➢ Also called Desktop VR system, Fish tank or Window on World system

➢ Least immersive and least expensive of the VR systems, as it requires
the least sophisticated components.
➢ It allows users to interact with a 3D environment through a stereo
display monitor and glasses

Immersive

➢ Most expensive and gives the highest level of immersion

➢ Its components include HMD, tracking devices, data gloves and
others, which encompass the user with computer generated
3D animation that give the user the feeling of being part of the virtual
environment

Semi-immersive

➢ Provides high level of immersion, while keeping the simplicity of the desktop VR or utilizing some physical model.
➢ Example of such system includes the CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) and an application is the driving
simulator

Head Mount Display (HMD):

✓ It is a display device, worn on the head or as part of a helmet, that

has a small display optic in front of each eye

✓ A HMD has many uses, including in gaming, aviation, engineering,

and medicine lift.

✓ A typical HMD has one or two small displays, with lenses and semi-
transparent mirrors embedded in eyeglasses

✓ Have their own screen

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VR is currently being used for many different things, such as:

• Military training (removes the risk that may occur if the situation was real)

• Education (provides a more interactive and engaging form of education, like being able to see into ancient buildings
for history for example)

• Health care (aids in diagnostics)

• Entertainment (mostly gaming, creates a more immersive gaming experience)

• Fashion (preparation for fashion shows)

• Real estate (allows people to look around properties without actually having to visit them)

• Engineering (allows engineers to see how their design will look)

• Sport (helps with improving techniques like golf swings for example)

• Media (special effects)

• Science (allows scientists to visualize things like molecular structures)

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