The multi-craft problem: a distributed simulation approach using networked floating objects

Abstract

The multi-craft problem is defined as simulating the interactions of multiple objects floating on water. This encompasses the direct interactions between water and the object, and indirect interactions between objects that occur via the water. Existing solutions generally treat the floating objects as simple 3-dimensional volumes with properties, such as weight and buoyancy. For many practical situations, these objects need to be simulated by complex rules. The simulation of ships is a case in point. As realistic water simulation itself is computationally expensive, accommodating the added complexity due to floating objects can be a difficult task. The research presented in this thesis proposes a method for distributed water simulation where the scope of each participating simulation is chosen by the model that governs it. For the multi-craft problem, this means simulating the water in one node and simulating the floating objects in other nodes in a network. Details of two prototypes created as part of this research are presented to show its applicability for solving this problem and how implementation of such a scheme can be achieved. Its effects on modularity, performance, scalability and reliability are also illustrated.