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Enhancement of Ballistic Missile Defense System Level Simulation Operations Through Multi-core Processing

Description:

OBJECTIVE: Develop technology to enhance the Missile Defense Agency"s (MDA) Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) simulation operations through the employment of multi-core processing environments. DESCRIPTION: With the introduction of the Objective Simulation Framework (OSF), the BMDS enterprise-level simulation has the potential to present a more realistic and complex missile defense scenario. However, it is often cost prohibitive to re-code the required models and simulations to take advantage of the available multi-core environments. To fully realize this improved capability, innovative approaches and alternative technologies need to be examined that can enable the legacy model capabilities to efficiently execute on multi-core environments and dramatically improve the processing and presentation of the high fidelity data. The desired technology to be explored would facilitate the optimization of legacy models and simulations so that they can efficiently execute on multi-core hardware platforms. This topic focuses on the investigation, development and enhancement of new, innovative technologies that can be used to advance the MDA"s BMDS enterprise-level simulation execution capabilities. The desired technology should allow for model developers to focus on the behaviors and characteristics of the model representation vs. the computer science and the complexities required to develop highly efficient parallel software that executes in a multi-core processing environment. In addition, a key tenant will be to improve the integrity of the BMDS M & S operating as an integrated SoS. Technologies exist today that can optimize data organization, memory and concurrency for multi-core environments. However, these technologies do not allow for hardware and software independence which is required by the BMDS element models since they were constructed on, and are executing on, varying hardware platforms and have different software lineages. Also, the desired technology should be capable of being applied to the various BMDS enterprise-level simulation intended uses of the BMDS Performance Assessment, Testing, Conceptual Analysis, Exercise and Training applications. Ultimately this technology will assist MDA"s M & S team in cost effectively meeting the demanding goals and requirements that have been laid out by the Warfighter and Congress. PHASE I: Phase I of this effort would be to investigate innovative alternative technology enhancements or development areas that could improve processing and presentation of high fidelity data for BMDS enterprise-level M & S. The identified alternative technology product would be designed to facilitate the optimization of legacy M & S that would execute on multi-core hardware platforms. Phase I products would include technology design, requirements, and architecture artifacts that would feed the Phase II and Phase III development plans. PHASE II: Phase II of this effort would be to implement the Phase I technology design, process and tool into a prototype and demonstrate the capability against at least one legacy BMDS model which will then be run in a multi-core processing environment. Based on stakeholder feedback, improve and refine design, architecture, and capabilities for legacy code optimization. PHASE III: Phase III will consist of maturing the prototype tool and processes into an operational tool that can be applied to multiple legacy BMDS models and simulations in order for them to maximize multi-core processing environments for use in BMDS enterprise-level M & S. Collaborate with Stakeholders, OSF Developers, and Legacy code SMEs to improve technology and expand capability that may also be applied to other DOD multi-core processing environments. This phase would also include user training and applicable documentation. DUAL USE/COMMERCIALIZATION POTENTIAL: The contractor will pursue commercialization opportunities for multi-core processing environments that could be applied in a diverse set of processing environments with a wide range of legacy code optimization.
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