Modern systems, from automobiles, consumer electronics, to network-centric defense systems are becoming more complex and increasingly contain larger proportions of software. Projects are turning to systems modeling based UML2 and SysML for assistance in managing the complexity of the systems.

While static models have proven themselves useful for managing complexity and improving stakeholder communication, the ability to dynamically simulate and execute those models provides another level of value and understanding of the system under construction. This in turn, decreases risk earlier in the program and ultimately saves time and money. In the same way that iterative and agile development with always executable applications helps software programmers, a similar approach with demonstrable dynamic models assists teams constructing large-scale systems.

What is the EmbeddedPlus Simulation Toolkit for the IBM Rational Software Development Platform (RSDP)?

EmbeddedPlus’ Simulation Toolkit is an add-in product to the IBM RSDP. It provides the ability to simulate and execute UML2 and SysML models created using Rational Software Modeler/Architect, Rational Systems Developer (RSD) and the EmbeddedPlus SysML Toolkit.

What are the benefits of simulating and executing models?

• Simulating and executing models increases a teams understanding of the system being constructed and the interaction of the components, which decreases risk.
• Executable models by their very nature ensure early interface definition helping projects to stabilize more quickly which allows for partitioning of work and parallel development earlier in the project.
• Provides ability to experiment with alternative designs, analyze performance and perform trade-off analysis.
• Validate requirements specifications by comparing run-time results with original specifications.
• Integration of graphical user interfaces with dynamic models provides valuable tools for demonstrating to customers and other stakeholders.

What are the benefits of using the EmbeddedPlus Simulation Toolkit?

• The Simulation Toolkit plugs directly into IBM Rational’s Eclipse-based modeling and development environment, providing the unique ability to model, simulate, and debug from within one tool environment.
• The simulation capability allows the dynamic behavior of the system to be modeled and observed during execution, including the automatic generation of sequence diagrams capturing the interactions between system entities.
• The simulation framework’s timing service allows for large scale simulations to be run irrespective of actual time, allowing for analysis of large scale systems in acceptable periods of time.
• The Simulation Toolkit and IBM Rational’s supporting modeling platform are based on open standards including the open-source Eclipse plug-in architecture, Eclipse’s UML2 reference implementation, and supporting XMI model storage format. Being based on Eclipse, you can easily extend the tooling by creating custom plug-ins or by purchasing commercial plug-ins to supplement your tooling environment. Simulation toolkit can be extended and customized to control the types of simulations performed.
• Leverage your investments in Rational Rose with no-cost trade up to Rational’s Modeling platform. Rose models are easily imported and can be upgraded to support simulation with a single click.