Simulation for research and development activities
Introduction
Simulation emerges as significant in designing and evaluating the effectiveness of products in the workplace. Simulation has different meanings depending on the context of its definition and for the computer scientists; it refers to the act of imitating some real thing leading to the act of transition (Tahar & Adham, 2010). The imitation always occurs in the quest of achieving a mission that relates to the already existing thing. There is always a need for a constructive experience related to the process it would like to perform bringing the need for appropriate simulator. Additionally, the use of a simulator helps in cutting down on the cost of owning the real object for the required process. In identifying the appropriate simulator, there is need for consideration of fidelity and validity that would apply to the simulator. The fidelity and validity of the simulator normally depends on the effectiveness witnessed after using a specific simulator. Fidelity and validity will depend on the performance of the simulator in a given context. The determination of fidelity and validity normally occurs after measuring the performance especially in the midst of complex situations. The resulting effects will allow for the determination of whether the simulator would waste them or will be of profitable effect to them (Duffy, 2011, p 312). The resulting effects of measuring fidelity and validity are significant for the better design of future simulators.
In this article, there is discussion of Motorcycle manufacturer and University research department, could apply simulation in designing and manufacturing sports motorbikes and investigating human behavior in emergency evacuation events respectively. Their problem areas are regarding the physical comfort of the motorbikes and ensuring a positive cost effective transfer of evacuation respectively. During the simulation process, there is a need to maximize on the data that the subject simulator would generate. This can only happen after choosing appropriate simulator that does not leave out information about the real thing, that is, it should have higher levels of fidelity and validity. The simulator should have a direct resemblance to the existing thing in order to achieve expected results. For instance, the motorcycle manufacturer needs a simulator that would help in achieving a physical comfort of motorbikes. The manufacturer will need the help of a motorcycle simulator since this will provide information about the physical comfort of motorbikes but in a virtual environment (Fishe et al, 2010, p 44). The motorcycle simulator will provide information about the condition useful in achieving a comfort for the targeted cyclers.
In the second instance, there is need for the university research department to put up investigation about the emergency events. Simulation is crucial in this area, especially the use of evacuation simulation (Tahar & Adham, 2010, p 132). This simulator helps in replicating the emergency events with subsequent tracking on the evacuation areas that could associate to the buildings. The evacuation simulation majorly works under the basis of lifelike experience involving crowd dynamics (Wei et al, 2010, p 389). After identifying the simulator type, there is need for conversancy to the limitations likely to occur during the use of the simulators. The use of the simulators brings the need to study the appropriateness and the disadvantages of the respective simulator in order to identify the suitable one.
Motorcycle manufacturer
What type of simulator will be used?
The main problem is design and manufacture sports motorbikes. In the course of designing the motorbikes, there is subsequent need to establish a physical comfort for their motorbikes. Use of motorcycle simulator helps in replicating information about the physical comfort. The physical comfort ensures that the user of the cyclers always have a variety of options to choose from whenever they are using the device. This includes the user easily accessing the gear shifter thereby making it easy to use the motor cycle (Klingsch, 2010, 597). The motorcycle simulator will present a chance for the company to replicate the features of a real motorcycle. Through the simulator, the users would be able to feel the same (physical comfort) just like they would have felt while using the real thing. The simulator replicates all the scenario and events that relate to the issue of motorcycle comfort thereby allowing the cyclers to have the required experience (Pelechano, 2008, p 90). The figure below shows a motorcycle simulator:
Retrieve from: http://www.ssdcl.com.sg/simulator-honda_motorcycle.asp
Why is this simulator appropriate?
The automatic simulator is suitable for achieving comfort in the motorcycle manufacture since the former always relates to offering a constructive experience for cyclers, on the ways they can achieve comfort in the motorcycle. It categorizes the exercise to the novice cyclers and the mature cyclers since it gives building information for the less experience while leaving the more complicated for the experienced cyclers. This ensures that the comfort is in favor of all the cyclers targeted by the company. The automatic simulator allows the novice cyclers to have the chance of commencing their career through the application of the best practices (Duffy, 2011, p 312). On the side of the mature cyclers, the automatic simulator offers them the opportunity to determine any form of mistake in their practice thereby enabling them to determine the better steps for counteracting the poor practices. This will always ensure that all the drives, mature and novice, both experience comfort when the simulator offsets using their motor cycle since every suspicion of mistakes. The automatic simulator also suits the needs of most organizations since it provides the chance for the targeted companies to teach their staff on the best cycling skills that would increase yield while cutting down on the production (maintenance) cost (Fishe et al, 2010, p 44). The imparted skills will also ensure that the cyclers are conscious of their actions thereby promoting the comfort of using the motorcycles.
What will be measured and how?
The measured variable related to the Motorcycle Manufacturer is the system performance. The result will help in determining whether the form of simulation used will appropriate for the intended application. The measured variable also helps in the evaluation of the intended evaluation in use. The measurement of the system performance can occur through measuring the utilization of resources when there is use of simulation. Appropriate simulation will ensure that the organization uses less resource in the maintenance and the subsequent production process; while, yielding more benefit from the operation. This is always the aim of every organization hence lack of simulation type to meet this will show that it is not suitable for the organization (Pelechano, 2008, p 88). There is need to consider the risk factor that associates with the automatic simulator. This would help the organization in determining whether the simulator would suit the general needs of the motorcycle users. Further, there will be involvement in measuring the sickness that may relate to the used simulator. Administration of the simulator sickness questionnaire to students would be significant in order to get their feedbacks about the simulation. The risk factors associated with the motorcycle simulator normally concentrate on the sensory systems such as the visual system and the vestibular system. Measuring the risk factor will help the organization to prepare adequately for the determined factor.
How did you maximize the quality of any data generated by the simulator?
In the first step, there was determination of whether the use of a certain simulator is valid in the given case. Maximizing the quality of data provided by the simulator also involved ensuring that the simulation type chosen suits the needs of the organizations. This implies that the effects on the simulator are to have a direct effect on everyone affiliated to the use of simulation. There was need to ensure that the simulator would meet the needs of the organization and its members. This arises because the use of simulators is always a step for ensuring the success of every organization; consequently, this applies the same because the organizations are in the mission of perfecting their operations. The affiliated members form a crucial role in determining the quality of data presented by the simulator. The simulator must have a positive effect on the members since the latter forms the main part of the organizations.
What level of fidelity of simulator would be appropriate?
In using the motorcycle simulator, the organization should be conscious of the level of fidelity appropriate for the simulator. The level of fidelity represents the way in which the simulator represents the existing thing. Appropriate level of fidelity is crucial since it makes the organization determine whether the simulation appeals to all the human senses. Achieving physical comfort in the motorcycle usually associates with too many requirements, which the organization would have to achieve from the simulator. In this case, the use of the high fidelity simulator will be crucial to ensure the appropriateness of the simulation. This is suitable because it presents the cyclers with a larger field of view and a cycler seat that replicates real physical comfort for the motorcycles (Tahar & Adham, 2010, p 132). The high fidelity automobiles simulator is appropriate because it acts as a technique for reproducing physical feedback. Unlike the low-level motorcycle simulator, that does not provide the cyclers with the physical interface such as the gear shifter. The high fidelity level provides everything the users will need for their comforts. Even though it may seem expensive as compared to the low-level fidelity, the high-level fidelity will give much physical feedback relating to the organization’s intentions.
How should this simulator be employed?
The simulator works through providing the relevant information about achieving comfort in the motor. There is need for the motorcycle simulator to reproduce information about the real comfort for the motorbikes. The simulator resembles the external factors that the motorcycle will need to rely on enabling the cyclers to have a feeling of sitting in a motorcycle with physical comfort. It will be critical to use the simulator in reproducing information about the external factors that will enable the cyclers to achieve comfort while in their motorcycles.
University research department
What type of simulator will be used?
The problem accruing is to investigate human behavior in emergency evacuation events and the evacuation times they may find associated with the existing structures in the university. It is no doubt that simulation is significant for these areas especially the application of Simulation Evacuation and Emergency Preparedness (Duffy, 2011, p 67). The simulator will help in providing information valuable for evacuation during the emergency events or any life-threatening emergencies (Vincenzi, 2009). The study of human behavior will enable individuals to know of the possible emergency events that may accrue thereby establishing proper methods of reacting against it (the event). The study will help to fight against the effects of the emergency events that always cause a failure of an institution, if there is no determination of the its components. Consequently, the simulation will allow the research institution to prepare efficiently for any upcoming emergency events. The simulation will make its subject to reduce the cost of maintaining the emergency events because of having information about the events. The simulator often constitutes some beneficial aspects that are not present in the true environment. The following image shows the evacuation simulation for an underground station which would help in the event of fire break outs.
Retrieve from: http://fseg.gre.ac.uk/fire/course1.html
Why is this simulator appropriate?
The simulation evacuation is appropriate for the investigation on human behavior in emergency events because it allows the research institution to track the activities of members within any environment and the various times for evacuation related to the existing structures. This is appropriate for the research institution since the students form the crucial part of the system hence their action would affect the operation of the institution. Through the simulation, the developers would be able to acquire useful knowledge about the emergency events, which in turn, will help the members of the institution to make right choices in the event of emergency events. The simulation allows for proper management, in regard with information about the emergency events. The simulation evacuation also helps the research institution to provide the necessary knowledge to the members on how to respond to the expected changes. This allows the subject members to practice the acquired knowledge in ensuring a safety environment. Consequently, the subject organization will have the opportunity of responding efficiently to any emergencies without any wastage of time. In the event of any emergency, the simulation evacuation will help in managing the risk without affecting the benefit of students from the research institution. The simulation allow for the correction of ensuing errors in operation thereby preparing a subject individual for the real-life emergencies (Miller & Kasparian, 2006, p 290).
What will be measured and how?
Measuring performance will involve accessing the effectiveness of control systems when the simulation type is in use. A suitable simulation should ensure that the applied modification does not interfere with the operation of the control system unless the modification will result in increasing its profits (Tahar & Adham, 2010 p 131). The involved organization can also consider measuring the requirements of the staff in relation to the application of the intended simulation. The simulation should always be in line with the requirement of the involved members in order to ensure that the evacuation does not paralyze the operation of the staff (Miller & Kasparian, 2006, p 290). There will also be analysis of performance of simulation through observing the behavior of the members towards the simulator.
How did you maximize the quality of any data generated by the simulator?
In maximizing the quality of my data, there is need for understanding of the components of the simulator in order for it to have a direct impact on the users. There should be adequate knowledge about the significance of the simulator and the way it affects interests of the users. Besides the impact, there is need to consider the time it takes the simulator to materialize into becoming usable by the company. The quality of data depends on the time taken for the data to materialize. Further, there is need for the organization to cut down on the system cycle time for the simulator in order to gain favor by the organization since they always value time.
What level of fidelity of simulator would be appropriate?
Since the simulator only concentrates on evacuation of the members affiliated to the simulation, it would rather involve the low-level fidelity of the simulation. Determining the level of fidelity required for the simulation will involve accessing the desire result from the simulation. This will ensure that the there is proper utilization of the simulators. The emergency event simulation only involves reproducing information regarding the behavior of students in research institution with subsequent evacuation to allow students to adapt adequately to the emergency events (Kittirattanapaiboon, 2009, p 15). Further, the simulation will involve determining the evacuation points in case of the emergency events. The identification of evacuation areas usually need the low-level fidelity since the process do not associate with many requirements (just evacuation the students acting towards the emergency events). The low-level fidelity would be suitable since it would have produced useful results but at a lower costs. It is obvious that an organization will always looks for a simulator that would cost them little money in the evacuation of students. For this reason, there is no need for the high fidelity emergency event simulation since its requirements are always at a high costs.
How should this simulator be employed?
As the name suggests, the simulator would help in reproducing information about the emergency events; thereby, allowing the chance for understanding the various evacuation points in a building. The emergency preparedness will help in tracking the behavior of the students in relation to the emergency events. When using the simulator, there will be reliance on obtaining information about the lifelike experience, such as crowd dynamics, in order to determine the most likely occurrence in the future. Emergency preparedness will use this simulation to help with information about the proper ways of acting against the emergency events. The simulator works through tracking how people respond to various activities thereby making it easy to determine the most likely emergency event and the proper way out.
What limitations do you envisage in the use of simulator?
Simulator Adaptation Syndrome (SAS) always exist as a general limitation that associates with all forms of simulators. This usually occurs as the result of delays experienced between the cyclers of simulation and the subsequent response exhibited by the simulator (Pelechano, 2008, p 88). The brain requires that the simulator should always have similar response to the already existing thing. There would be brain adaptation difficulty to the simulation provided there is greater variation between the simulator and the real thing. This calls for cutting down on the delays witnessed on the simulator’s system.
Apart from the SAS, Motorcycle simulator usually has the disadvantage of complexity when it comes to the alignment of the sensor inputs in the quest of alleviating risk of simulator sickness (Pelechano, 2008, p 88). The successful operation of simulator also depends on the experience of individuals in the actual environment hence always have varied unpredicted effects on individuals of differing ages. There is no compromise that simulation cannot fully mimic the true environment triggering confusion to the cyclers because of the unexpected components in the true environment. In the Emergency Events Preparedness and Simulation Evacuation, delays may occur due to a larger number of entities undergoing simulation or due to the complex interactions occurring between the entities within the system in simulation. This results from intensive usage of computations that are always subject to delays.
What are the key differences between the two simulators?
The operation of the Motorcycle simulator depends on the categorization of people in either novice (less experienced in the field) or mature (highly experienced in the field) (Miller & Kasparian, 2006, p 290). The simulator build a constructive experience on the less experienced while exposing the highly experienced to complicated activities that would enable them undertake be comfortable while driving. This is different to the application of the Emergency preparedness and simulation evacuation that has not specific categories in its use. The simulator only functions in tracking people’s response while subsequently applying proper evacuation on the ways of dealing with the emergency events. Another difference also arises on the context of their application. The Motorcycle simulator functions in replicating information about a tangible object in the virtual environment whereby it gives information about the external conditions that facilitate the physical comfort opportunity of the cyclers (Miller & Kasparian, 2006, p 290). This applies differently to evacuation simulator, which replicates information about an intangible real thing; the emergency event. The simulation is useful in replicating events of emergency and tracking the behaviors of individuals in relation to the lifelike experiences.
Conclusion
The simulators form an exceptionally crucial part of the modern world because of the quest by many organizations to optimize on their operations. The simulator has helped so many of this organization in reducing the cost of their operations because they (simulators) provide an alternative to the real effects in true environment. Absences of the simulators will result to owners of the organization going for the expensive materials; something, which the simulator would have solved through replicating information about the thing. The aspiring organization especially the small scale, should consider going for the simulators in order to maximize their output. The subject organization should always test for the appropriateness of a simulator, to ensure that it suits the needs.
Reference
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