Creating simulations has been hard: creating cognitive models (i.e. Soar models) is equally hard. The interface that would make the two processes talk to each other is also difficult. Several projects have developed systems (or mechanisms) for tying cognitive models to simulations but these projects fell short in several ways, and they are not powerful enough to be used for interactive real-time tasks.
This project presents a tool and mechanism for routinely tying a Soar model to an interactive simulation. We looked at how to create an environment that allowed both Soar models and subjects to talk to an interactive simulation (e.g. Air Traffic Control). The integration of both the Soar model and the simulation is realized through an interprocess communication (IPC) mechanism in UNIX called sockets. The generality, robustness, and the lack of need to modify sockets is what allows the process to be made routine. But the manual, supplying code for Soar and code for Garnet, which is the whole system, is what will make it routine. Thus, it would allow Intelligent Knowledge-Based Systems (IKBSs) to be routinely hooked up to simulations - similar to providing a routine way to get to camp.
The results of doing this project will illustrate the following things: (a) an ATC simulation that displays planes, beacons, and other objects: (b) a Soar model that performs the basic ATC task; (c) an improved socket utility ready for routine use, used by both the ATC simulation and another Soar model; (d) the different methods of interpreting a Soar model doing the ATC task; and (e) new ways of doing Input/Output in Soar.