A DEVS M and S Framework based on Java and Actors

This paper proposes a minimal and efficient Java framework -ActorDEVS- based on actors (agents) which enables modelling and simulation activities of discrete-event systems formalized by DEVS. The framework depends on actors, i.e. light-weight software components which communicate to one another by asynchronous message passing. Actors execution is transparently orchestrated by a control machine which can be customized to real-time or simulation operation. The paper describes a mapping of DEVS on to actors which leverages the expressive power of Parallel DEVS and makes it possible to build both atomic and complex hierarchical coupled models. The approach rests on a few base classes, the adoption of design patterns and an exploitation of Java 5.0 features. The paper shows an application of the proposed approach through some modelling examples