SBIR-STTR Award

OCI proposes to use the open source OpenDDS product as a baseline for interprocess communication in NAVAIR simulation systems. OCI developed OpenDDS with Navy contractor funding as an open source implementation of the OMG Data Distribution for Real-Time Systems (DDS) specification. OpenDDS version 1.0 was released in July 2007, and OpenDDS 1.1 will be released in June 2008. Further enhancements will result in the release of OpenDDS 1.2 in the Fall of 2008. OCI will identify and design in Phase I the enhancements that are required to OpenDDS to meet the E-2 simulation requirements and will implement those enhancements in the Phase I Option (if awarded) and Phase II. OCI will also offer an open source code generation tool chain utilizing standards-based tools such as UML modeling tools and OMG DDS profile plug-ins to create a model-driven code generation approach for implementing and extending the E-2 simulation system over its lifetime.

Benefit:
The outcome of this SBIR will be an even more robust, fully functional open source implementation of the OMG Data Distribution Service for Real-Time Systems (DDS). The addition of a significant new code generation tool chain capability for OpenDDS implementation will encourage more widespread use of OpenDDS in the US Navy and in other DoD projects. The Navy has been adopting DDS as a key real-time middleware strategy and open source products as key components of its open architecture initiative. An open source DDS also offers other researchers a cost effective baseline to use in exploring this technology in many settings. A generous license (the ACE license, which is BSD-like) ensures its unencumbered use. OCI's track record of commercial support for open source products ensures confident adoption of the product by users in mission critical, long-lived systems.

Keywords:
RT Middleware, RT Middleware, pubsub, DDS plug-ins, DDS, SDK, Open Source, Publish and Subscribe

Phase II OpenDDS work will include development of an SDK, runtime support, implementation enhancements, and performance characterization. The software development kit (SDK) will consist of an Eclipse based graphical modeling tool. This capture tool will be used to define the desired middleware structures and characteristics in terms of an OpenDDS UML Profile. The model will then be used to generate source code and build support in the C++ language. Additional runtime support will be provided by the development of a packet analyzer plugin to the existing Open Source Wireshark packet capture and viewing tool. Higher level analysis will be provided by development of a data monitor that can provide insight into the operation of the middleware service itself. The existing OpenDDS implementation will be enhanced with features including full specification compliance and transport implementation improvements. Research will be conducted to develop a prioritized list of features to implement. OpenDDS performance will be characterized at the beginning of the project and as formal releases are made to the code base. The testbench developed during Phase I will be used to perform tests under simulation domain specific conditions. Message latency and jitter will be the information gathered to define performance.

Keywords:
Data Distribution Service, Data Distribution Service, Model Driven Architecture, Code Generation Tools, Omg Standard, Real-Time Middleware, Mda, Dds, Open Source