Hierarchical, concurrent state machines for behavior modeling and scenario control

Abstract

This paper presents a framework for behavior modeling and scenario control based on hierarchical, concurrent state machines (HCSM). We present the structure and informal operational semantics of hierarchical, concurrent state machines. We describe the use of HCSM for scenario control in the Iowa Driving Simulator (IDS), a virtual environment for real-time driving simulation. The paper concludes with an outline of a forthcoming HCSM-based scenario authoring system that will permit non-specialists to graphically program behaviors and design experiments for IDS.<>