DCoS-XML: A modelling language for dynamic distributed cooperative systems

Abstract

Modelling traffic or human-machine systems in different domains such as aeronautic, maritime and automotive is a challenging but well generalizable task. Within the modelling process, one is usually facing the complexity of the system dynamics and emergent effects like cooperation or competition on the one hand. But on the other hand in all domains, the system designer is dealing with a similar basis: Distributed multi-agent systems. This basis allows bringing orderliness and additional benefit into the system design process by means of a semi-formal and domain independent system description language. In this contribution, we propose such a description language for modelling of dynamic distributed cooperative systems (DCoS-XML). We will discuss the theoretical language structures towards a graphical tool for the language usage as well as an exemplary DCoS-XML application towards description of a design pattern for information displays in maritime domain.