Dynamic allocation of fires and sensors (DAFS): a low-resolution simulation for rapid modeling

High-resolution combat models have become so complex that the time necessary to create and analyze a scenario has become unacceptably long. A lower resolution approach to entity-level simulation can complement such models. This paper presents Dynamic Allocation of Fires and Sensors (DAFS), a low-resolution, constructive entity-level simulation framework, that can be rapidly configured and executed. Through the use of a loosely-coupled component architecture, DAFS is extremely flexible and configurable. DAFS allows an analyst to very quickly create a simulation model that captures the first-order effects of a scenario. Although the modeling of entities is done at a low-resolution, DAFS contains some sophisticated capabilities: within the model, commander entities can formulate and solve optimization problems dynamically. DAFS can be used to explore large areas of the parameter space and identify interesting regions where high-resolution models can provide more detailed information.