Kevin D. Reilly
Meshark Okunbor
Formal Logic and Logic Program Modeling
Proc. Huntsville Simulation Conference, 2002
Abstract
Roles in simulation for formal logic and logic programming are presented.
We first review a programming system for "combined continuous-discrete
simulation" and see how, with additions, based on a pattern directed abstract
machine model, it leads to (a) form(s) of programming system for "combined
symbolic-numeric simulation." Table processing, as relational databases and
decision (theoretic) tables, appears in the arguments. Second, we outline work
on a collection of logic programmed systems which incorporate inventory, sales
and manufacturing elements, coupled with decision making schemes, expert systems
elements or flavors, spreadsheets and statistical computation. A methodology has
been devised to relate these programs to a stylized model component development
scheme, with diagramming techniques stressing an Occam's Razor simplicity, and
particularly constructed (parallel) textual documentations. A third discussion
phase covers "numerical AI" ("Soft Computing" or "Biologically-Inspired
Computing") as a variant approach to combining symbolic-numeric simulation.
We adlib on an AI-influenced "simulation environment," e.g., as described in a
two-part SCS Transactions article on "a computerized formal means to reason
about components in simulation models and environments." Final discussions
center on recent work, with views on all the above items and a certain focus
on agent-based systems. Integration of theory and practice is stressed.
Key Words:
Logic programming, logic modeling, simulation theory, combined numeric-symbolic
modeling, AI in simulation