Development of distributed real-time simulators based on CORBA

The development of complex simulators with multiple simulation models running in a distributed way is a difficult task where communication plays a main role, particularly in cases where real-time constraints exist. This paper presents distributed simulators for nuclear power plants with communication based on Real-time CORBA, a middleware for real-time systems. The simulators are used to train power plant operators safely. They are based on a complex architecture of simulation models with real-time constraints involving many different applications that allow full scope simulation of the control room of a nuclear power plant. The use of Real-time CORBA in the simulators allows us to obtain platform and language independence, reusable components and the control of real-time properties.