Software

Software frameworks implementing the design patterns described by the MDS ARCHITECTURE have been implemented in C++ and Java. Both implementations define base classes for the elements such as state variables and goals, and include reference implementations of goal scheduling and execution engines.

The current version of the C++ frameworks represents a second-generation implementation of the MDS control architecture, refactored for runtime efficiency and simplification, and with improved documentation. The frameworks include support for state architecture primitives such as State Variables, Goals, Measurements, Constraints, and other data types, as well as high-level execution components including the goal scheduler, elaboration manager, and execution manager.

Supporting frameworks include some math and physics classes, data serialization, data management services, periodic task scheduling services, an embedded web server for various inspection services, and several frameworks to support diagnostics and metrics for memory management and runtime performance management.

Some of the same packages included in the C++ frameworks are also implemented in Java. Many of the lower-level C++ frameworks are not needed in the Java version because equivalent capabilities are already available in the core Java frameworks, or the Java platform itself. Considered as a whole, capabilities of the Java and C++ frameworks are consequently quite similar, permitting straightforward translation of adaptations from one version to the other.

The MDS software framework and example code can be licensed from Caltech. Requests may be directed to the JPL Software Download Service.