Migrating the HLA Object Model Template to an IEEE Standard

Richard Lutz, Principal Staff Engineer in JWAD at APL.

6/20/2008
(Original Publish Date: 3/1/2000)

DoD's High Level Architecture (HLA) was established to promote and facilitate interoperability across a wide range of military simulation systems. The purpose of the HLA Object Model Template (OMT) is twofold: (1) to provide a standardized mechanism for HLA federations to formally specify the format of runtime data exchange, and (2) to provide a standard format for specifying the external interface of individual HLA federates. This article reports on recent efforts to transition the current DoD version of the OMT to a recognized commercial standard. The OMT modifications implemented in this transition are highlighted, as is the standardization process that was used to gain community consensus and acceptance.