Overview
We can divide simulation automation into five levels, from fully manual to fully autonomous:
Level 0: Manual Simulation
All aspects of the simulation, including environment, parameters, scenarios, and execution, require manual setup and operation. The user has complete control over every step of the simulation, including data input, model selection, run control, and results analysis.
Level 1: Assisted Simulation
Some simulation tasks can be automated through pre-set scripts or tools, such as automatically generating certain types of scenarios or automatically recording simulation data. The user still needs to intervene significantly, such as defining simulation objectives, selecting appropriate models and parameters, and monitoring the simulation process.
Level 2: Partially Automated Simulation
The simulation system can autonomously complete some simulation tasks under specific conditions, such as automatically optimizing certain parameters or automatically performing multiple repeated simulations. The user needs to define the overall simulation objectives and constraints and intervene when necessary.
Level 3: Conditional Automated Simulation
The simulation system can autonomously complete simulation tasks within a certain range and can make some adjustments based on environmental changes. The user only needs to provide high-level instructions, such as "perform an urban road autonomous driving simulation," and the system can automatically generate appropriate scenarios, traffic flow, sensor models, etc. However, user intervention is required when encountering situations beyond the system's capabilities.
Level 4: Fully Automated Simulation
The simulation system can completely autonomously complete simulation tasks without any human intervention. The user only needs to set the final goal, and the system can automatically complete all steps, including scenario generation, parameter setting, run control, and results analysis.