A main feature of the developed hybrid simulation environment is the integration of external continuous-timed and knowledge based models. Artificial neural networks are an up-to-date method for knowledge based modelling especially in the range problems in biotechnology.

The showed example here is a simple feed-forward net that was applied multiple times in the displayed topology during modelling with the hybrid simulation environment. It was was for example used to predict the heating times dependant on the depletion of the heat-storage in a brewery.

In the final model of the brewery 6 artificial neural networks were interconnecting using object-based reference nets. Data for the input nodes is relayed by the abstraction layer and output node is read for further simulation.