A Practical Model Based Engineering Capability for Integrating Architecture Design, Analysis, and Verification of Large Scale Complex Systems

In the defense industry today, high level SysML system models are used by engineers beginning early in the design process to functionally decompose the system being designed and to flow down requirements to sub-systems and components. Despite their usefulness, these system models are by and large descriptive models and not analytical (executable) models. In contrast, domain level engineers (structural engineers, software engineers, aerodynamicists, manufacturing engineers, cost analysts, etc.) routinely use a wide variety of sophisticated engineering analysis tools to analyze and design the subsystems and components that define the system. Unfortunately, these analysis tools are disconnected from the system model, and can"t easily be used to predict performance or make important system level trade-offs. In this project, an integrated toolset will be developed that bridges the gap between systems modeling languages such SysML and commonly used engineering analysis tools. This will enable the performance of architectural, performance, manufacturability, cost, and risk trade-off studies very early in the design process where impacts on lifecycle costs are the greatest. It will also allow the design team to rapidly respond to inevitable changes in requirements and give them the ability to perform continuous analysis, simulation, and trade-studies throughout the design process.