Application of Agile Model-Based Systems Engineering in aircraft conceptual design

Abstract

One of the challenges of modern engineering design is the amount of data that designers must keep track while performing system analysis and synthesis. This task is particularly important in the design process of complex systems such as novel aerospace systems where Modeling and Simulation play an essential role. The Agile philosophy stems from the field of Software Engineering and describes an approach to development in which requirements and solutions gradually develop through collaboration between self-organising cross-functional teams and end users. Agile Model-Based System Engineering (AMBSE) is the application of the Agile philosophy to Model-Based System Engineering. In this paper, AMBSE is accomplished through the application of the Object-Oriented System Engineering Method (OOSEM). OOSEM employs a top-down scenario-driven process that adopts System Modeling Language (SysML) and leverages the object-oriented paradigm to support the analysis, specification, design, and verification of systems. AMBSE assisted by mathematical modelling and safety assessment techniques is applied to the first design iterations of the main aircraft systems, allowing a comprehensive design exploration. The flight control system was chosen to illustrate the procedure in detail, emphasising the synthesis of a six-degrees-of-freedom model augmented by dynamic inversion control for a hypothetical supersonic transport aircraft satisfying class II MIL-F-8785C handling qualities. It is concluded that AMBSE presents promising properties to support future aircraft development within the current regulatory framework for aircraft design, while enabling a smooth transition from conceptual to preliminary design.

Inverter prototype development for HLFC compressor applications

“…Based on that, different variants and their physical components can be developed and evaluated, as described in Ref. [19] and utilized [16][17][18]. The main function considered on the system level for this case is 'Provide HLFC'.…”

“…This paper aims to describe a possible way of implementation. Figure 1 shows the inverter design approach, which is derived from the ARP4754A [15] and also in line with existing system design work [16][17][18].…”

Data for Engineering Design: Maps and Gaps

“…The role of cumulated design expertise is crucial, given that the bulk of engineering designs is related to modifications of previously proven designs to accommodate new requirements (Kim et al, 2005). Designers must keep track of a vast amount of data while performing system analysis and synthesis (Krupa, 2019). This is a serious challenge that arises from the early stages of conceptual design, since designers must be aware and access their expertise and build up a synthesis.…”

Towards Context-Awareness in Model-Based Requirements Engineering

“…Evolving architectures and agile systems engineering are becoming commonplace, even in aerospace and defense [21,[24][25][26], due to the constant change in stakeholder needs and thanks to the growing versatility and reusability of modern technologies. Context-adaptive systems exhibit structural or behavioral adaptability.…”