Developing an MBSE CubeSat Reference Model – Interim Status #4

Kaslow, David; Ayres, Bradley; Cahill, Philip T; Hart, Laura; Levi, Alejandro; Croney, Chuck

doi:10.2514/6.2018-5328

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…This article extends previous work [14] concerning the application of MBSE techniques to perform early validation on the payload data handling unit (PDHU) of Biomass, an Earth-observation spacecraft due to launch around 2021 [15], [16]. The process of validation confirms that the system satisfies the stakeholders' needs by providing objective evidence [17], [18]. Biomass is being designed by Airbus as the seventh Earth Explorer Mission for the European Space Agency (ESA).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Investigating the Flexibility of the MBSE Approach to the Biomass Mission

Gregory

Berthoud

Tryfonas

et al. 2021

IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern, Syst.

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Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) represents a move away from the traditional approach of document-based systems engineering (DBSE), and is used to promote consistency, communication, clarity, and maintainability within systems engineering projects. MBSE offers approaches that can address issues associated with cost, complexity, and safety. One way that this can be achieved is by performing early functional validation of the high-level spacecraft functional avionics system. The use case discussed in this article focusses on the Biomass model, a systems modeling language-based representation of the Biomass Earth-observation mission. The MBSE approach is used to calculate the required size of the data handling unit onboard the Biomass spacecraft. The functional response of the system in terms of the onboard memory usage throughout the mission is simulated. Traditionally, this level of analysis would not be available at this early stage. The approach aims to replace ad hoc, spreadsheet-based calculations with a formal representation of the system that can be executed, interrogated and quantified. The flexibility of this MBSE approach is demonstrated by applying changes to the Biomass project and assessing the time required to implement these changes in the Biomass model and propagate them through to the results of the simulation. The changes have been made independently of each other and include: changes to the logical architecture, changes to the functional definition, changes to the mission profile, and changes to the requirements. Potential areas for improvement regarding the structure of the Biomass model are highlighted and discussed.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Investigating the Flexibility of the MBSE Approach to the Biomass Mission

Gregory

Berthoud

Tryfonas

et al. 2021

IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern, Syst.

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“…The SEAM has undergone 'development by use case', in which its simulation capabilities and structure have been developed to accommodate the needs of a use case and subsequently generalised with the objective of producing a template that is general enough to applied to a variety of missions. This methodology can be contrasted with the development of the CRM, which has undergone a more 'topdown' development approach [24]. Other differences between the development approaches adopted for the SEAM and the CRM are that the SEAM is heavily based in a single industrial organisation, Airbus, and that the SEAM has been developed to accommodate a general 'spacecraft' as opposed to the more specific CRM focus of CubeSats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This model-based approach also relies on ModelCenter to link together multiple engineering tools and enable cross-platform analysis. [9], [24]- [27].…”

Section: Mbse and Spacecraftmentioning

confidence: 99%

There's no ‘I’ in SEAM—An Interim Report on the ‘Spacecraft Early Analysis Model’

Gregory

Berthoud

Tryfonas

et al. 2020

2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) represents a move away from the traditional approach of Document-Based Systems Engineering (DBSE), and is used to promote consistency, communication, clarity and maintainability within systems engineering projects. In previous work, industry focus groups have indicated that one way this can be achieved is by performing early functional validation of elements of the spacecraft avionics. This paper presents an extended approach, introduced in a case study previously published by the authors, to enable early functional analysis of a spacecraft. The approach uses the 'Spacecraft Early Analysis Model' (SEAM), a SysML-based model framework for the definition, development and analysis of a space-based mission and corresponding space system. This formal model-based representation of the system enables the high-level simulation of the design during Phase B of the spacecraft system lifecycle. The SEAM pulls together different, traditionally disparate, analysis tools and enables them to work together, producing an integrated system model spanning multiple tools. It facilitates the simulation of the mission using dedicated orbit modelling software, analysis of the completeness and accuracy of the system behaviour, and provides an indication of the appropriate logical architecture. The SEAM has been developed iteratively by applying it to Earth-observation case studies from the Biomass mission, refining the capabilities of the template accordingly, and subsequently generalising the model. The resulting interim version of the Spacecraft Early Analysis Model contains a series of MBSE patterns that will ultimately provide users with a comprehensive and consistent SysML-based structure that enables early functional definition and analysis of spacecraft. Next steps in the development of the SEAM include its application to a wider variety of use cases to develop and demonstrate its versatility, and the development of metrics to measure its perceived value among practitioners.

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“…Since the solution architecture has been, and is evolving, the adoption of Agile SE system architecture principles around reusability, reconfigurability, and scalability (Dove, et al 2014) can be used to proactively move to a more agile architecture in future HYPSO projects. The team could benefit from having a continuously updated system model such as the one introduced in the INCOSE Space Systems Working Group (Kaslow, Cahill, Frank 2019), integrated with the other systems such as GitHub and CAD tools. There have been some efforts in this area, but a dedicated effort is needed to create a better knowledge source.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Agile Systems Engineering Analysis of a University CubeSat Project Organization

Honoré‐Livermore

Lyells

Garrett

et al. 2021

INCOSE International Symp

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University CubeSat projects become popular in recent decades, and face challenges that include both technical and sociotechnical aspects. However, these teams often lack the infrastructure and resources for having effective systems engineering or project management which are beneficial for addressing these challenges and developing complex systems, such as satellites. In this paper we present the results of an exploratory case study of a university CubeSat team developing an Earth Observation satellite. The Agile Decision Guidance method was applied to pinpoint parts of the project organization that could benefit from agile methods in three specific areas: customer problem space, solution space, and product development space. The results drew attention to areas such as; stakeholder management, knowledge and information management, and the support environment, that could benefit from an agile approach. We outline some of the plans to move forward and how the team responded to the analysis. We also discuss if the method was appropriate for academic small satellite organizations and adaptations of the method made during the assessment.

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Developing an MBSE CubeSat Reference Model – Interim Status #4

Cited by 9 publications

References 2 publications

Investigating the Flexibility of the MBSE Approach to the Biomass Mission

Investigating the Flexibility of the MBSE Approach to the Biomass Mission

There's no ‘I’ in SEAM—An Interim Report on the ‘Spacecraft Early Analysis Model’

An Agile Systems Engineering Analysis of a University CubeSat Project Organization

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