Investigating the Novel Challenges Presented by Model Base System Engineering

传统的基于文档的系统工程在当前航天器工业实践中占主导地位。使用这种方法，可以使用许多不同的文档，包括电子文档和其他文档，来交流有关正在开发的系统的信息。这些例子包括规范、接口控制文件、系统描述文件、贸易研究和分析报告。虽然这种技术在历史上已经被证明在系统目标被明确定义的情况下工作得很好，但是当应用于当今开发中日益复杂的系统时，一致性、可追溯性、可重用性和清晰度变得难以维护。基于模型的系统工程（MBSE）是一种不断发展的替代基于文档的方法。而不是使用文档来记录系统信息，MBSE使用统一和连贯的系统模型。这导致了一个令人兴奋的可能性，即一个项目的“单一真相来源”，它将形成所有利益相关者的沟通平台。通过这样做，它避免了传统系统工程中常见的系统信息不一致，在传统系统工程中，任何设计更改都需要在不同位置的几个文档中进行更新。完整性和可沟通性是文献报道的另外两个好处。虽然MBSE的采用正在普及，但航天器行业尚未完全接受它作为标准实践。据文献报道，进一步采用MBSE存在许多障碍。首先，MBSE需要对系统工程师执行工作的方式进行重大改变，从而导致陡峭的学习曲线。此外，已经发现MBSE在项目早期需要更高的资源支出，从而导致承担该工作的组织面临更多风险。此外，“错误或过高的期望”已被确定为MBSE在工业应用时的另一个主要挫折来源。本博士旨在研究MBSE带来的新挑战，目的是研究以下问题：如何使用MBSE更好地进行权衡并增强决策过程？如何将专家知识更好地融合到MBSE过程中？如何确定有用的MBSE模型的最低要求？在一个真实的组织中，早期的航天器设计过程是什么样的？如何通过MBSE将其低效率降到最低？该研究属于EPSRC工程主题，将为航天工业的系统工程师提供与MBSE合作的更好方法。博士学位希望涵盖大约三个案例研究，第一个目前正在进行中。与空中客车空间和防务公司合作，该案例研究的重点是创建适用于低地球轨道地球观测卫星的可重复使用的MBSE模型结构。在第一个目标之后，它将包括探索设计替代方案和执行多域权衡的能力。

Traditional document based systems engineering dominates current spacecraft industry practice. Using this approach, many different documents, electronic and otherwise, are used to communicate information about the system under development. Examples of these include specifications, interface control documents, system description documents, trade studies and analysis reports. While this technique historically has been shown to work well while system objectives are clearly defined, consistency, traceability, reusability, and clarity become difficult to maintain when applied to the increasingly complex systems under development today.Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is a growing alternative to document based methods. Instead of using documents to record system information, MBSE uses a unified and coherent system model. This leads to the exciting possibility of a "single source of truth" for a project that would form the communication platform for all stake holders. By doing so, it avoids inconsistencies in system information commonly experienced with traditional systems engineering, where any change to the design requires updates in several documents in disparate locations. Completeness and communicability are two further benefits reported by literature.While MBSE adoption is spreading, the spacecraft industry has yet to fully embrace it as standard practice. There have been a number of barriers to further MBSE adoption reported in literature. Firstly MBSE requires a significant change to the way system engineers perform their work, leading to a steep learning curve. Furthermore MBSE has been found to require a higher expenditure of resources early in a project, leading to more risk to the organization undertaking the work. Besides this "false or too high expectations" have been identified as another major source of frustration with MBSE when applied in industry.This PhD aims to investigate the novel challenges presented by MBSE, with objectives to investigate the following questions:How can MBSE be used to better perform trade-offs and enhance the decision-making process?How can expert human knowledge be better fused into the MBSE process?How can the minimum requirements for useful MBSE models be identified?What does the early spacecraft design process look like in a real organisation, how can its inefficiencies be minimised by MBSE? The research falls within the EPSRC engineering theme and will provide systems engineers in the space industry with better ways of working with MBSE.The PhD is hoped to cover roughly three case studies, with the first one currently underway. Collaborating with Airbus Space and Defence, This case study is focussed on creating a reusable MBSE model structure applicable for low Earth orbiting Earth observation satellites. Following the first objective, it will include the capability to explore design alternatives and perform multi- domain trade-offs.