Publication

This is the final report for phase 1 of the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) research task (RT118). The RT focuses on a Vision held by NAVAIR’s leadership to assess the technical feasibility of radical transformation through a more holistic model-centric engineering approach. The expected capability of such an approach would enable mission-based analysis and engineering that reduces the typical time by at least 25 percent from what is achieved today for large-scale air vehicle systems. The research need includes the evaluation of emerging system design through computer (i.e., digital) models. The effort extends RT-48 to investigate the technical feasibility of moving to a “complete” model-centric lifecycle and includes four overarching and related tasks as shown in Figure 1. These tasks include:

• Task 1: Surveying Industry, Government and Academia to understand the state-of the-art of a holistic approach to model-centric engineering (“everything digital”)
• Task 2: Develop a common lexicon for things related to models, including model types, levels, uses, representation, visualizations, etc.
• Task 3: Model the “Vision,” but also relate it to the “As Is” and Airworthiness processes
• Task 4: Integrate a Risk Management framework with the Vision

Since the kickoff of RT-118 there has been considerable emphasis on understanding the state-of-the-art through discussions with industry, government and academia. We have conducted over 29 discussions, including 21 on site, as well as several follow-up discussions on some of the identified challenge areas. We did not do a survey, but rather had open-ended discussions. We asked the meeting coordinators to in general: 

     Tell us about the most advanced and holistic approach to model-centric engineering you use or have seen used.

The spectrum of information was very broad; there really is no good way to make a comparison. In addition, we had proprietary information agreements with most industry organizations. The objective was not to single out any specific organization, therefore, we will summarize, in the aggregate, what we heard in this report as it relates to the NAVAIR research objective.