Model-Based Design Assessment and FM Visualization Technologies in TEAMS

Qualtech Systems, Inc. (QSI), in collaboration with Dr. Stephen B. Johnson, President of Dependable System Technologies, LLC (DST), plan to develop techniques and the concomitant software modules for enabling modeling and visualization in QSI’s TEAMS® Toolset to represent the entire FM design as part of a system design. The main objective of the proposed effort is to have TEAMS® complete the control loop in terms of incorporating the “Response” (the ‘R” in FDIR) loops as part of its design and analyses of FM Architecture. This will include improvements to address FM metrics for failure response/recovery, and will be linked to ongoing efforts to implement FM Metrics and to overall system autonomy, but targeting SMD science missions and their unique goals. The proposed effort will result in a novel capability that incorporates the “Recovery” aspect of FDIR within TEAMS® and enables FM Visualization of design architectures, which then links to a clear and concise set of FM metrics to minimize mission risks to desired levels. TEAMS® can leverage built-in modeling features for performing FM Architecture Design Assessment, such as Fault Trees and FM Metrics related to Failure Detection and Isolation. Switches in TEAMS® models facilitate their use in multiple system modes. This feature will be leveraged to enable Recovery Loops across multiple scenarios. The proposed effort seeks to aid the visualization and assessment of FM design for system(s) in multiple usage scenarios by utilizing existing capabilities and introducing new capabilities to TEAMS® for the computation and evolution of relevant FM analyses. The added capabilities include information integration; extending the system modeling capabilities; and assessing the effect of implementing diagnostic decisions on the overall functionality of the system.

The technology can readily operate as part of NASA’s next generation Mission Control Technology. ARCUS X-ray Observatory is also an appropriate candidate system for TEAMS® to build the FM Design Assessment capabilities. The solution can be applied for Response/Mitigation Planning for NASA's Parker Solar Probe. This solution is also directly applicable to both military and commercial aircraft applications. Among other applications are V&V and Flight Rule (FR) development for Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1), Early design on EM-2 and the Gateway.

DoD, US Air Force, US Navy, and commercial aviation, large scale military systems such as NORAD, Space Command ground segments, JSF, the Navy shipboard platforms, Submarine Commands, BMD systems, UAVs, UMGs and other unmanned submersible vehicle markets are potential targets as well. There has been early research at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to model system interconnectivity and algorithms.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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