Architecture Decision Modeling & Automated Tradespace Formulation

The innovation proposed is a graphical method to codify decision classes, script-based operators and enumeration schemes to significantly reduce the time associated with formulating and reusing tradespace studies often associated with systems architecture, mission architecture, product planning, technical strategy and business strategy. Aureus will develop an automated technique to generate a rich architectural tradespace directly from a descriptive systems model. In order to do this, the architecture decision patterns and objective, or value, criteria will be captured in a SysML-capable tool from which a tradespace and pareto front will be generated, enabling teams to more quickly and more thoroughly compare candidate architectures. This will allow the NASA team and other development teams to focus on drawing insights from the tradespace rather than manually deriving the architecture problem for each mission. Aureus believes that these insights and improved decision making overall are the main value facilitated by this innovation. Related values of the innovation include gaining the ability to capture and preserve decision histories throughout a project and / or systems lifecycle by better incorporating high level decision models into NASA’s model based systems engineering (MBSE) ecosystem. The primary end user is a NASA system / mission architect or systems engineer. For Phase I, a laboratory environment (TRL 4) demonstration will be conducted within commercially available tools. The Phase I proof-of-concept demo will largely be an integration of existing tools & libraries with minor customizations to deploy the specific, novel points of the innovation.

The NASA applications mentioned in S17.02 including those at the concept/ feasibility level should directly benefit from the proposed scope of work. These include the Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR), Origins Space Telescope (OST), Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx), and Lynx. This proposed method would become immediately beneficial for rapid generation and navigation of the architectural tradespace.

Aureus believes that this method and innovation can be adopted by organizations that are developing medium to high complexity products especially those with high up front costs and long life cycles. Industries that are especially applicable are aerospace, defense, automotive, and pharmaceutical / medical devices.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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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