The system of systems architecture feasibility assessment model

Abstract

This research presents the system of systems (SoS) tradespace definition methodology (SoS-TDM) and SoS architecture feasibility assessment model (SoS-AFAM). Together, these extend current model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and SoS engineering (SoSE) methodologies. In particular, they extend the methods of tradespace exploration to considerations of multiple perspectives of an SoS--the physical, process, and organization. In considering multiple perspectives of an SoS, one better defines the SoS and is more likely to correctly represent its performance in an analysis model. The SoS-TDM defines an SoS tradespace by progressively winnowing the design space with increasingly strict definitions of feasibility and then exhaustively analyzing the remaining points. The SoS-AFAM defines and assesses SoS architecture feasibility through a variety of tests that consider the aforementioned aspects of an SoS. Together, these methods may be integrated with existing MBSE and SoSE methodologies and extend their utility.