Interoperability Analysis Method for Mission-Oriented System of Systems Engineering

Abstract

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate an architecture-centric interoperability analysis method for system of-systems (SoS). The method analyzes both the operational and technical interoperability of a SoS. We demonstrate the method by analyzing the interoperability of a SoS composed of unmanned ground and air vehicles for a notional search and rescue mission. Completion of the interoperability analysis leads to the specification of interoperability requirements on the system. The paper verified the ability of the interoperability analysis method to identify and expose interoperability challenges and to define interoperability requirements through field experiments with the SoS. The paper contributes an interoperability analysis method, which programs can use to identify and specify interoperability requirements based on an analysis of the architectural products available in the early phases of a program.