40 research outputs found
Functional modelling of complex multi‑disciplinary systems using the enhanced sequence diagram
YesThis paper introduces an Enhanced Sequence Diagram (ESD) as the basis for a structured framework for the functional analysis of complex multidisciplinary systems. The ESD extends the conventional sequence diagrams (SD) by introducing a rigorous functional flow-based modelling schemata to provide an enhanced basis for model-based functional requirements and architecture analysis in the early systems design stages. The proposed ESD heuristics include the representation of transactional and transformative functions required to deliver the use case sequence, and fork and join nodes to facilitate analysis of combining and bifurcating operations on flows. A case study of a personal mobility device is used to illustrate the deployment of the ESD methodology in relation to three common product development scenarios: (i) reverse engineering, (ii) the introduction of a specific technology to an existent system; and (iii) the introduction of a new feature as user-centric innovation for an existing system, at a logical design level, without reference to any solution. The case study analysis provides further insights into the effectiveness of the ESD to support function modelling and functional requirements capture, and architecture development. The significance of this paper is that it establishes a rigorous ESD-based functional analysis methodology to guide the practitioner with its deployment, facilitating its impact to both the engineering design and systems engineering communities, as well as the design practice in the industry
Functional modelling of complex multi‑disciplinary systems using the enhanced sequence diagram
YesThis paper introduces an Enhanced Sequence Diagram (ESD) as the basis for a structured framework for the functional analysis of complex multidisciplinary systems. The ESD extends the conventional sequence diagrams (SD) by introducing a rigorous functional flow-based modelling schemata to provide an enhanced basis for model-based functional requirements and architecture analysis in the early systems design stages. The proposed ESD heuristics include the representation of transactional and transformative functions required to deliver the use case sequence, and fork and join nodes to facilitate analysis of combining and bifurcating operations on flows. A case study of a personal mobility device is used to illustrate the deployment of the ESD methodology in relation to three common product development scenarios: (i) reverse engineering, (ii) the introduction of a specific technology to an existent system; and (iii) the introduction of a new feature as user-centric innovation for an existing system, at a logical design level, without reference to any solution. The case study analysis provides further insights into the effectiveness of the ESD to support function modelling and functional requirements capture, and architecture development. The significance of this paper is that it establishes a rigorous ESD-based functional analysis methodology to guide the practitioner with its deployment, facilitating its impact to both the engineering design and systems engineering communities, as well as the design practice in the industry
Automatic generation of UML profile graphical editors for Papyrus
UML profiles offer an intuitive way for developers to build domain-specific modelling languages by reusing and extending UML concepts. Eclipse Papyrus is a powerful open-source UML modelling tool which supports UML profiling. However, with power comes complexity, implementing non-trivial UML profiles and their supporting editors in Papyrus typically requires the developers to handcraft and maintain a number of interconnected models through a loosely guided, labour-intensive and error-prone process. We demonstrate how metamodel annotations and model transformation techniques can help manage the complexity of Papyrus in the creation of UML profiles and their supporting editors. We present Jorvik, an open-source tool that implements the proposed approach. We illustrate its functionality with examples, and we evaluate our approach by comparing it against manual UML profile specification and editor implementation using a non-trivial enterprise modelling language (Archimate) as a case study. We also perform a user study in which developers are asked to produce identical editors using both Papyrus and Jorvik demonstrating the substantial productivity and maintainability benefits that Jorvik delivers
Engenharia de sistemas baseada em modelos: um sistema para o tráfego & ambiente
Doutoramento em Gestão IndustrialThe contemporary world is crowded of large, interdisciplinary, complex systems
made of other systems, personnel, hardware, software, information, processes,
and facilities. The Systems Engineering (SE) field proposes an integrated
holistic approach to tackle these socio-technical systems that is crucial to take
proper account of their multifaceted nature and numerous interrelationships,
providing the means to enable their successful realization. Model-Based
Systems Engineering (MBSE) is an emerging paradigm in the SE field and can
be described as the formalized application of modelling principles, methods,
languages, and tools to the entire lifecycle of those systems, enhancing
communications and knowledge capture, shared understanding, improved
design precision and integrity, better development traceability, and reduced
development risks.
This thesis is devoted to the application of the novel MBSE paradigm to the
Urban Traffic & Environment domain. The proposed system, the GUILTE
(Guiding Urban Intelligent Traffic & Environment), deals with a present-day real
challenging problem “at the agenda” of world leaders, national governors, local
authorities, research agencies, academia, and general public. The main
purposes of the system are to provide an integrated development framework
for the municipalities, and to support the (short-time and real-time) operations
of the urban traffic through Intelligent Transportation Systems, highlighting two
fundamental aspects: the evaluation of the related environmental impacts (in
particular, the air pollution and the noise), and the dissemination of information
to the citizens, endorsing their involvement and participation. These objectives
are related with the high-level complex challenge of developing sustainable
urban transportation networks.
The development process of the GUILTE system is supported by a new
methodology, the LITHE (Agile Systems Modelling Engineering), which aims to
lightening the complexity and burdensome of the existing methodologies by
emphasizing agile principles such as continuous communication, feedback,
stakeholders involvement, short iterations and rapid response. These principles
are accomplished through a universal and intuitive SE process, the SIMILAR
process model (which was redefined at the light of the modern international
standards), a lean MBSE method, and a coherent System Model developed
through the benchmark graphical modeling languages SysML and OPDs/OPL.
The main contributions of the work are, in their essence, models and can be
settled as: a revised process model for the SE field, an agile methodology for
MBSE development environments, a graphical tool to support the proposed
methodology, and a System Model for the GUILTE system. The comprehensive
literature reviews provided for the main scientific field of this research
(SE/MBSE) and for the application domain (Traffic & Environment) can also be
seen as a relevant contribution.O mundo contemporâneo é caracterizado por sistemas de grande dimensão e
de natureza marcadamente complexa, sócio-técnica e interdisciplinar. A
Engenharia de Sistemas (ES) propõe uma abordagem holística e integrada
para desenvolver tais sistemas, tendo em consideração a sua natureza
multifacetada e as numerosas inter-relações que advêm de uma quantidade
significativa de diferentes pontos de vista, competências, responsabilidades e
interesses. A Engenharia de Sistemas Baseada em Modelos (ESBM) é um
paradigma emergente na área da ES e pode ser descrito como a aplicação
formal de princípios, métodos, linguagens e ferramentas de modelação ao ciclo
de vida dos sistemas descritos. Espera-se que, na próxima década, a ESBM
desempenhe um papel fundamental na prática da moderna Engenharia de
Sistemas.
Esta tese é dedicada à aplicação da ESBM a um desafio real que constitui
uma preocupação do mundo actual, estando “na agenda” dos líderes mundiais,
governantes nacionais, autoridades locais, agências de investigação,
universidades e público em geral. O domínio de aplicação, o
Tráfego & Ambiente, caracteriza-se por uma considerável complexidade e
interdisciplinaridade, sendo representativo das áreas de interesse para a ES.
Propõe-se um sistema (GUILTE) que visa dotar os municípios de um quadro
de desenvolvimento integrado para adopção de Sistemas de Transporte
Inteligentes e apoiar as suas operações de tráfego urbano, destacando dois
aspectos fundamentais: a avaliação dos impactos ambientais associados (em
especial, a poluição atmosférica e o ruído) e a divulgação de informação aos
cidadãos, motivando o seu envolvimento e participação. Estes objectivos
relacionam-se com o desafio mais abrangente de desenvolver redes de
transporte urbano sustentáveis.
O processo de desenvolvimento do sistema apoia-se numa nova metodologia
(LITHE), mais ágil, que enfatiza os princípios de comunicação contínua,
feedback, participação e envolvimento dos stakeholders, iterações curtas e
resposta rápida. Estes princípios são concretizados através de um processo de
ES universal e intuitivo (redefinido à luz dos padrões internacionais), de um
método simples e de linguagens gráficas de modelação de referência (SysML
e OPDs/OPL).
As principais contribuições deste trabalho são, na sua essência, modelos: um
modelo revisto para o processo da ES, uma metodologia ágil para ambientes
de desenvolvimento baseados em modelos, uma ferramenta gráfica para
suportar a metodologia proposta e o modelo de um sistema para as operações
de tráfego & ambiente num contexto urbano. Contribui-se ainda com uma
cuidada revisão bibliográfica para a principal área de investigação (ES/ESBM)
e para o domínio de aplicação (Tráfego & Ambiente)
Comparative analysis of new configurations of aircraft aimed at competitiveness, environmental compatibility and safety
This Ph.D. Thesis aims at suggesting a proper integrated and multidisciplinary
design methodology to improve the current conceptual and preliminary design
phases of breakthrough innovative aerospace products. The methodology, based
on a Systems Engineering approach, is presented together with an envisaged toolchain,
consisting of both commercial and ad-hoc developed software, integrated in
a Model-Based Systems Engineering perspective. In addition, for the sake of
clarity and for validation purposes, a specific case study has been selected and
developed all along the document. The reference case-study is inspired to a real
pre-feasibility study in which the research group of Politecnico di Torino, which
the author of this Thesis belongs to, has been involved. The project aims at
developing a suborbital vehicle able to perform parabolic flights for both
scientific and touristic purposes. This kind of initiatives paves the way for the
future hypersonic vehicles, because it allows to crucial enabling technologies to
be tested and validated in relevant environment but with lower performances’
requirements.
The Thesis is articulated in seven Chapters with an introduction and
conclusion sections and in each Chapter a balanced mix between theoretical
investigation, mathematical model development, tool selection or development
and application to the selected case study is guaranteed. This document starts
reporting the major reasons why an innovative design methodology should be
envisaged to deal with the increasing level of complexity in the aerospace domain.
In particular, in the first Chapter, a brief overview of existing or underdevelopment
initiatives related to hypersonic is reported, together with the
description of the different types of mission in which the new hypersonic vehicles
will be exploited. Moreover, the major issues related to the infrastructures
required to operate these transportation systems are summarized. As far as
operations are concerned, a short section makes the readers aware of the current
under-development regulatory framework.
Then, the integrated multidisciplinary design methodology is presented
starting from the very high level analyses up to the sizing of the different
components of the transportation system. All along the document, crucial role is
played by requirements, whose management can allow a complete traceability of
the different design characteristics during the overall product life-cycle.
Furthermore, proper algorithms allowing to move from purely qualitative to
quantitative trade-offs, are presented, with a noticeable advantage in terms of
traceability and reproducibility.
Eventually, further improvements of both the tool-chain and the reference
case studies are envisaged for future developments
Digital Twins in Industry
Digital Twins in Industry is a compilation of works by authors with specific emphasis on industrial applications. Much of the research on digital twins has been conducted by the academia in both theoretical considerations and laboratory-based prototypes. Industry, while taking the lead on larger scale implementations of Digital Twins (DT) using sophisticated software, is concentrating on dedicated solutions that are not within the reach of the average-sized industries. This book covers 11 chapters of various implementations of DT. It provides an insight for companies who are contemplating the adaption of the DT technology, as well as researchers and senior students in exploring the potential of DT and its associated technologies
Systems Engineering
The book "Systems Engineering: Practice and Theory" is a collection of articles written by developers and researches from all around the globe. Mostly they present methodologies for separate Systems Engineering processes; others consider issues of adjacent knowledge areas and sub-areas that significantly contribute to systems development, operation, and maintenance. Case studies include aircraft, spacecrafts, and space systems development, post-analysis of data collected during operation of large systems etc. Important issues related to "bottlenecks" of Systems Engineering, such as complexity, reliability, and safety of different kinds of systems, creation, operation and maintenance of services, system-human communication, and management tasks done during system projects are addressed in the collection. This book is for people who are interested in the modern state of the Systems Engineering knowledge area and for systems engineers involved in different activities of the area. Some articles may be a valuable source for university lecturers and students; most of case studies can be directly used in Systems Engineering courses as illustrative materials
Virtual Reality
At present, the virtual reality has impact on information organization and management and even changes design principle of information systems, which will make it adapt to application requirements. The book aims to provide a broader perspective of virtual reality on development and application. First part of the book is named as "virtual reality visualization and vision" and includes new developments in virtual reality visualization of 3D scenarios, virtual reality and vision, high fidelity immersive virtual reality included tracking, rendering and display subsystems. The second part named as "virtual reality in robot technology" brings forth applications of virtual reality in remote rehabilitation robot-based rehabilitation evaluation method and multi-legged robot adaptive walking in unstructured terrains. The third part, named as "industrial and construction applications" is about the product design, space industry, building information modeling, construction and maintenance by virtual reality, and so on. And the last part, which is named as "culture and life of human" describes applications of culture life and multimedia-technology