Assessing Changeability in Aerospace Systems Architecting and Design Using Dynamic Multi-Attribute Tradespace Exploration
Name
CP_060919_Ross-Hastings_AIAA.pdf
Size
750.5 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
f546ef5bf13b7f2b361112c4be7570a4
Author(s)
Ross, Adam M.
Hastings, Daniel E.
Date Issued
September 19, 2006
Abstract
A framework for assessing changeability in the context of dynamic Multi-Attribute
Tradespace Exploration (MATE) is proposed and applied to three aerospace systems. The
framework consists of two parts. First, changeability concepts such as flexibility, scalability,
and robustness are defined in a value-centric context. These system properties are shown to
relate “real-space to value-space” dynamic mappings to stakeholder-defined subjective
“acceptable cost” thresholds. Second, network analysis is applied to a series of temporally
linked tradespaces, allowing for the quantification of changeability as a decision metric for
comparison across system architecture and design options. The quantifiable is defined as the
filtered outdegree of each design node in a tradespace network formed by linking design
options through explicitly defined prospective transition paths. Each of the system
application studies are assessed in the two part framework and within each study,
observations are made regarding the changeability of various design options. The three
system applications include a hypothetical low Earth orbit satellite mission, a currently
deployed weapon system, and a proposed large astronomical on-orbit observatory.
Preliminary cross-application observations are made regarding the embedding of
changeability into the system architecture or design. Results suggest that the low Earth orbit
satellite mission can increase its changeability by having the ability to readily change its
orbit. The weapon system can increase its changeability by continuing to embrace
modularity, use of commercial off-the-shelf parts (COTS), and simple, excess capacity
interfaces. The large astronomical observatory can increase its potential changeability by
having the ability to reconfigure its physical payloads and reschedule its observing tasks.
The analysis approach introduced in this paper is shown to be a powerful concept for
focusing discussion, design, and assessment of the changeability of aerospace systems.
Subjects
multi-attribute tradespace exploration (MATE)
aerospace
commercial off-the-shelf parts (COTS)
Terms of Use
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States
Persistent DSpace Link
