Digital Engineering Enables Innovative Hardware Integration Opportunities in Aerospace
The standard provides a Modular Open Systems Approach ( MOSA ) as an Open Systems Architecture ( OSA ) definition of virtual and physical interfaces to hardware components such that interoperability and reuse of hardware components can be realized . HOST intends to establish performance and interface requirements that are consistent , open , enforceable , and testable . But , even with the HOST standard , there are many opportunities to improve and achieve the desired objectives of interoperability and accelerated development .
Current methods for designing and integrating hardware systems often involve the use of homegrown and manually maintained knowledge sets captured in home-grown tools by individual engineers and teams . These methods ( spreadsheets , docs , databases , etc .) may be suitable for specific and utilitarian needs ; that is , they get the immediate job of adding up thermal and electrical loads , bus bandwidth requirements , et al . They are likely done correctly and efficiently but with limited value for long term maintenance or collateral application . Typically , these tools are limited by the awareness of the engineering teams and are manually populated with published vendor data by the constrained knowledge base of the engineers involved in the selection process . Given the complexity of options , engineers will often settle with the first solution that “ works ” or “ fits ” the need .
Often , these “ homegrown ” knowledge sets are duplicated and diverge amongst teams , thus creating a data reliability issue . After a project moves through the lifecycle of Research and Development ( R & D ) and testing , these knowledge sets are no longer needed or maintained .
By the time a deployed system is in sustainment mode , the knowledge set is no longer reliable and requires non-trivial effort to update . New boards will have come to market , which may or may not be useful as replacements . Certain hardware vendors may release newer versions of a board with similar model numbers and abilities but differing electrical or thermal requirements .
2 THE OPPORTUNITY
To conquer these challenges and make both the knowledge sharing and the integration of avionics components easier to use and more cost-effective , the principles of Digital Engineering ( DE ) must be more thoroughly enabled , developed , and ultimately adopted . DE is an integrated approach that uses digital technologies to transform engineering practices and processes throughout the entire lifecycle of a system .
• DE on the front end helps with the identification , modeling , and design of systems .
• DE during development and production enables a living reference model and data set to adjudicate questions and access design decisions and constraints .
• DE during delivery and sustainment supports maintenance , spares , and logistics .
During the design and engineering phases , the robust use of DE leverages digital twins , simulation , data analytics , and model-based methodologies to enhance the efficiency , quality , and agility of engineering projects . Put another way , instead of relying on document-centric tools
38 August 2024