NASA has been adopting MBSE vigorously in its Systems Engineering (SE) practices for its Space Missions through the use of the System Markup Language (SysML). Given the structural and functional complexities of modern NASA space missions such as the lunar exploration using the Gateway, and other human exploration missions in development, SE processes need to have extensive Fault Management (FM) support and analytic capabilities right at the onset of system design, to capture their operational relevance during missions. The key focus of the Systems Engineering Handbook is System Level Analysis across the entire Life Cycle performed within Cost and Schedule constraints.
QSI, in partnership with Sanford Friedenthal of SAF Consulting, and Stephen Johnson of Dependable System Technologies (DST) plans to develop a TEAMS-FM (Fault Management) “plugin” capability with the SysML modeling environment, that (1) provides a capability to perform FM analysis of a system-of-systems (SoS) design in SysML, (2) enables the FM design to be evaluated in an operational context by performing System Health Management (SHM), (3) supports Trade Studies to evaluate the merits of a architecture such as Sensor Placement, Fault Protection, etc. and (4) enables a “System” level assessment and visualization of FM qualities in the SysML Diagrams. The proposed effort seeks to aid the integration of FM of system(s) with the MBSE environment in multiple usage scenarios by utilizing existing capabilities and migrating them into the SysML IDE (Integrated Development Environment). The integration of TEAMS-FM plugin in SysML will entail information integration; extending, as necessary, existing SysML conventions to accommodate FM entities; and assessing the effect of implementing ISHM on the overall efficacy of the system design during the SE phase.
The developed capabilities will make TEAMS-FM an essential MBSE extension for use by NASA for comprehensive system FM design, analysis and evaluation.
This FM capability is relevant to future SMD/HEOMD missions, such as such as the Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle, Human Landing System and Orion Crew Vehicle. Deep Space Habitat and selected subsystems of the SLS are prime targets. Artemis Mission – Lunar Lander, Gateway, etc., and Moon to Mars mission, as well as Deep Space missions such as the Europa Orbiter, the InSight lander mission, and Mars Science Laboratory are prime targets. OMG's Thirty Meter Telescope is open-sourced and actively managed, rendering it a very relevant target platform.
DoD, US Air Force, US Navy, and commercial aviation, large scale military systems such as NORAD, Space Command ground segments, JSF, the Navy shipboard platforms, Submarine Commands, BMD systems, UAVs, UMGs and other unmanned submersible vehicle markets are potential targets as well. There has been early research at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to model system interconnectivity and algorithms.