SBIR-STTR Award

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), to better define a system’s design and operations through a model-centric approach as opposed to a document-centric approach. Fault Management (FM) is an operational subset of SE, and an engineering activity focused on the detection, isolation, diagnosis and response/recovery in the event of faults and anomalies during system operations. It is imperative that while a system is being engineered during its design, adequate FM measures are incorporated in its design so that “fault protection” is an integral part and not an “afterthought” in the project life-cycle. Given the structural and functional complexities of modern space systems, such as those of NASA’s missions for lunar exploration such as the Gateway and other human exploration missions in development, SE processes need to have extensive 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. Qualtech Systems, Inc. (QSI) proposes a TEAMS-FM (Fault Management) “plugin” capability with the SysML modeling environment, called “TEAMS-FM”, that (1) provides a capability to perform FM analysis of a system 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. Through this effort, TEAMS-FM brings powerful FM capabilities of TEAMS® toolset within the familiar environment of SysML without disrupting the workflow of engineering teams that conduct MBSE. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) The proposed technology will facilitate effective MBSE and allow NASA to better plan and execute future Space Missions. It can also operate as part of NASA’s next generation cis-lunar infrastructure, including the Gateway, and deep space human exploration such as the Habitat, allowing NASA to utilize the SE, FM and mission satisfiability information for improved mission execution, safety and success. The Gateway has simulation and vehicle models, relevant to this MBSE effort. Europa is also strong candidate for demonstrating the capabilities. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) DoD, USAF, US Navy, Commercial Aviation (SpaceX), NORAD, Space Command ground segments, JSF fleet, Navy platforms, Submarine Commands and BMD systems, UAVs, UMGs and unmanned submersible vehicle markets, manufacturers of DoD and Military’s remotely guided weapons and reconnaissance systems, OEM customers of semiconductor manufacturing and medical diagnostic equipment, are potential applications.

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. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) 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. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) 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.