The toolset for executable models development that can be customized to different systems will be useful within DoD organizations in which software intensive product lines are common. For example, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Domain is enjoying a period of significant expansion. UAVs have progressed from target drones to reusable weapon systems. Their software systems have become complex and extremely diversified. Domain specific executable SysML models could reduce development risks by enabling many alternative operational concepts and designs to be evaluated before significant effort is expended developing poor designs. In the commercial arena, adopting the same type of approach for software intensive system can be used in a broad range of areas, such as airplane, power plant SCADA systems, and vertical business applications such as Human Resources applications. This type of technology can be adapted to these different domains and provide benefits similar to those provided to NASA.
A toolset for accelerated development of executable models of spacecraft systems has multiple applications in the NASA community, the DoD environment, as well as in the commercial arena. The envisioned toolset can be applied to any complex system that needs to use model-based techniques for design or validation. Desktop based tool support for such system is currently missing. In the short term, the tool can be used for NASA projects such as the Orion, the Small Pressurized Rover, and Lunar Habitat test bed . The tool should allow these projects to significantly reduce the need for prototyping activities and associated costly simulation. In the longer term, the tool can be directly applicable to all components of the Constellation program and any software intensive system supporting the new exploration vision.
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