This topic falls within the framework of Systems Engineering, of which it applies the methods and tools to the integrated design of missions and space systems. Traditional and novel methodologies are applied to case studies with the dual purpose of testing the methods and tools developed in house and defining new concepts at both mission and systems level. Particular attention is devoted to the use of the Model Based Systems Engineering approach to support the design and verification of aerospace platforms throughout the entire life cycle.
People
Sabrina Corpino and Fabrizio Stesina
- Concurrent Design
The research activity aims at developing methodologies and infrastructures to support the concurrent design of space missions and systems, with special regards to small platforms. A concurrent design infrastructure is already available and continuously updated with new tools and increased capabilities. Main tools integrated into the facility are:
- Concurrent Requirement Analysis and Management System (CREAMS) – tool for developing and managing requirements within the mission This system exploits most useful features of model-based systems engineering (MBSE), but it can be easily integrated into a document-centric traditional process. The system is built into the Valispace data-driven tool, which is interfaced with the Capella MBSE tool where the mission is modelled and analysed. Requirements can be exported into popular formats such as Excel® spreadsheets, for maximising data exchange compatibility.
- Multi stakehOlder NEgoTiation space exploration (MONET) – tool for supporting model-based concurrent design, which is used for developing and assessing the mission concepts.
The infrastructure has been developed in compliance with the ESA CDF standards, but specifically targeted to small mission design. It has all functionalities of the ESA CDF, even at a smaller scale, but it also features some distinctive characteristics:
- It is a distributed system, i.e. can be accessed by anyone having access rights. This feature can be strategic for sharing data and models among project partners with no need of co-location
- It integrates in-house developed calculation sheets and simulation models optimised for small missions and miniaturised platforms
- It includes the technology database for CubeSats
The design system is currently subject to major improvement to include Virtual Reality capability into the design process, bridging the design tasks to the verification tasks.
- Advanced space systems simulation
The research activity aims at developing methodologies and infrastructures to support the verification of space missions and systems, with special regards to small platforms. A simulation facility, the CubeSat Advanced Simulator & Test-bench (CAST), is already available and it is continuously updated with new tools and increased capabilities. CAST can be used to:
- supporting trajectory design, illumination analysis, GNC analysis, and payload simulation
- verifying functional and performance requirements through in-the-loop simulations from Algorithms in the Loop to Hardware in the Loop
One of the main features of the simulator is the modularity that makes it super flexible with respect to lifecycle stages and different missions/applications/products. Databases of digital models already exist but are continuously upgraded as part of the research tasks. Final goal of the research activity is the development of the Digital Twin of several platforms, while parts of it are already available for selected products (1U and 3U Cubesats).