Tradespace Exploration for the Engineering of Resilient Systems

Abstract Tradespace exploration supports the Systems Engineering Technical Management Process of Decision Analysis by identifying compromises, revealing opportunities, and communicating the impacts of decisions across a system's development lifecycle. Critical program decisions are made based on the outcomes of trades; trades being performed with multiple types and quantities of data coming out of tools and methods employing qualitative and quantitative analyses. Tradespace exploration for Engineered Resilient Systems (ERS) is envisioned to coalesce pertinent information tuned to specific decision makers, at the appropriate time, presenting a holistic view of decision impacts on required system capabilities. This study provides an ERS view of tradespace exploration, which reveals that having a valid set of attributes, and an understanding of how a cross-section of tools can satisfy them, is insufficient – what is needed is a deeper understanding of how these tools are used and, more importantly, how they can be used when performing tradespace exploration in support of the Decision Analysis Process. Gaining this understanding will enable users to better assess if they possess the appropriate tradespace exploration tools. A holistic view of 81 candidate tradespace exploration tools is provided. This study seeks to address a fundamental aspect of tradespace exploration by assembling a “best common practice” process for their requirements, identifying a set of attributes that defines an ideal tradespace exploration tool, and surveying existing tools that satisfy these attributes. In this way, a set of tools can be selected to enable the ERS tradespace vision on a particular project. A paradigm shift towards common tradespace methods, tools, cost models, and steps is emphasized.