UAF-based integration of design and simulation model for system-of-systems

doi:10.23919/JSEE.2025.000022

Journal of Systems Engineering and Electronics ›› 2025, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (1): 108-126.doi: 10.23919/JSEE.2025.000022

• SYSTEMS ENGINEERING • Previous Articles

UAF-based integration of design and simulation model for system-of-systems

Yimin FENG¹(), Ping GE¹^,²(), Yanli SHAO²(), Qiang ZOU¹^,*(), Yusheng LIU¹()

¹ State Key Laboratory of CAD & CG, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
² Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, China National Space Administration, Beijing 100190, China

Received:2023-08-08 Online:2025-02-18 Published:2025-03-18
Contact: Qiang ZOU E-mail:fengyimin@sust.edu.cn;gepingfan@sina.com;shaoyanli@hdu.edu.cn;qiangzou@cad.zju.edu.cn;ysliu@cad.zju.edu.cn
About author:
FENG Yimin was born in 1995. He received his B.E. degree in computer science from Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China, in 2017. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree in computer science at the State Key Laboratory of CAD & CG in Zhejiang University. His research interests include system-of-systems engineering, model-based system engineering, and computer-aided design. E-mail: fengyimin@sust.edu.cn

GE Ping was born in 1977. He received his M.S. degree from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Zhejiang University. His research interests include deep space exploration engineering, model-based system engineering (MBSE), and spacecraft design. E-mail: gepingfan@sina.com

SHAO Yanli was born in 1989. She received her Ph.D. degree in Zhejiang University, China, in 2016. She is currently working in Deep Space Exploration Laboratory. Her research interests include intelligent software engineering, model-based system engineering (MBSE), and artificial intelligence. E-mail: shaoyanli@hdu.edu.cn

ZOU Qiang was born in 1990. He received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, in 2019. He is currently an associate professor at the State Key Laboratory of CAD & CG and the College of Computer Science, Zhejiang University. His research interests include design modeling and manufacturing simulation. E-mail: qiangzou@cad.zju.edu.cn

LIU Yusheng was born in 1970. He received his B.E. degree in mechanical engineering and Ph.D. degree in computer science from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, in 1995 and 2000, respectively. He is currently a professor and a researcher at the State Key Laboratory of CAD & CG and the College of Computer Science, Zhejiang University. His research interests include model-based system engineering, computer aided design and manufacturing, product innovation design, and model retrieval. E-mail: ysliu@cad.zju.edu.cn
Supported by:
This work was supported by the Fifth Electronic Research Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (HK07202200877), the Pre-research Project on Civil Aerospace Technologies of CNSA (D020101), the Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Plan Project (2022C01052), Frontier Scientific Research Program of Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (2022-QYKYJH-HXYF-018, 2022-QYKYJH-GCXD-001), and Zhiyuan Laboratory (ZYL2024001).

Abstract

Abstract:

Model-based system-of-systems (SOS) engineering (MBSoSE) is becoming a promising solution for the design of SoS with increasing complexity. However, bridging the models from the design phase to the simulation phase poses significant challenges and requires an integrated approach. In this study, a unified requirement modeling approach is proposed based on unified architecture framework (UAF). Theoretical models are proposed which compose formalized descriptions from both top-down and bottom-up perspectives. Based on the description, the UAF profile is proposed to represent the SoS mission and constituent systems (CS) goal. Moreover, the agent-based simulation information is also described based on the overview, design concepts, and details (ODD) protocol as the complement part of the SoS profile, which can be transformed into different simulation platforms based on the eXtensible markup language (XML) technology and model-to-text method. In this way, the design of the SoS is simulated automatically in the early design stage. Finally, the method is implemented and an example is given to illustrate the whole process.

Key words: model-based systems engineering, unified architecture framework (UAF), system-of-systems engineering, model transformation, simulation

Yimin FENG, Ping GE, Yanli SHAO, Qiang ZOU, Yusheng LIU. UAF-based integration of design and simulation model for system-of-systems[J]. Journal of Systems Engineering and Electronics, 2025, 36(1): 108-126.

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ODD element	Related SoS metamodel	Related UAF viewpoint
Purpose	Mission, CSgoal	Req: Requirement
Entities	Operational performer; Resource performer	Op-Tx: Operational taxonomy; Rs-Tx: Resource taxonomy
State variables	Measurement	Me-Pm: Measurements parameters
Scales	Simulation configuration	Simulation
Process overview and scheduling	Activity; State; Message	Rs-Pr: Resources processes; Rs-St: Resources states; Rs-Sq: Resources sequences
Basic principles	Standard	Sd-Tx: Standards taxonomy
Emergence	Unified requirement analysis	Rs-Pm: Resources parameters
Objectives	Measurement, CSGoal	Me-Pm: Measurements parameters
Prediction	Milestone	Rs-Rm: Resources roadmap
Interaction	Function, Potential	Rs-Pr: Resources processes
Stochasticity	Simulation configuration	Simulation
Collectives	Operational architecture； Resource architecture	Op-Tx: Operational taxonomy; Rs-Tx: Resources taxonomy
Initialization	Actual measurement	Rs-Sr: Resources structure
Input data	Condition, Environment	Environment
Submodels	Function action	Rs-Pr-Fl: Resources processes flow

UAF template	Design element	Simulation element	NetLogo template
xmi:type='uml:Activity'; <UAF:Function/>	Function	Behavior rules	set statements
xmi:type='uml:Activity'; <URML:CSPotential/>	Potential	Behavior rules	set statements
xmi:type='uml:Class'; <URML:Mission/>	Mission	Attributes	globals variables
xmi:type='uml:Class'; <URML: CSGoal />	CSGoal	Attributes	turtles-own variables
xmi:type='uml:Property'; <UAF:Measurement/>	Resource	Attributes	turtles-own variables
xmi:type='uml:InstanceSpecification'; <UAF:ActualResource/>	Performer	Agents	turtles
xmi:type='uml:Class'; <UAF:ResourceArchitecture/>	Architecture	Agents	turtles
xmi:type='uml:Class'; <URML: Initialization/>	Actual measurement	Initialization	setup
xmi:type='uml:Class'; <URML: Simulation configuration />	Simulation configuration	Attributes	globals variables

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UAF-based integration of design and simulation model for system-of-systems

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