Towards an Automated UAF‐based Trade Study Process for System of Systems Architecture

Abstract The major driver for the Model‐based systems engineering adoption in industry is the ability for an engineer to develop systems with traceability to requirements, using one integrated architecture model that enables all types of automated analysis, e.g. impact analysis, gap analysis, trade studies, and simulations. Today, complex real‐life problems require the application of MBSE practices, where evolving systems communicate independently, both operationally and managerially, to achieve a common goal. This is the level of system of systems. At this level the major concern is an architecture assessment and trade study analysis, which can lead to different criteria and techniques for identification and comparison of alternatives to keep architecture in line with budgets and timelines. Although there are multiple process that provide step‐by‐step descriptions of trade study analyses, there are none that detail how trade study analyses could be automated in the model‐based environment in combination with existing architecture frameworks, languages, and tools. The goal of this research is to propose an automated trade study analysis process for the System of systems architecture developed in the Unified Architecture Framework models. It is a part of the larger research of trade study analysis automation, including modeling guidance, model quality checks, and automation scripts.