SysML-based systems engineering using a model-driven development approach

Abstract

More and more, systems engineers are turning to the System Modeling Language (SysML) to specify and structure their systems. This has many advantages, including verifiability and ease of passing off information to other engineering disciplines, particularly software. This article describes a SysML-based process that systems engineers can use to capture requirements and specify architecture. The process uses the SysML exclusively for the representation and specification of system characteristics. Essential SysML artifacts include use case diagrams, sequence diagrams, activity diagrams, statechart diagrams, and structure diagrams. The process is function-driven and is based heavily on the identification and elaboration of operational contracts, a message-based interface communication concept. The outlined process has been applied successfully at various customer sites. Copyright © 2006 by Hans-Peter Hoffmann.