A Taxonomy of MBSE Approaches by Languages, Tools and Methods

Abstract

Systems engineering has gained in maturity over the last decades and started a transition from document-centric approaches to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). Several papers have discussed the benefits and potential, but also the limitations, of using MBSE, based on literature surveys and analyze feedback from academia and industry. The current paper explores a complementary avenue and aims at giving students and industry practitioners a set of keys and decision criteria to select MBSE languages, tools and methods. Languages, tools and methods are categorised and selection criteria are proposed for a panorama of languages that goes beyond SysML and other techniques commonly associated with MBSE. In addition, research avenues for the future of MBSE are identified. The discussion relies on the authors' experience in teaching and using system engineering and MBSE in both academia and industry, as well as on the experience shared within the framework of Concorde, a French project dedicated to drone systems design methodologies.