Systems Thinking and Systems Engineering

Introduction to the course22 January 2013

Francois Christophe

Galina Medyna

Eric Coatanéa

Intro

Contact info.:

Galina Medyna: galina.medyna@aalto.fi

09 470 23695

weekdays 07:30 – 15:30 room 235, K1

Francois Christophe: francois.christophe@aalto.fi

Eric Coatanéa: eric.coatanea@aalto.fi

Noppa: https://noppa.aalto.fi/noppa/kurssi/kon-41.4011/luennot

Objective of the course:

• understand systems and viewpoints

• define boundaries between a system and its environment

•make models of a technical system

• simulate behaviours of a technical systems

Passing requirements:

Course attendance: 10%

Project work in class + final project presentation: 10%

Individual project reports: 50%- show critical analysis of tools (strength, weaknesses)

- ability to compare with other tools

- present individual working methods

Seminar: collective report + final presentation + poster 30%

Introduction to Systems Engineering and Systems Thinking

What is a system?

Definitions

What is a model?

Definitions

Projects

Mobile robot

EuRobot 2012

Project 1 – Modeling the robot architecture• Study of different modeling languages

• Model of architecture at different levels

• Analysis of this model (How reusable? How and what to simulate on that model?)

Project 2 – Analysis of the mobile robot in its environmentSystems dynamics:• Analysis of the robot environment: How deep is the

description of the environment? What is part of the robot, what belongs to environment?

• Analysis of strategies and behaviours for the robot

Project 3 – Definition of design tasks

• How to breakdown tasks? (from which viewpoint: advantages and inconvenients of each viewpoint)

• What are the causal connections between requirements and tasks?

• How to group the tasks?

• How to organise task schedule?

• How to evaluate the duration of each task?

Project 4 – Risk analysis and management techniques• Establish different strategies for the robot behaviour

• Analysis of risk between different strategies

Project 5 – Bayesian network to model components and parts

• Study bayesian network and Netica software

• Evaluate a probability of success of the robot due to the use of certain components

Project 6 – Interface management

• Study interface management techniques

• Make sure that each component provides the required services.

• Specify the needed inputs and required outputs for each component

Project 7 – Mobile robot in a System of Systems• Imagine now, many robots: - first similar, then different

• How do they interact?

• How do they communicate?

• Do they have a common goal?

Project 8 – Verification and Validation

• How to make sure that requirements are fulfilled?

• Imagine tests for components, sub-systems and system?

• Simulate according to these tests

What is a system?

Definitions

What is a System ?

"Simply defined, a system is a complex whole the functioning of which depends on its parts and the interactions between those parts. – physical, such as river systems– biological, such as living organisms– designed, such as automobiles– abstract, such as philosophical systems– social, such as families– human activity, such as systems to ensure the quality of products"

From: Systems Thinking: Creative Holism for Managers, M.C. Jackson, Wiley, 2003

“System means a grouping of parts that operate together for a common purpose.” – Gregory Watson

What is a model?

Definitions

Francois Christophe

What is a model?

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Francois Christophe

What is a model?INCOSE glossary definitions [INCOSE, 98]

• A representation of an actual or conceptual system that involves mathematics, logical expressions, or computer simulations that can be used to predict how the system might perform or survive under various conditions or in a range of hostile environments. (DODI 5000.2)

• A representation of an artifact or activity intended to explain the behavior of some aspects of it. (WG6)

• An abstract representation (often a mathematical representation) of an entity or an attribute. (WG6)

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