Systems Architecture and Engineering
Systems Architecture is a field of study and practice that uses abstractions to decrease ambiguity, enhance creativity and manage complexity during early system and product development.

It also serves to represent and analyze underlying architectures of existing systems. Key research topics in system architecture are in the areas of requirements formulation and goal definition, functional decomposition, form-function mapping and modularity, among others.  Network and graph theory, abstract algebra as well as object-process modeling are key methods that support systems architecting. 

Systems Engineering is a field of research and practice that focuses on transitioning early system concepts and architectures coming out of the systems architecting process to implementable systems, products and services.  Systems engineering research focuses on methods and tools for balancing competing performance requirements with lifecycle cost, infusing new technologies, managing safety margins and ensuring system integrity, among others.

Our contributions to systems architecture and engineering include:

  • Isoperformance: a methodology for obtaining sets of designs that meet desired performance targets, while minimizing secondary cost and risk objectives
  • SMI - Singular Value Modularity Index, a measure of modularity of systems based on singular value decomposition (SVD) of the underlying system design structure matrix (DSM)
  • Augmented network representations of systems using graph theory with multi-partite node and weighted edge representations
  • A functional classification of complex systems

Links

Engineering Systems Symposium
March 29-31, 2004 MIT, Cambridge, MA
http://esd.mit.edu/resources/symposium2004.html

Publications

  • Holtta-Otto K., de Weck O.L., “Degree of Modularity in Engineering Systems and Products with Technical and Business Constraints”, Concurrent Engineering, Special Issue on Managing Modularity and Commonality in Product and Process Development, 15 (2), 113-126, 2007
  • de Weck, O.L. and Jones M. B., “Isoperformance: Analysis and design of complex systems with desired outcomes”, Systems Engineering, 9 (1), 45-61, January 2006 PDF
  • de Weck O.L., Miller D.W., “Multivariable Isoperformance Methodology for Precision Opto-Mechanical System”, Paper AIAA-2002-1420, 43rd AIAA/ASME /ASCE/AHS Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference,  Denver, Colorado, April 22-25, 2002. PDF 
  • Cohanim B. E., Hewitt J. N., and de Weck O.L., “The Design of Radio Telescope Array Configurations using Multiobjective Optimization: Imaging Performance versus Cable Length”, The Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series, 154, 705-719, October 2004
  • Smaling R., de Weck O., “Assessing Risks and Opportunities of Technology Infusion in System Design”, Systems Engineering, 10 (1): 1-25, 2007  PDF
  • de Weck, O., and Chang D. ,”Quantitative Assessment of Technology Infusion in Communications Satellite Constellation Architectures”, Paper AIAA-2003-2355, 21st International Communications Satellite Systems Conference, Yokohama, Japan, 15-19 April, 2003. PDF
  • Edward Crawley, Olivier de Weck, Steven Eppinger, Christopher Magee, Joel Moses, Warren Seering, Joel Schindall, David Wallace, Daniel Whitney (Chair)., “The Influence of Architecture in Engineering Systems”, Monograph, 1st Engineering Systems Symposium, M.I.T., March 29-31, 2004. PDF
  • Bounova G., de Weck O., “Augmented Network Models for Engineering System Design”, International Conference on Complex Systems 2006 (ICCS2006), The New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI), Boston, MA, USA June 25-30, 2006 PDF
  • Magee C. and de Weck O. L., “Complex System Classification”, Fourteenth Annual International Symposium of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), Toulouse, France, June 20-24, 2004, submitted to Systems Engineering PDF
  • de Weck O., Nadir W., Wong J., Bounova G., Coffee T., “Modular Structures for Manned Space Exploration: The Truncated Octahedron as a Building Block”, submitted to Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 2005 PDF
  • Hofstetter W., de Weck O.L., Crawley E. F., “Modular Building Blocks for Manned Spacecraft: A Case Study for Moon and Mars Landing Systems”, INCOSE 2005  - Systems Engineering Symposium, Rochester, NY, July 10-15, 2005 PDF