Robust and Cost-Effective Aerospace Complex Systems/System of Systems Integration based on Distributed Systems Integration

摘要

Complex systems science and complex systems/System of systems engineering are recently gaining much interest in many fields of science and engineering particularly in the aerospace community. Well coordinated activities between the fields of "Complex Systems Science" and "Complex Systems/System of Systems Engineering" are essential for developing a well integrated, robust, and cost-effective complex system that satisfies its stakeholders' needs. "Complex Systems Science" enables us to scientifically observe and analyze the behavior of an "object of interest" along with the causes and effects of its internal/external phenomena; thus, it helps stakeholders to establish a well defined set of mission requirements which they are trying to satisfy by effectively integrating newly developing and heritage systems. The "object of interests", as an example, may be airport locations, their traffic size, communication capabilities, population trends, and weather conditions, etc.. Each of these objects of interests demands scientific investigation and analysis to understand their behaviors in order to establish a solid set of mission requirements for developing a very effective air traffic control system. The system integrator of this "Complex Systems/System of Systems", can then develop a robust air traffic control system with the use of "Distributed" systems integration processes that satisfies each of these mission requirements. In another example, the object of interests may be the locations of objects, required time to detect and response to conflicts areas, involved weapons, and political environments of the international and the region of interests. The developing system may be a complex unmanned aerial vehicle system integrated with space systems that can fully satisfy the mission requirements developed by the stakeholders. For any aerospace system to be acceptable, it is utmost important that an integrated system must be that of a "quasi deterministic system" in which its outputs can be predicted under giving inputs and environmental conditions with a very high confidence. Otherwise, it can cause unbearable human causality as well as social, political, and financial disasters.