Advanced System of Systems Design Capability

Successful advanced Naval ship design must be based on integrating multiple cross-functional systems. Future Naval systems will require innovation and a systematic integration in order to achieve increasingly demanding mission profiles in a cost effective manner. Since a large amount of the design cost (up to 80%) is locked during the conceptual phase, it is important to include both the traditional Naval Architecture concerns and the specialized war fighting operational objectives within the conceptual design. Accurate assessment of proper specifications and design objectives using a system of systems cost conscious design environment will eliminate situations where cost becomes prohibiting because performance expectations were set at each system level without coordination and without a parallel interaction among systems' performance and objectives. The proposing firm (MES) has been developing a system for Multi-Disciplinary Optimization under Uncertainty (MDO-U) and has applied it successfully to space vehicle design. MES has also developed Fast Running Model (FRM) technology for performing high fidelity simulations rapidly within an iterative environment (i.e. optimization, model update, error estimation). Both capabilities will be employed for developing a flexible and modular Tree-MDO-U (T-MDO-U) tool for system of systems design. If desired, T-MDO-U will allow including established Naval design tools (i.e. ASSET-LEAPS) within the design process. In collaboration with the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department at the University of Michigan, MES will validate the T-MDO-U in a ship design environment and will demonstrate the value of a systematic probabilistic design in achieving cost savings.BENEFITS: The T-MDO-U development will allow performing system of systems design in a systematic manner that considers the interaction among systems. It will include uncertainty in the optimization process and will bring high fidelity analyses into the early design stage. The T-MDO-U will be validated within a ship design environment and upon completion it will allow rapid evaluation of alternative ship designs for Naval warfare scenarios. Beyond the Naval field and the shipbuilding industry, the T-MDO-U product will be valuable in aerospace, automotive, military ground vehicle, heavy construction equipment, and bioengineering industries for designing complex and cost conscious products.