Virtual Prototyping Vehicle Electrical System Management Design Tool

Complex engineered systems such as the power systems of tactical vehicles and advanced weapon systems involve a broad spectrum of technologies and interactive subsystems that must work synergistically. Due to the interdependencies between subsystems and the ever present re-design process, it is becoming increasingly important to establish a flexible virtual prototyping design and analysis infrastructure that facilitates the investigation of interactions between subsystems and promotes the collaboration between individual groups and organizations involved in the design, analysis, and/or development of complex “systems of systems.” Moreover, this type of simulation infrastructure would provide system integrators and program managers with a rapid and easy-to-use means of establishing proof-of-concept for new systems, evaluating competitive system configurations or architectures at a system level and, after the candidate architecture is selected and a more detailed design phase is entered, tracking and managing the progress of the detailed system design. Such an infrastructure could also be useful throughout the life cycle of a military platform for analyzing potential field problems, evaluating technology enhancements/retrofits, and/or personnel training. The proof-of-concept and viability of such a capability were established in Phase I. The Phase II research will be focused upon the next steps in the development of this virtual prototyping vehicle electrical system management design tool.