Analytical tool sets with models, metrics, and measurement techniques for System Architecture development.

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the commercial sector have become increasingly affordability conscious. In this environment, system architectures have a significant role in developing and maintaining functional performance, affordability and supportability over the life cycle. This SBIR project develops an architecture evaluation framework for analyzing complex, dynamically reconfigurable, net-centric system architectures such as DD(X) to ensure effective system operation and maintenance. ASSETT has previous experience in both DoD and commercial industry in the development of architecture evaluation tools and is partnered with Stevens Institute of Technology to tailor a framework consistent with DoD and commercial industry requirements for this SBIR. Our approach uses systems engineering processes to focus on nine (9) key attributes: deployed operations, functional performance, physical implementation, RMA, expandability, customer?s and developer?s organizational structures, technology, security, and cost. Phase I of this effort produces a lexicon and metrics that allow system architects to assess complex, distributed systems. Our approach establishes a framework that compares the viability of candidate architectures and provides a set of test cases to demonstrate the effectiveness of this architecture evaluation framework. Phase II incorporates guidance from the Navy and focuses on developing and demonstrating the prototype assessment framework via the test cases.