Validity Frame–enabled model-based engineering processes

Abstract

Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) focuses on using models to support the design, optimization, simulation, and ultimately deployment of complex cyber-physical systems (CPSs). These models enable reasoning about and predicting the behavior of the (realized) real-world system in silico. The value of using such (predictive) model depends on its validity against its real-world counterpart. As such, the validity context of a model is critical to ensure correct model use. Reasoning on validity is only possible if the validity of the model was captured explicitly at design time. In previous work, the validity frame (VF) was presented as a way to explicitly capture a model’s validity; however, no guidance on the integration process within MBSE processes was given. Within this article, we present the creation and evolution of the model and its VFs to ensure model validity consistency and completeness. This evolution results in a set of interrelated models and VFs. By capturing these relations, we create a lightweight frame-enabled library of model variants. We show our contribution using an F1/10 vehicle simulation test bench.