Integrated Modular Architecture Modeling Across Mixed Design Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of complex aircraft systems is hindered by compatibility issues between different computer modeling environments, leading to errors and increased development time due to manual translation interfaces and non-portable models.
Innovation Solution
The development of an Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA) model manager that transforms requirements into standardized models, using a language-neutral domain to facilitate interface control database definitions and validation, thereby automating the generation and integration of aircraft system models across various environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual translation interfaces are used between different computer modeling environments, then compatibility issues can be addressed, but development time increases and errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an intermediary translation layer that automatically converts between different modeling environment formats (e.g., Simulink, LabVIEW, MATLAB) using standardized intermediate representations. This automated intermediary system eliminates manual translation efforts, reducing development time while maintaining compatibility across diverse modeling environments through systematic format conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms model parameters and data structures between different modeling environments by applying standardized conversion rules and parameter mappings. This parameter transformation approach enables automatic adaptation of models across environments without manual intervention, reducing errors and accelerating development while preserving the essential model characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual translation interfaces are used between different computer modeling environments, then compatibility issues can be addressed, but errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated translation intermediary implements validated conversion routines that systematically transform models between environments with built-in error checking and consistency verification. This structured intermediary approach eliminates manual translation errors while maintaining model integrity and compatibility across different modeling platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that validate translated models against original specifications and detect inconsistencies automatically. This feedback loop ensures translation accuracy by comparing source and target models, identifying errors early, and enabling corrective actions before deployment, thereby reducing the overall error rate.
3Productivity
If standardized IMA model definitions are implemented, then integration efficiency improves, but initial system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the integration system into modular standardized components (e.g., separate translation modules, validation modules, and interface layers) that can be independently developed and maintained. This segmentation reduces initial complexity by organizing the standardized IMA framework into manageable units while enabling efficient integration through pre-defined modular interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized IMA model definitions serve as universal interfaces that can be applied across multiple modeling environments and aircraft systems. This universality improves integration efficiency by enabling reuse of standardized components across different projects and platforms, reducing the need for custom integration work while the initial standardization effort pays dividends through repeated application.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate an integrated modular architecture (IMA) model. An example apparatus includes an interface importer to import first IMA protocol definitions into a computer modeling environment to generate libraries and generate IMA model objects, a model object handler to import ones of IMA model objects into the computer modeling environment to generate a first IMA model corresponding to an aircraft system of an aircraft and generate an IMA system model corresponding to the aircraft by generating IMA models including the first IMA model. The example apparatus further includes an interface validator to validate the IMA system model by comparing an output of the IMA system model to a validation output, an interface exporter to generate manufacturing build instructions of the aircraft system when the IMA system model is validated, and a report generator to initiate production of the aircraft system.