System architecting and design space characterization

This article provides a process for system architecting that incorporates a holistic approach for architecture design space characterization by integrating decision alternatives in functional, physical, and allocational design spaces and accounting for interactions. System architects are faced with numerous decisions for system form, functions, and operations when defining a system architecture. Systems designers are tasked with selecting design options which provide the necessary functionality in support of the architecture. Since modern systems, especially system-of-systems, are composed of interacting and interwoven functions and elements, it is imperative to holistically evaluate variations in the system architecture and system design, and discover interactions among and between architecture decisions and design decisions. In this article, this design space characterization is made an integral part of the system architecting process and a set-theoretic framework is developed for managing an extensive design space. The design space characterization problem is formulated as identification of the significant decisions variables and quantification of their impact on the system objectives. A Design of Experiments framework-utilizing Analysis of Variation (ANOVA) and Range Tests-is presented to holistically characterize system architecture design space including the interactions between system form, function, operations, and design decisions.