A Synthetic Tradespace Model for Tradespace Analysis and Exploration

Abstract

Tradespace analysis and exploration is used to frame a design problem. By taking stock of available technologies, predictions of the performance of a system defined from a combinatorial combination of technologies (from say a morphological matrix) can be made. Based on these assessments, tradeoffs between functional performance objectives (often termed simply Functional Objectives or FOs) can be made. The result of these performance tradeoffs or Trades, can then be used to define a target design space for a problem. That design space can then be characterized with criteria to determine the viability of the tradespace and the design problem. However, the cost to develop the morphological matrix for the tradespace can be prohibitive. The tradespace at the US Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) took more than 2 years of effort by multiple staff and technical experts to develop and allows for the consideration of more than 1021 vehicles. To develop enhanced approaches to tradespace analysis and exploration to enhance programmatic decision-making, a simulated tradespace based on “synthetic data” is necessary. For tradespace studies within the Clemson University Virtual Prototyping of Ground Systems (VIPR-GS) it was necessary to develop a synthetic tradespace model to serve as a basis for evaluating improved approaches to tradespace analysis, exploration and decision-making methods. Within this work, we describe the state-of-the-art for developing models of the tradespace, formulations of functional objectives and defined models to represent different synthetic variable types to produce a synthetic tradespace with far less effort. Using this approach, we demonstrate the development of an example of a synthetic tradespace for small semi-autonomous ground vehicles developed within the VIPR Center that can be used to evaluate vehicle designs for the Clemson Deep Orange Project Vehicle and at GVSC. Finally, we will explore how this tradespace model can be used to facilitate decision-making surrounding the tradespace in the future.