X2000/IFDP system engineering process for risk management

Abstract

This paper describes some of the processes employed by the X2000/IFDP system engineering team to manage risk. This paper will describe the difficult system engineering task undertaken by the X2000/IFDP team of trying to develop a technology rich avionics system for a divergent interplanetary mission set. The ability to balance the risks inherent in technology development against the tight requirements of interplanetary missions was the job of the system engineering team. This job posed a unique set of challenges for the team requiring that new processes be developed. Many of the successful processes employed by the X2000/IFDP System Engineering team will be discussed in detail. The bottom line of each of the processes involved early and deep involvement by each of the affected subsystems. This allowed the system design issues to be worked in sufficient detail that the requirements and associated risks could be clearly identified.