Fundamentals of Systems Engineering

2-0-4 units · Graduate

General introduction to systems engineering for aerospace and more general electro-mechanical-cyber systems. Built on the V-model as well as an agile approach. Topics include stakeholder analysis, requirements definition, system architecture and concept generation, trade-space exploration and concept selection, design definition and optimization, system integration and interface management, system safety, verification and validation, and commissioning and operations. Discusses the trade-offs between performance, life-cycle cost and system operability. Readings based on systems engineering standards. Individual homework assignments apply concepts from class. Prepares students for the systems field exam in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Fall 2015

Topics

Systems Engineering Overview and Stakeholder Analysis
Requirements Definition
Introduction to Systems Modeling Languages
System Architecture and Concept Generation
Tradespace Exploration and Concept Selection
Design Definition and Multidisciplinary Optimization
MBSE and Introduction to CAD (Guest Lecture from Solidworks)
Systems Integration and Interface Management
Verification and Validation
Commissioning and Operations
Lifecycle Management
Prototyping and Manufacturing

Readings

[NASA/SP-2007-6105] = NASA Headquarters. NASA Systems Engineering Handbook, NASA/SP-2007–6105 Rev 1 . Military Bookshop, 2007. ISBN: 9781780391380.
Listed reading
[NASA/SP-2007–6105] Chapters 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0, pp. 1–30 and Section 4.1, pp. 31–39.
Listed reading
INCOSE. Systems Engineering Handbook: A Guide for System Life Cycle Processes and Activities . 4th ed. Wiley, 2015, p. 304. ISBN: 9781118999400.
Listed reading
ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2015, Systems and Software Engineering—System Life Cycle Processes . ↗
Listed reading
Feng, W., E. F. Crawley, et al. “ Dependency Structure Matrix Modeling for Stakeholder Value Networks.” (PDF - 2.3MB) 12 th International Dependency and Structure Modeling Conference, DSM'10 (2010): 22–23. ↗
Listed reading
[NASA/SP-2007–6105]
Listed reading
Peña, M., and R. Valerdi. “ Characterizing the Impact of Requirements Volatility on Systems Engineering Effort .” Systems Engineering 18, no. 1 (2015): 59–70. ↗
Listed reading
de Weck, O. L., and M. B. Jones. “ Isoperformance: Analysis and Design of Complex Systems with Desired Outcomes .” Systems Engineering 9, no. 1 (2006): 45–61. ↗
Listed reading
Crawley, Edward, Olivier de Weck, et al. “The Influence of Architecture in Engineering Systems.” (PDF) Engineering Systems Monograph (2004): 29–31. ↗
Listed reading
Ross, A. M., D. Hastings, et al. “ Multi-Attribute Tradespace Exploration as Front End for Effective Space System Design .” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 41, no. 1 (2004): 20–28. ↗
Listed reading
Frey, D., P. Herder, et al. “ The Pugh Controlled Convergence Method: Model-based Evaluation and Implications for Design Theory .” Research in Engineering Design 20, no. 1 (2008): 41–58. ↗
Listed reading
Agte, J., O. de Weck, et al. “ MDO: Assessment and Direction for Advancement—An Opinion of One International Group .” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization 40, no. 17 (2010): 17–33. ↗
Listed reading
Ivanov, Anton, et al. “Concurrent Design Facility at the Space Center EPFL.” (PDF - 2.0MB) Proceedings of 4 th International Workshop on System & Concurrent Engineering for Space Applications. no. EPFL-CONF-183798. European Space Agency , 2010. ↗
Listed reading
Tahan, M., J. Z. Ben-Asher. “ Modeling and Analysis of Integration Processes for Engineering Systems .” Systems Engineering 8, no. 1 (2005): 62–77. ↗
Listed reading
Leveson, N. “A New Accident Model for Engineering Safer Systems.” (PDF) Safety Science 42, no. 4 (2004). ↗
Listed reading
Shishko, R. “ Developing Analogy Cost Estimates for Space Missions .” Space 2004 Conference and Exhibit (2004): 28–30. ↗
Listed reading
de Weck, O. L., A. Ross, et al. “Investigating Relationships and Semantic Sets amongst System Lifecycle Properties (Ilities).” (PDF) 3 rd International Engineering Systems Symposium, CESUN (2012): 18–20. ↗
Listed reading
de Weck, O. L. “ Feasibility of a 5x Speedup in System Development due to META Design .” Paper DETC2012–70791, ASME 2012 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC) and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (CIE) (2012): 12–15. ↗
Listed reading
Our main “textbook” for the class will be the NASA Systems Engineering Handbook, NASA/SP-2007–6105, Rev. All students taking this class will have read the textbook in its entirety by the end of the term.
Listed reading

Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) 2-0-4 units

Sources

Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2015
MIT OCW calendar ↗
MIT OCW readings ↗
MIT OCW syllabus ↗
Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.