Written by Anton Timonin
Before studying the successful implementation cases of the arcadia framework and visual tool capella, let's determine what each part means.
Arcadia is a model driven engineering method for systems, hardware, software architectural design, that promotes a viewpoint-driver approach and provides needs between need and solution. It was developed by Thales between 2005 and 2010 and emerged as a result of an iterative process that included all of the company's business domains. And later this Arcadia method was registered as a standard in 2018
The Arcadia method promotes a visual approach to solving the problem of satisfaction between need and solution Generally, it can be divided into 3 visual components: Need analysis and modeling. It includes an analysis of the needs of the system and modeling with further validation of use with architecture building and formalization of requirements engineering Requirements engineering. The process consists in the analysis of functional and non-functional requirements for further use, as well as the expectations of the end user, the conditions in which the system will work, system limitations, security, verification. Architecture building. The process consists of designing the logical and physical layers of architecture.
The Arcadia framework can be visually divided into 5 layers:
Operation analysis and functional & non-functional analysis are needs of the system. Logical and physical architectures and development contracts are solutions for the system.
Capella is an open-source Model-Based Systems Engineering (BSE) tool designed to help architects and engineers in visualizing and solving the complex task of designing, analyzing, and validating large-scale systems. It was released in 2014 (https://github.com/eclipse-capella/capella). The system provides a graphical interface that allows engineers to represent all stages of arcadia framework, and switch between stages of the system
There are several case of using tool capella in cooperation with arcadia framework:
And also many other cases of implementation of this tool. Examples can be found in the sources.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TFS) is a company that creates the products and supply of scientific instrumentation, specializing primarily in developing advanced microscopes and analytical equipment, such as Transmission Electron Microscopes.
Their microscopes are used in many fields, such as virus study, studying the structure of cells, and analyzing materials. Their software systems have more than 400 modules and 1000 configurations, which are reused in different product lines. A truly comprehensive system that requires detailed formalization of the architecture of each module and how these modules are connected to each other.
Prior to that, the company used utilities such as Powerpoint and Visio to describe the architecture of the modules. Therefore, there was a request for a more advanced solution that can simplify the system design process.
To improve the development and formalization of advanced microscopes and support solutions that were made by engineers, TFS introduced its own reference architecture (with TNO-ESI support).
To support this architecture, the capella approach to modeling based on Model-Based Systems Engineering was chosen. An approach to module decomposition was chosen to better verify consistency in the system architecture.
As a result, Thermo Fisher Scientific received the following benefits from the development:
Rolls-Royce is an engineering and technology company that specializes in developing cars, engines on cutting-edge technologies. They have high standards in developing clean, safe, competitive solutions.
They needed to develop a UltraFan® engine representing the next generation of turbofan engines for short-haul and long-haul aircraft. With a new gearbox design that improves overall performance by ensuring optimal fan, compressor and turbine speeds
The development of an UltraFan engine was fraught with many difficulties. From the multitude of subsystems that must interact with each other, the ability to operate under extreme conditions of temperature, pressure and material flow that can affect the entire aircraft as a whole. Also, smaller subsystems could influence larger ones. To solve these problems, Rolls Royce needed a reliable structure that could visualize the consistency and behavior of the system at its various levels.
Initially, the task was to develop a model of the engine's power gearbox oil system. At that time, the company felt that their current tools did not cover the needs for developing such a system: Integrate requirements and definitions into models Define the system architecture for the power gearbox oil system Integrate the security process following the ARP4754A standard
Rolls Royce has implemented the Capella tool together with the Arcadia methodology to meet the needs of the task. The Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach was chosen because it allowed us to make a complex model structure, compose a model using smaller modules, and configure the interaction of models with each other. And also decompose a complex system into smaller ones with further parallelization of the development of these models.
Also, following the built-in capabilities in the Arcadia framework, starting with the “black box”, coming to System Analysis (SA), Logical Architecture (LA), and the definition of system architecture at the physical level (Physical Architecture).
Naval Group is a company specializing in the production, integration and construction of various types of warships, from corvettes to aircraft carriers with ballistic missiles. This company is tasked with developing highly complex systems that must adapt to changes in the ever-evolving military industry, and must also ensure the long-term operation and maintainability of its systems.
The company wanted to optimize the production of its combat systems by moving to a digital design approach. But when switching to a new type of production, I encountered the following problems: Maintaining the performance and compatibility of their ships over time Maintaining system efficiency over time without causing rework Improving the interaction of various subsystems with each other The company has implemented Capella based on the following factors: An open architecture that can be modified/supplemented, if necessary The tool was accompanied with a step-by-step guide on how to use it Support for the cooperation of engineers in different areas of the system. Thus, the system is a point of contact for engineers
The benefits that the company has received from the introduction of Capella: The company has adapted and digitalized its production processes for current and future systems Received a simplification of the system due to decomposition, due to which the complex parts were divided into simple ones Received an open architecture and technology that can be customized and integrated with minimal cost Improved traceability of architectural compliance requirements Gain possibility to simulate the work of digital models by receiving feedback in advance, which leads to a better result and identifies problems at an early stage