The primary objective of this project is to develop a prototype of a unique approach to Device Life Cycle Engineering (DLCE), based upon Ramsearch Company's existing systems engineering product, Team/Design(R). The Device Life Cycle Engineering Environment is an intelligent shell structure for preserving a practical memory of a multi-team approach to the design of complex devices. The implicit decision support system can be adapted by each using organization to its own particular design needs. DLCE will employ a graphical user interface (GUI) for modeling, capturing and maintaining the diverse knowledge required to define and design complex devices. This will include a mechanism for creating, updating, and using a design rule database which can be adapted to device specific requirements.DLCE will be useful to designers in any discipline who wish to adopt the Life Cycle view of design. DLCE is aimed at increasing the interaction between various design disciplines and providing the ability to optimize among competing design objectives so that a diverse set of "-ility" considerations can be an effective element of the design process. The DLCE will be hosted in a Microsoft Windows environment and have a dynamic interaction with other MS-Windows-based design tools.The Device Life Cycle Engineering software system being proposed has immediate applicability in the commercial and Govemment sectors of systems engineering. Currently, the total market for software tools which support a life cycle approach to device engineering is estimated at $600 million with over 150,000 engineers worldwide involved in device/systems engineering projects. Our current product, Team/Design(R), is in use in the same market place and we believe the the MS-Windows DLCE Environment would gamer signiflcant market share.
Keywords: Phase_I, NASA, Abstract, FY94
