Software Development Principles Applied to Graphical Model Development

Abstract

The four fundamental principles of good software design—communicate clearly, think in modules, automate where possible, and test early and often—are as relevant today as they were thirty years ago. Until recently, however, they were confined to software development. Model-Based Design has broken down that barrier. Modeling and simulation have long been key components of aerospace vehicle development. The increasing complexity of aerospace systems is driving a need for high-fidelity simulations of the vehicle and the control algorithms during multiple program phases. By using graphical modeling techniques and Model-Based Design, design engineers can create dynamic system models for simulating the vehicle and the control algorithms and use those models at every stage of development— from requirements capture to design, implementation, and test. Companies that have adopted Model-Based Design report time and productivity increases as high as 60 percent. Model-Based Design brings dramatic results not only because it streamlines the workflow, but also because it brings the principles of good software design into the world of the control and signal processing engineer.