Verification, Validation, and Testing of Engineered Systems

1.3 CANONICAL SYSTEMS VVT PARADIGM

1.3.1 Introduction—Canonical Systems VVT Paradigm

An engineered system does not appear suddenly in just an instant. Like any other entity, it needs to be brought into being, cared for and nourished, challenged and utilized and finally put to rest. Thus, the concept of a system life is appropriate. This section discusses that life and describes the role of VVT in its phases. This is presented in terms of the canonical system VVT paradigm composed of (1) phases of the systems lifecycle, (2) views of the systems and (3) aspects of the systems.

A system, in this context, is a set of interacting or interdependent entities, man made or otherwise, existing and forming an integrated whole that fulfills a certain purpose or set of objectives. For an engineered system to adequately meet its objectives, the goal should be to invent, develop, adapt or optimize system behavior within a set of required properties. The man-made parts of an engineered system can undergo development from different disciplines, such as mechanics, hydromechanics, electronics, computation and programming. Other parts, such as human operators or technicians, can also undergo development from other disciplines, such as education, training and work experience.

Figure 1.8 helps the reader to envisage the many interactions involved in the VVT process. It depicts the canonical system VVT paradigm as a three-dimensional object:

• First Dimension. Lifecycle phases include all the system ...