Under the label “Space 4.0” or “New Space”, space has acquired a completely new dynamic, characterised by a growing number of different players, the increasing networking of space with other economic sectors and the penetration of all areas of life. These developments are generating trends in future missions towards shared and distributed systems, autonomous systems and hybrid systems, which place increasingly complex demands on the development of system components and, in particular, the ground segment. Concurrent engineering represents a method to develop these complex technical systems efficiently and in an agile way. The FSR is developing methods of concurrent engineering and digital engineering with the aim of increasing innovation, efficiency and agility in the development of complex technical systems under the motto “Industry 4.0 for Space 4.0”.
To optimise the development process, the FSR also makes targeted use of methods of agile project management as well as methods from other specialist areas in order to integrate the concurrent engineering process into the overall context of Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and thus achieve complete digitalisation of the development process.
In a first step, these methods will be applied for the development of ground segments and in the further course of the project they will also be used for the design of space missions and other complex technical systems.
Current project: Research laboratory ESALab@TUDarmstadt
As part of the “ESA_LAB@” initiative, the Concurrent Engineering Lab (CEL) was established in 2019 as a joint research laboratory of the FSR and the European Space Agency ESA.
For the TU Darmstadt, the Concurrent Engineering Lab offers a modern facility with the latest equipment for researchers and students for the efficient, agile and parallel development of innovative solutions. In particular, further research in the fields of Systems Engineering, Digital Engineering, Industry 4.0 / Space 4.0 and Space Traffic Management can be carried out here. Furthermore, the concurrent engineering process in the field of teaching provides a “hands-on experience” in the university curriculum for students. This is done by offering tutorials or advanced design and research projects (ADP/ARP) with the aim of solving a space or aviation specific mission on the basis of CE. The Concurrent Engineering Lab also goes beyond the field of mechanical engineering and is open to all other departments of the university. The developed structure of the facility allows each department to use the lab intuitively for their studies and to hold meetings for their specific missions.
With regard to space, the CEL facilitates the development of innovative concepts in line with new trends such as shared and distributed systems, autonomous systems and hybrid systems in the ground segment and operations. In addition, the method can be used for a wide range of tasks, such as the analysis and evaluation of new requirements, emergency situations and conflicting objectives, or the implementation of optimisation processes, the preparation and support of technical reviews which involve complex technical problems of the ground segment.
