All too often we think of systems engineering as a technique that is used to perform just the initial design of a system. We don’t appreciate the value of a system in later stages of the product lifecycle except as a means to inform the design of the replacement system. …

“Nanosatellites are the future of space research.” So says Matthew Tetlow, president of Inovor Technologies in Adelaide, Australia. Tetlow’s company designs small satellites, called nanosatellites or microsatellites, to help conduct space research. The “CubeSat” is one such satellite, made up of multiples of 10 x 10 x 10 cm cubic …

A few weeks ago while I was talking with a longtime colleague, we found ourselves discussing model-based-systems engineering terms. The conversation centered on exactly what needs to be defined up front in any project to avoid misunderstandings. It would be beneficial if every group beginning a project had this discussion, and …

In the photo above, Kevin Robinson (foreground) and Wayne Power examine a model in CORE. Robinson is Senior Systems Analyst with the Defence Science and Technology Group of the Australian Government. (Photo courtesy Defence Science and Technology Group, Australia.) “A bad worker blames his tools,” goes the old proverb. For …