Many companies, particularly those in aerospace, telecommunications, defense and automotive, have switched over to SysML(Systems Modeling Language). Consequently, SysML has become the de facto standard architecture modeling language for Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) applications.
This is not surprising with the growing popularity of MBSE. Also, compared to its predecessor UML (Unified Modeling Language), SysML is a comparatively little language that is easier to learn and apply. Since SysML removes many of UML’s software-centric constructs, the overall language measures smaller both in diagram types and total constructs.
SysML allocation tables support common kinds of allocations. Whereas UML provides only limited support for tabular notations, SysML furnishes flexible allocation tables that support requirements allocation, functional allocation and structural allocation. This capability facilitates automated verification and validation (V&V) and gap analysis.
Additionally, SysML model management constructs support models, views and viewpoints. These constructs extend UML’s capabilities and are architecturally aligned with IEEE-Std-1471-2000 (IEEE Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software Intensive Systems).
Also, SysML’s semantics are more flexible and expressive. SysML reduces UML’s software-centric restrictions and adds two new diagram types, requirement and parametric diagrams.
SysML is the language of simple diagrams. The basic unit of structure is the block. It can be used to represent hardware, software, facilities, personnel or all other elements of a system.
The maintenance of UML and SysML are overseen by the Object Management Group (OMG), which describes itself as an international, open membership, not-for-profit technology standards consortium, founded in 1989.
OMG standards are driven by vendors, end-users, academic institutions and government agencies. But the most important aspect is OMG oversees the definition and maintenance of UML specifications. This oversight gives engineers and programmers the ability to use one language for many purposes during all phases of the software lifecycle for all system sizes.
While both modeling languages are utilized, from a systems engineering perspective, SysML is the more useful because it involves modeling blocks rather than the modeling classes of UML.
Want to learn more about SysML? Tonex offers several SysML classes in its MBSE Training program. Courses include:
—Advanced SysML Training (3 days)
—Patent Engineering with SysML (3 days)
—SysML Training Crash Course (4 days)
—SysML Training (3 days)
—UML Training (1 day)
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.