The Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is a Domain-Specific Modeling language for systems engineering.
SysML supports the specification, analysis, design, verification and validation of a broad range of systems and systems-of-systems. Originally developed by an open source specification project, SysML includes an open source license for distribution use.
SysML is generally defined as an extension of a subset of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) using UML’s profile mechanism.
According to the OMG (Object Management Group), SysML elucidates three kinds of ValueTypes:
- Primitive ValueType has no internal structure. SysML pre-defines four Primitive ValueTypes (String, Boolean, Integer, Real) and you can define more as needed.
- Structured ValueType has internal structure, defined as Value Properties, and can be recursively nested.
- Enumerated ValueType is a list of literal string values, equivalent to a UML (Unified Modeling Language) Enumeration.
There are considerable benefits to using SysML with model based systems engineering (MBSE). Systems engineers like it because of its common language quality – this improves the precision and efficiency of communications with fellow systems engineers as well as other system and business stakeholders such as mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, software engineers and even clients.
Additionally, an MBSE + SysML approach to systems engineering applications helps capture and manage corporate Intellectual Property related to system architectures, analyses, designs and processes as well as provide scalable structure for problem-solving.
Even though SysML is often thought of as a continuation of the older UML, it’s really more than just an upgrade. SysML provides rich abstractions to manage size and complexity, explores multiple solutions or ideas concurrently with minimal risk and detects errors and omissions early in System Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Want to learn more? Tonex offers SysML Training, a 3-day course that provides participants with technical details of SysML as a systems engineering modeling language. The syntax of SysML is covered and each concept is explained through a number of hands-on practical application workshops and a complete SysML v1.3 Reference Guide.
Tonex also offers another 20 courses in MBSE Training, including:
MBSE Fundamentals for DoD (3 days)
Hands-On MBSE Training (3 days)