Systems Engineering
Determining what a system needs to do and how users will interact with it can be harder than it sounds but is critical to a successful result. From concept of operations and system capabilities to architecture and performance, Cardinal’s multidisciplinary engineering team provides a broad range of systems engineering capabilities with decades of experience on DOD systems and platforms as well as commercial products.
Decomposing the System
Systems engineering takes a holistic look at a problem and balances candidate solutions for each piece of the problem with real-world constraints; it is part science and part art, part process and part technical. It’s about providing a product that meets the needs of the user within the available budget and time. Systems engineering is about navigating the trade space and producing a product that meets the needs of all the stakeholders. Cardinal’s team brings an uncommon level of experience, and technical capability with a demonstrated history result. From working with the end user to understand the concept of operations, needed capabilities, and overall requirements to system functional decomposition, interface definition and design, we have a broad background in all aspects of systems engineering.
Our engineers apply technical expertise across a range of disciplines to help provide our customers navigate the complex trade space. From technology evaluation, performance modeling and analysis of alternatives we provide the technical insight, recommendations, and risk assessment to make the decisions that lead to success.
Prototyping
Prototyping is a critical element in the development of successful systems and capabilities. From refining the concept of operation and maturing the technology to obtaining early end user feedback, rapid prototyping reduces risk and results in better products. Cardinal engineers have the tools, processes, and experience to design, develop and fabricate prototype products and systems for the defense and commercial markets.
Transitioning Ideas from Theory to Practice
A vital element of system or product development is identifying and managing risk. One key tool in addressing technical risk is prototyping. Whether to assess technical feasibility, product functionality, manufacturability, or operability, prototypes provide essential insight and feedback in the product development cycle. Rapid innovations in additive manufacturing and other rapid prototyping techniques have increased the practicality and use of prototyping.
The identification, mitigation, and retirement of risk is a principal part of our system approach. From a proof of concept to a complete functional prototype, prototyping is an instrumental part of our development process. Using COTS electronics, rapid software development methodologies, and 3D printing, Cardinal engineers have developed a wide range of prototype products and systems from shipboard to mobile phone applications. Whether commercial products or defense systems our engineers have effectively leveraged prototyping to reduce risk and deliver product the end user wants.
Design & Development
System design requires navigating a complex trade space to arrive at a system that not only meets the intended needs but can be produced in the allotted time and budget at the target production price. With an experienced multidisciplinary team, Cardinal provides a holistic approach to system design, decomposition, interface definition and the allocation of functionality to minimize the risk to a successful outcome.
Striking a Balance
From technology selection and architecture definition to interfaces, and the allocation of capabilities, exploring the design trade space and understanding the risks and benefits of the alternatives is an essential part of a good design. Cardinal’s strengths in system design are rooted in just that.
Our multidisciplinary team’s history of innovation and breadth of technical experience enables us to efficiently explore identify and evaluate candidate design approaches. Using open systems design principles and a focus on the full lifecycle, we provide designs that can be incrementally developed and easily changed to support evolving operational needs and technology improvements.
An Incremental Approach is Essential
An incremental approach to development and integration is essential to retire risk early and successfully meet operational needs and program cost and schedule objectives. Through the development and integration of selected components and interfaces, incremental system capabilities can be provided for test and end user evaluation early and often. Cardinal engineers have refined and successfully applied this methodology to a wide range of DOD and commercial systems for more than 20 years.
Integration & Test
Developing an approach to integration and testing is part of system design, and a critical element throughout system development. Capabilities are often realized through the incremental integration of many system elements, therefore, testing starts with the most granular element of the system. From test planning and execution, to automated testing and issue tracking, Cardinal engineers have been supporting laboratory and operational testing of products, systems, and platforms for the DOD and commercial applications for more than 30 years.
Bring It All Together
Test early and test often. Incremental testing and integration identifies issues early, steadily reduces program risk and avoids last minute surprises that too often result in significant redesign and rework. This approach to integration and testing goes hand and hand with a well decomposed open systems approach to design. Beginning integration as individual elements are completed, reduces risk, simplifies troubleshooting, and reduces system integration and test time.
From unit level through first article test, qualification and operational evaluation, Cardinal engineers have been supporting system and product level testing. Our engineers have designed, developed, and utilized interface simulation and verification testing, to ensure each system element is tested prior to entering integration. From testing planning and execution through troubleshooting and root cause analysis, our engineers have the experience to successfully transition the system into operation.