Our Journey Towards Model-Based Product Lines

Rolls-Royce Control Systems is implementing a development process transformation project, called ECOSIStem. It aims to achieve a step-change in quality, whilst reducing development cost and lead-time, through the introduction of Model-Based Product Lines for all on-engine software. This new process will maximise reuse in designs at all levels, from high-level operational concepts through to DO-178 certification evidence. The time to market for novel products, such as Hybrid Aero Propulsion, Intelligent Engine, and IoT services, is also being improved by ECOSIStem.

In this talk, Matt Ley discusses what this change means for his organisation and how it is being put into practice. ECOSIStem is a multi-year project, staffed by a dedicated team, with delivery responsibility to mainstream programmes. It has presented opportunities to introduce principles from modern development methodologies, such as Agile and Lean, into the organisation.

ECOSIStem has allowed the team to rethink where design detail is captured and avoid over-specification, in-particular between systems and software. This has been built on the combination of System Composer™ and Simulink^®. Throughout the project, the ECOSIStem team has worked closely with MathWorks to shape the capability of System Composer.