Jan-Peter Nicklas

Using systems engineering for a requirement-based design support for autonomous robots.

Rising Complexity is a major challenge for the development of product systems. The aim of handling this complexity is to achieve a high quality, to develop and produce at acceptable cost and to prevent unintended incidents like failures. Especially in the field of robotics it is a serious task to fulfill these requirements regarding tasks of the autonomous orientation in a dynamic product surrounding etc. In addition, these robots, e.g. an autonomous vacuum cleaner, must meet a certain price segment. For this complex challenge the Generic System Engineering (GSE), which is based on a common model of thinking and standardized procedure, is focused on. Based on the system thinking an idea is developed for an approach to handle the aforementioned challenges. This idea includes a combination of a system model and a procedure to achieve a requirements fulfilling design without an over-design to prevent high costs by limit the considerate part of system over functionality.

Using systems engineering for improving autonomous robot performance

Handling complexity is a major challenge for the development of product systems, especially in the field of autonomous robots. Considering the production system of such an autonomous robot, which is more and more realized by collaborative System of Systems (SoS), increases the complexity. To manage this complexity, a systematic approach is necessary. The following paper describes an approach to analyze and derive design recommendations based on the principles of Generic Systems Engineering (GSE). This approach uses a common model of thinking, a unified system model and a standardized procedure to develop a system. The system model is actualized within the procedure and allows a problem localization for further design changes. A simplification is achieved by limiting the considerate part of system over functionalities.

Integrating customers' voice inside network environments

Business networks are increasingly important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) regarding the growing complexity, shortening product life cycles, and intensity of the competitive environment. Building up business networks supports the access to complementary resources and can lower monetary risks. Other risks like dependencies, missing customer contact points, lack of trust, or loss of knowledge may arise. One main aspect regarding these factors is the measurement of customer satisfaction which is demanded by ISO 9001. Therefore, the authors provide a solution to allocate the origin of performances through parallel or even identical benefits and facilitate performance measurements for network partners without having customer contact points. All parts of the modular framework of Generic Customer Satisfaction Measurement for business networks (GCSM-Net) are introduced. The GCSM-Net is then applied in a business network of an SME in the cutlery industry. Finally, the approach and instantaneous limitations are discussed within an outlook for further research.

Small-Size Robot Platform as Test and Validation Tool for the Development of Mechatronic Systems

The development of mobile robots or in general autonomous mobile systems is a complex task. These systems are characterized by a set of sensors and actuators as well as software running on computing hardware. Depending on the foreseen tasks of designing a mobile system, the overall complexity of the design may range from a few integrated components to several tens of sensors and actuators including distributed information processing mechanism. Besides system modeling and simulations, the design process involves system testing by performing several experiments. A difficult part in this testing phase is to identify the relation between the observed system behavior and the underlying implemented hardware component or part of software. With our test environment and a specific validation method, an iterative design cycle can be enabled that helps to speed up the design process as well as achieve the system behavior that is defined by the specification.

Model-Based Test and Validation Support for Autonomous Mechatronic Systems

Test and validation of autonomous mechatronic systems is a major challenge. Due to more complex tasks as well as dynamic environments, existing test and validation methods are reaching their limits. The complexity and diversity of their elements and interrelations of these as well as interrelations with environmental elements have to be handled because established methods do not consider the characteristics of autonomous mechatronic systems. Therefore Systems Engineering seems to be a proper solution. Based on system thinking an approach for analyzing autonomous mechatronic systems will be developed. For this purpose a procedure for model development will be aligned with the robots system model. This system model combines hardware and software elements, analyzes their interrelations and prepares a later test and validation. With the help of this new system model, which decomposes to the hardware and software level, new test and validation methods can be developed.

Measurement Concept for Security in Mass Transportation

In order to reduce endangerments in the field of mass transportation systems, new technologies and methods for a customer- and situation-oriented approach are needed. This paper outlines a concept to better understand the customers´ reasons and their effects on the sense of security as well as a system that can offer permanent updated information on the security sensations of customers related to real situations.

Use case based approach for an integrated consideration of safety and security aspects for smart home applications

An increasing number of Cyber Physical Systems is used in different areas of applications like smart grid, smart factory or smart home. This paper demonstrates a first approach for an integrated consideration of safety and security for Cyber Physical Systems in a System of Systems by a use case based model for smart home applications. To realize a safe and secure operation of Cyber Physical Systems in System of Systems a high number of elements, relations and functions have to be taken into account. A Systems Engineering based approach will be introduced in this paper to deal with this complexity. The approach consists of a SysML based model which is associated with a procedure to ensure the safe and secure design of Cyber Physical Systems. Defined safety use cases will be used in a following security analysis and assessment. By harmonizing security assessment and safety use cases the integrated consideration is accomplished. The results can be used for an early technically solution neutral design planning.

Unsicherheiten am Bahnhof – Sicherheitswahrnehmungen im öffentlichen Personennahverkehr

Bei der Messung von Sicherheitswahrnehmungen von Fahrgasten des offentlichen Personennahverkehrs (OPNV) stosen bisherige Methoden an ihre Grenzen. Es ist eine neue Herangehensweise unter Berucksichtigung interdisziplinarer Ansatze angebracht. Im folgenden Artikel werden zunachst die Umstande dieser Problematik beschrieben und Anforderungen fur ein zu entwickelndes Messkonzept abgeleitet. Die anforderungsgerechte Methodenentwicklung, die zur Messung der Sicherheitswahrnehmung von Fahrgasten der U-Bahn am Hauptbahnhof Koln eingesetzt wurde, wird ebenfalls vorgestellt. Die Ergebnisse und Erkenntnisse der Untersuchung mittels der vorgestellten Methodik werden dargelegt und abschliesend kritisch diskutiert sowie weiterfuhrende Ansatze vorgestellt.

Accessible and Inclusive Mobility for All with Individual Travel Assistance -- Aim4It

Public transportation is a main factor for a reliable mobility in urban and rural areas. Every user group and their specific requirements have to be considered during planning and realization of public transportation services. Hence public transport operators have to ensure a barrier-free public transportation service. Certainly this barrier-freeness still is not realized for every user group, due to the high complexity of public transportation systems. Therefore this paper focuses on a comprehensive Systems Engineering-based approach to handle complexity for development of a new individual travel assistance and its integration into existing background systems of public transport operators. This approach is based on several use-cases. One use-case will be focused on for an exemplary system introduction.

Systematic Improvement Of Customer Satisfaction For Passengers With Special Mobility Needs

Public transport operators have to focus on a public transport system, which is inclusive and fair to all groups of society. This requires a new holistic approach reflecting the user and the service provider perspectives. The overall objective is an unrestricted use of a fully integrated cross modal public transportation along the complete mobility chain. Unrestricted use of the public transport system can be facilitated with travel assistance applications for smartphones. In addition to this, every mobility-chain needs to be accompanied by an information chain. The information provided needs to be up to date, relevant to the specific context of the user, correct and understandable. This paper presents the innovative concept of the transnational project “accessible and inclusive mobility for all with individual travel assistance” (aim4it). The project aims towards a holistic travel companion design, which provides value-added services for passenger with special mobility needs. The assistance functions are accompanied by suitable evaluation algorithms for customer feedback. An innovative systematic evaluation of customer feedback allows for continuous improvement activities of the public transport operators. Results of the project will be practically demonstrated in close cooperation with the local public transport operators in the cities of Vienna (Austria) and Karlsruhe (Germany).