From UML to SysML: The language journey of describing complex systems

In the vast world of systems engineering, which language can help engineers accurately describe complex systems, capture requirements, and design solutions? The answer is SysML (Systems Modeling Language) - a modeling language tailored for systems engineering. SysML is not only a collection of technologies, but also a historical accumulation. Its development process is full of transformation and innovation. Let's take a journey through time to explore the development history of SysML and how it has become a powerful assistant for system engineers.

Preface: The birth of a new language

Back in the early 2000s, the International Council of Systems Engineers (INCOSE) and the Object Management Group (OMG) found that despite the popularity and widespread use of the Unified Modeling Language (UML), it was not expressive enough when dealing with complex system projects. Engineers needed a language that was better suited to describing non-software elements such as hardware and people. Thus, SysML was born, which extends UML to specifically meet the needs of complex system projects.

Chapter 1: The evolution of language

The first official version of SysML was released in 2006. This version focuses on the modeling capabilities of complex systems, including hardware, software, data, people and processes. SysML was designed from the beginning as a simplified but powerful language that reduces some of the complexity of UML to make it more focused on the needs of system engineering.

Chapter 2: Exploring the Core Features

The charm of SysML lies in its diversity and flexibility. It includes the following core diagrams:

• Requirements diagram : Analyze the requirements of complex systems layer by layer to ensure that each requirement is recorded in detail.
• Use case diagram : shows the overall picture of the interaction between the system and the user, helping to understand the functional requirements.
• Block Definition Diagram (BDD) : The building block for establishing the components of a system and their relationships.
• Internal Block Diagram (IBD) : Reveals the internal connections and structural layout of a component.
• Parameter diagram and activity diagram : show the dynamic process and performance parameters of the system operation.
• State machine diagram : describes the changes and logic of system states to ensure logical rigor.

Chapter 3: Wide range of application scenarios

Whether it is airplanes in the sky, cars on the ground, or medical equipment in hospitals, SysML is used almost everywhere. It helps engineers design safer aerospace equipment, develop more efficient cars, and even plays an irreplaceable role in the fields of national defense and public safety.

Conclusion: The power of language

SysML is not just a collection of diagrams and symbols, it is a bridge for engineers to communicate with complex systems. Through this unique language, teams can communicate ideas more accurately and collaborate more efficiently. The history and development of SysML not only demonstrates the progress of technology, but also the expectation of unlimited possibilities in the future. SysML will continue to be an indispensable partner on the road to exploring and designing the future world.