The APL Concurrent Engineering Laboratory: A tool for efficient conceptual design

In the earliest phases of space mission conceptual design it is important for engineers to work collaboratively and arrive at multiple decisions concurrently as a team due to the interdependent nature of every mission aspect. JHU/APL has implemented the APL Concurrent Engineering (ACE) Lab to support collaborative design. With its wide array of analysis techniques and tools and an extensive library of previous mission and concept documentation, the ACE Lab offers an environment of high productivity, efficiency, and consistency that facilitates rapid conceptual design capability. An ACE study is populated by staff of varying experience levels taken from ongoing projects to lend their talents for a short time. By relying on engineers with project experience rather than a dedicated ACE staff, solutions incorporate flight mission experience and better address previous lessons learned. Concept exploration at APL begins with a small team to identify the mission objectives, top level requirements, and basic mission design. This is followed by a concurrent engineering phase where the team arrives at a technical solution in approximately a one week period. Lastly, programmatic concerns (e.g., cost and schedule) are addressed in the following weeks. When combined with a thoughtful process, the ACE Lab can be a powerful tool for efficient, consistent, and technically feasible mission concept development.