SysML and safety analysis for mechatronic systems

Model-based system engineering is an efficient approach to specifying, designing, simulating and validating mechatronic systems. This approach allows errors to be detected as soon as possible in the design process, and thus reduces the overall cost of the product. Uniformity in a complex mechatronic project, which is by definition multidisciplinary, is achieved by expressing the models in a common modeling language such as SysML. This paper presents the state of the art of integrating risk and reliability studies with SysML in the design process of safety-critical systems. An Electro Mechanical Actuator system for light aircraft is used to illustrate the integration process, showing how a failure modes and effects analysis is automatically carried out from SysML structural and behavioral diagrams. Through our industry-relevant case study, the advantages and drawbacks of the employed integration methodology are analyzed.