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ECSS Working Group “Exchange of Product Data” and related work. Hans Peter de Koning (ESA/ESTEC/TOS-MCV) European Space Research and Technology Centre Thermal Control and Life Support Division e-mail: hanspeter@yc.estec.esa.nl; phone: +31 (71) 565 3452; fax: +31 (71) 565 6142
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ECSS Working Group“Exchange of Product Data”and related work Hans Peter de Koning (ESA/ESTEC/TOS-MCV) European Space Research and Technology Centre Thermal Control and Life Support Division e-mail: hanspeter@yc.estec.esa.nl; phone: +31 (71) 565 3452; fax: +31 (71) 565 6142 mail: P.O. Box 299, Noordwijk, The Netherlands (ECSS = European Co-operation for Space Standardisation) STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Why need a WG and standard “Exchange of Product Data” ? • Efficient and effective electronic exchange of product data is considered a key enabler forfaster/better/cheaper development of space products • Long term, tool-independent archiving of product data is also needed in many space programmes • European space community (industry and agencies) need a frame of reference in order to standardise on protocols for the communication of product data STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Brief background of the WG • 1994: ESA started developing STEP-based data exchange standards (in co-operation with CNES) • At first focusing on thermal analysis model exchange • 1994 to 1998: interest broadened across disciplines • Electronic product definition, concurrent engineering, etc. • Growing maturity of STEP / more capable CAx tools • May-98: first informal meeting industry and agencies to assess need, support, Draft Terms of Reference for a WG • Feb-99: Officially installed as ECSS WG E-10-07 STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Tasks of the WG • Review of existing international product data exchange standards and their suitability for use in space projects - focusing primarily on STEP • Identification of areas for which adapting / developing space-specific STEP-based standards is cost-effective - recommendation and promotion of further actions • Production of an ECSS standard for the exchange and archiving of product data in space projects • Including guidelines concerning the implementation / use of the standard STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Standardisation approach (1) • ECSS E-10-07 is part of E-10 “System Engineering” • Addresses exchange via neutral standards (1) between different tools of one discipline(2) between tools of different disciplines • Archiving is considered an application of (1) STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Standardisation approach (2) • Targeted disciplines: • ECSS-M-40 - Configuration Management • ECSS-M-50 - Information / Documentation Management • ECSS-M-70 - Integrated Logistic Support • ECSS-Q-70 - Material, Mechanical Parts & Processes • ECSS-E-10 - System Engineering • ECSS-E-20 - Electrical & Electronics • ECSS-E-30 - Mechanical (including thermal) • ECSS-E-40 - Software Engineering (only on CI level) • ECSS-E-60 - Control Systems • ECSS-E-70 - Ground Systems & Operations STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Standardisation approach (3) • E-10-07 is an ‘umbrella’ standard • Specifies which standard to use for what PDE situation • Makes reference to existing international standards • Primary focus on ISO 10303 (STEP) • Adds guidelines / best practices on how to use the standard • Designed for tailoring by individual projects • Only file-based exchange in scope for first release STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Standardisation approach (4) • Identified candidate STEP(-based) standards • AP 202: Associative draughting • AP 203: Configuration controlled design • AP 209: Composite and metallic structural analysis and related design • AP 210: Electronic assembly, interconnect and packaging design • AP 212: Electrotechnical design and installation • AP 214: Core data for automotive mechanical design processes • AP 232: Technical data packaging core information and exchange • AP 233: Systems engineering application protocol • STEP-TAS AP: Thermal Analysis for Space (ESA) • STEP-NRF AP: Network-model Results Format (ESA) • STEP-PRP AP: Propulsion Systems (CNES) STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Requirement for tailoring • It is very unlikely that in practice such a standard can be applied as a whole to a project • It shall be possible to use the standard as a contractual document in a programme or projectby declaring a subset of applicable clausesto specify the data exchange protocolsthat shall be used between parties • Requirement for tailoring is recognised across all ECSS standards STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
ECSS E-10-07Initial core requirements specification • A extensive list of structured 4-element requirements: • “To exchange datafrom a <source_discipline> representation • to a <destination_discipline> representation • for the purpose of transferring <kind_of_data> • the <exchange_standard> standard shall be used.” • For long term archiving the requirement as for exchange within one discipline shall be used • Identical <source_discipline> and <destination_discipline> STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Example excerpt of initial requirements specification (1) STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Example excerpt of initial requirements specification (2) STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Status/schedule of WG • 17 members (1/3 from agencies, 2/3 from industry) • 3 working meetings held • Terms of reference written and agreed • First working draft produced • Currently in review and comment loop • Proofs difficult to actively involve industry in production of the standard (as always with long term benefits) • Goal is first release of standard early 2000 STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Related work • Since 1994, 3 STEP-based APs have been developed by European space community • STEP-TAS “Thermal Analysis for Space” (ESA) • STEP-NRF “Network-model Results Format” (ESA) • STEP-PRP “Propulsion” (CNES) • TAS and NRF developed as companion APs together with common Integrated Application Resources: • “Space Domain” • “Definition and Results of Analysis, Tests and Operations” • “Thermal Analysis” STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Status STEP-TAS & STEP-NRF • Integrated Application Resources and APsavailable in fully compliant ISO TC 184/SC 4 format • Full programming libraries available • With documentation (PDF, HTML) • C and FORTRAN APIs • STEP-TAS CC1 converters implemented in • ESARAD 4.1 (released June 1999) • THERMICA (release of 1999-Q3) • Limited prototypes TRASYS and TSS (with NASA-JPL) • STEP-NRF prototypes at Intespace and EdF STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
Future work related to STEP at ESA • Continued implementation of STEP-TAS • Further development of STEP-NRF • AP203 (CC1,4,5,6) import facility in ESARAD • Supports import of CAD product structure and shape • Will include support for NURBS in ESARAD model • Idea for CAD-to-Analysis tool based on AP203 STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC
AP203 CAD CAx filter Idea AP203-based CAD-to-Analysis tool • UNIX type pipe of filters • Open API • Online visualisation STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFC