A life cycle process of evolutionary design for complex products

In recent years, product nature has undergone significant change including increased configurability/modularity, programmability, ambient intelligence, adaptability, and networkability. Product function more closely mirrors biological/social beings rather than mechanical entities. As a result, traditional systems engineering methods must be enhanced to adapt to such changes. This paper identifies a process that builds on mature systems engineering concepts to promote life cycle engineering of such next generation products. The process revises design and operational stage decision processes. The process enables environment-dependent design and operational parameters and a support system configuration to emerge. The process includes adaptation given unanticipated changes in the environment.