16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 1 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 phone: +31 (71) ; fax: +31 (71) mail: P.O. Box 299, Noordwijk, The Netherlands (ECSS = European Co-operation for Space Standardisation)

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 2 Why need a WG and standard “Exchange of Product Data” ? Efficient and effective electronic exchange of product data is considered a key enabler for faster/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

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 3 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

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 4 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

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 5 Standardisation approach (1) ECSS E 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)

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 6 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

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 7 Standardisation approach (3) E is an ‘umbrella’ standard –Specifies which standard to use for what PDE situation –Makes reference to existing international standards –Primary focus on ISO (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

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 8 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)

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 9 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 project by declaring a subset of applicable clauses to specify the data exchange protocols that shall be used between parties Requirement for tailoring is recognised across all ECSS standards

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 10 ECSS E Initial core requirements specification A extensive list of structured 4-element requirements: –“To exchange data from a representation –to a representation –for the purpose of transferring –the standard shall be used.” For long term archiving the requirement as for exchange within one discipline shall be used –Identical and

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 11 Example excerpt of initial requirements specification (1)

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 12 Example excerpt of initial requirements specification (2)

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 13 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

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 14 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”

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 15 Status STEP-TAS & STEP-NRF Integrated Application Resources and APs available 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

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 16 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

16 July 1999STEP for Aerospace Applications at NASA/GSFCsheet 17 Idea AP203-based CAD-to-Analysis tool –UNIX type pipe of filters –Open API –Online visualisation CAD AP203 CAx filter