Integrated Systems Architectural Modeling with Architectural Trade Study of a UAV Surface‐less Flight Control Systems for Wildfire Detection and Communication utilizing MBSAP

Abstract In this paper, we report our progress on integrating a model‐based system engineering methodology with a system architectural trade study applied to flight control systems of a locally owned and operated, cost effective Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) design utilizing the concepts of Model‐Based Systems Architecture Processes (MBSAP). The primary objective of the UAV is to monitor wildfires and to gather information and to provide surveillance data for predicting and preventing wildfires [1] . We describe our experience with a holistic approach to architect flight controls (the System‐of‐Interest), in a way that is tightly coupled with high‐level stakeholder needs and concerns, operational scenarios, (normal, inadvertent, and mis‐) use cases, Context System, and Enabling Systems. Several architectural variants of the Surface‐less Flight Controls (SFC) were traded. Our systemic approach showed that classical flight controls are feasible for the baseline UAV. It also helped us identify a novel architecture with a potential to drastically improve UAV performance (range, survey time), UAV weight, and specific cost. Our approach has resulted in an architecture that has the potential to significantly reduce the costs of manufacturing as well as operating UAVs, at the same time it drastically improves their performance. This development could mean widely increased availability and improved effectiveness of UAVs in fire detection and prevention.