An IVHM systems analysis & optimization process

The paper describes a systems analysis and optimization (SA&O) process that has been developed at NASA to quantify the effects of IVHM on Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) designs and to target areas for potential IVHM technology development. The process incorporates cost, operations, safety, reliability, false alarm rate, performance, and testability models in a modular fashion that allows individual models to be easily swapped out and another model inserted in its place. This IVHM SA&O process has been used to examine a representative MPS feed subsystem on a generic two-stage to orbit RLV. The results from the optimization analysis show that by examining relevant system figures of merit, the method developed allows for better, targeted utilization of IVHM that optimizes the benefit to system wide figures of merit rather than a local optimization based on engineering judgment. Although the paper examines an optimum application of IVHM to an RLV, the SA&O process presented can be generalized by system engineers/architects for optimizing the application of virtually any technology to a system design.