The method for technology exploration of complex system architectures-survey and new method proposed

The concept and technology selection of large complex systems is a growing concern in system engineering. This paper briefly summarizes previous efforts for technology exploration of complex system. This includes methods for concept exploring and technology selecting in the general context of complex engineering system. Next, we lay out benchmarks for evaluating the previous methods: (a) execution time, (b) convergence error, (c) capability to explore quantitatively a matrix of alternatives with incompatibilities, (d) adaptability to new concepts and technologies. Last, the framework of new design method is proposed, and the new algorithm named Estimation of Distribution Algorithms (EDAs) is introduced and inducted to the proposed method.