A systems engineering-integrated approach for functional architecture design of cyber-physical products

Chen, Qingyun, Chen, Yong and Liu, Ying ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9319-5940 2025. A systems engineering-integrated approach for functional architecture design of cyber-physical products. Journal of Engineering Design 10.1080/09544828.2025.2569021 Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

With rapid advances in cyber-physical technologies, designers are often required to develop technical products that are integrated with Cyber-Physical Systems to achieve advanced functionalities. Due to the lack of effective consideration for such cyber-physical products in existing functional design methods, this paper is devoted to developing a systems engineering-integrated approach for the functional architecture design of cyber-physical products. Some key concepts from both systems engineering theories and product design approaches are analysed to establish a shared conceptual foundation. Thereafter, a basic process model is developed for the functional architecture design of a cyber-physical product, which is primarily composed of four stages, i.e. need clarification, function identification, solution generation and behaviour validation. The process model, also called as the Need-Function-Solution-Behaviour model, can explicitly illustrate how an ambiguous need can be gradually transformed into a complete solution architecture. The functional design of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for plant-protection demonstrates that the proposed model can guide designers to develop an explicit and complete functional architecture for a cyber-physical product.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Engineering
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	0954-4828
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	22 October 2025
Date of Acceptance:	28 September 2025
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2025 10:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/181779

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