The department Application and Evaluation (ANE) will elaborate distributed multi-scale and multi-rate simulation technologies and development processes for simulations and physical testbeds. Suitable quality and validity criteria for simulations, digital twins, and testbeds will be elaborated by ANE in conjunction with THD and EVO. In further cooperation with other DLR institutes, ANE will implement simulations and testbeds which meet these validity criteria. The resulting simulation platforms and testbeds will form the basis for the integration and evaluation of THD and EVO assets. Evaluation feedback will be provided to THD and EVO for continuous improvement of their methods and tools. ANE will act as a "gatekeeper" for all research assets of the institute to declare methods and tools to be ready for usage by external partners. The approved methods and tools will be integrated by AE into industrial processes for systems engineering, systems operation and quality assurance. In collaboration with THD and EVO, ANE will disseminate the results into the different application domains and contribute to international standardization.
Application and Industrial Processes
The research of the "Application and Industrial Processes" group evaluates the systems engineering methods and tools of the "Systems Theory and Design" and "Evolution and Operation" departments by applying them in the development of trustworthy, automated and autonomous systems with partners. The group also promotes standardization and committee work related to systems engineering processes and autonomous systems. Furthermore, reference implementations play an important role and finally the design of roadmaps on the topics of "Systems Engineering" and "Autonomics".
Simulation Systems
The "Simulation Systems" group is concerned with the development, realization and operation of V&V-capable multi-scale and multi-rate co-simulation environments with the aim of early validation of automated and autonomous systems. In collaboration with partners, research is conducted on how simulation scenarios can be described, simulations can be automated, and critical situations (rare events) can be specifically considered in simulation runs. Furthermore, the researchers deal with the question of how valid models (digital twins) can be generated and how the validity of digital twins can be proven. In addition, the group focuses on mechanisms for coupling models and simulators.
Testbeds
The research of the "Testbeds" group focuses on the design, expansion and operation of testbeds. Here, in addition to the evaluation and applicability of the methods, tools, etc. developed in the "Systems Theory and Design" and "Evolution and Operation" departments, questions about reliable data/information exchange are answered, and the use of testbeds for the verification and validation of highly automated and autonomous transport systems is researched. For example, the maritime testbed "eMIR" (e-Maritime Integrated Reference Platform) as well as the IT Campus Oldenburg and corresponding laboratories are being instrumented and further developed for testing the new methods and tools. In addition, maritime services are provided for partners and third parties within the framework of the physical testbeds and existing data.