Investigating alternative concepts of operations for a maritime security system of systems

For complex systems of systems, such as those required to perform maritime security, system architects have numerous choices they may select from, both in the components and in the way the system operates. Component choices, such as the length of a wing or the number of ground control stations, are often considered in tradespace studies, but this paper highlights the operational choices that are often overlooked. Using an unmanned vehicle system of systems as an example, the importance of considering operational choices as well as the highly interdependent nature of operational and component choices is demonstrated, further strengthening the case for careful consideration of operational variables early in the concept phase of the design process. Finally, a high-level methodology for generating and evaluating operational choices is introduced.