TALK    Challenges in Model-Based System Engineering: Past, Present and Future

Date & Time:

Tuesday, July 16, 2013; 12:00 PM

Abstract:

Model-based System Engineering has been recognized, for some time, as a way for companies to improve their product development processes. However, change takes time in engineering and we still have only scratched the surface of what is possible. New ideas and technologies are constantly emerging that can improve a model-based approach. In this talk, I will discuss some of my past experiences with model-based system engineering in the automotive industry. I'll also discuss the shifts I see from numerical approaches to more symbolic approaches and how this manifests itself in a shift from imperative representations of engineering models to more declarative ones. I'll cover some of the interesting challenges I've seen trying to model automotive systems and how I think those challenges can be overcome moving forward. Finally, I'll talk about some of the exciting possibilities I see on the horizon for modeling.

Speaker:

Dr. Michael Tiller
Xogeny

Dr. Michael Tiller received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1995. After graduating, he worked at Ford Motor Company in the Powertrain Research Department. His work focused on modeling of engine and transmission systems. In particular, he worked on many applications involving the Ford Hybrid Escape, the first production hybrid in North America and the first production SUV in the world. He is an author of 8 patents worldwide for his work on the Ford Hybrid Escape. Dr. Tiller left Ford in 2005 to join Emmeskay, a Michigan based engineering consulting company, as Vice-President of Modeling R&D. In 2010, Emmeskay was acquired by LMS International. In 2011, Dr. Tiller joined Dassault Systemes HQ in Paris to become Worldwide Director of Marketing for their behavioral modeling tools (Dymola and DBM). In August 2012, he started his own company, Xogeny, to help companies accelerate their model-based system engineering processes through consulting and tool development.

Since 1999, Dr. Tiller has been involved with the Modelica modeling language and has been a member of the Modelica Association board since it was formed. In 2001 he wrote the first book on Modelica, "Introduction to Physical Modeling with Modelica". He has been active in the ongoing development of the Modelica language, the Modelica Standard Library and the recent FMI standard. In October of 2012, he launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the writing of a new Modelica book to be released under a Creative Common license.