System Architecture Group

The System Architecture Group studies the early-stage technical decisions that will determine the majority of the system’s performance. We have helped architect systems from earth observation networks, to lunar surface exploration vehicles. The lab’s key contention is that by identifying the most important initial technical decisions and exhaustively enumerating their options, the best potential designs are identified prior to the detailed design activities. Our work stands in contrast to a traditional trade-study perspective, where two to four points designs are compared, without reference to the intervening options or to a fully explored tradespace. The emerging field of System Architecture aims to understand what patterns emerge across disparate domains, to gain an understanding of the making of good architecture.  System architecture models look broadly across possible technologies, subsystems, and use contexts. Although each model employs problem-specific parametrics, we have advanced the state of the art by developing unique and generalizable approach to structuring complex systems architecting problems that can be applied across disciplines.

For more information, please visit http://systemarchitect.mit.edu/.