System Design Flashcards
6 cards from real ASEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 System Design flashcards as text
What is the primary objective of the system design process in systems engineering?
Answer: To transform system requirements into a system architecture and detailed design that can be implemented, verified, and validated
System design transforms requirements into an architecture and design solution that satisfies all requirements and can be implemented, verified, and validated.
What is the purpose of design margin allocation in the system design process?
Answer: To distribute performance budgets across subsystems with reserves to accommodate growth, uncertainty, and manufacturing variability
Design margin allocation distributes performance budgets across subsystems while retaining reserves to account for estimation uncertainty, design growth, and manufacturing variability.
How do design constraints differ from design requirements?
Answer: Constraints limit the design solution space by imposing restrictions; requirements specify what the design must achieve
Constraints restrict the solution space (e.g., must use existing infrastructure, cannot exceed a size envelope), while requirements specify what capabilities the design must provide.
What is the role of prototyping in the system design process?
Answer: It reduces technical risk by providing early physical or virtual representations that validate design concepts, interfaces, and feasibility before committing to full development
Prototyping reduces design risk by creating early representations that validate concepts, test feasibility, explore alternatives, and gather feedback before committing to full implementation.
What is meant by 'design for testability' and why is it important?
Answer: Deliberately incorporating features into the design that facilitate testing, diagnostics, and fault isolation throughout the system lifecycle
Design for testability incorporates test points, diagnostic interfaces, and observable states into the design to facilitate verification, fault isolation, and maintenance throughout the lifecycle.
How does the design process handle requirements that conflict with each other?
Answer: Through trade studies and stakeholder negotiation to find the best balance, with documented rationale for the chosen approach
Conflicting requirements are resolved through trade studies that evaluate alternatives, stakeholder negotiation to establish priorities, and documented rationale for the design compromise.