9.6 Model-Based Design (MBD)

9.6.1 MBD versus MDA

Model-Based Design should more correctly be called Model-Based System Design because the emphasis is on the system, not software aspects. This feature is shown in Figure 9.55, which also highlights other key differences between MBD and MDA.

Figure 9.55: Comparing MBD with MDA

MDA takes a software-centric development approach, where the software is considered to be THE system as shown in Figure 9.56. The models produced as part of this development process are essentially static ones (although they may describe dynamical operation using, for example, state models). MBD, in contrast, considers software to be just one part of a complete system. Further, system requirements and objectives define the (required) functionality and behavior of the software. In other words, the design is driven by the needs of the system, not the software. Another key factor of MBD is the development of dynamic models of behavior,...