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Raging Incrementalism: Rethinking Systems Engineering as if
Results Mattered

Abstract: Classic systems engineering is a grand and stately process with no better exemplar than military space systems whose course, from design to development to deployment, may easily span a decade or more. These space systems, while stunning technical and programmatic achievements, rank among the most complex and costly artifacts ever built. Profound new forces, both technical and economic, suggest we rethink the processes, practices, and outcomes of large-scale system engineering. We offer a fresh perspective on system engineering---raging incrementalism--- that takes full advantage of modern technology to dramatically reshape the pace, form, cost, and content of systems engineering. We will discuss the technical underpinnings of raging incrementalism and examine its application in the construction of a prototype, large-scale, video system for space launch operations.

Bio:

Deeply in touch with his "inner nerd" Michael Gorlick has been noodling away on various projects at The Aerospace Corporation for 20 years. His work includes wearable computing, grid computing, peer-to-peer infrastructure, large-scale data mining for structural genomics, Internet appliances, software testing, non-intrusive measurement, visual computing, active networks, and wireless devices.

Achievements include demonstration of the world's first wearable ad-hoc wireless network node, the design and implementation of the first distributed debugger based entirely on standard Web protocols, and the development of conductive fabrics for wearable computing. He was the principal designer of the DARPA picosatellites---the world record-holder for the smallest active satellites (3" x 4" x 1" at 255 grams) ever successfully launched and deployed (February 2000). As a member of the development team he was responsible for the picosatellite conceptual design, mission planning, system integration, and flight software. Mr. Gorlick is an active member of an informal affiliation of Aerospace researchers devoted to the exploitation of MEMS and VLSI digital electronics as foundation technology for extremely small spacecraft. He is known within the space community for his work on operating system and flight software for MEMS-based spacecraft.

In addition to his post at The Aerospace Corporation Mr. Gorlick is, as of fall 2004, enrolled in the doctoral program for information systems at the University of California, Irvine.