Introduction to Capella

Overview

Capella is the Model Driven Engineering (MDE) solution provided by CST/EPM in Orchestra. It is a Tooled-Up-Process solution, enacting Sys-EM and Arcadia, supporting Systems Engineering and Software Architecture Engineering. The Capella primary objectives are to define a unified engineering language across Thales, to provide a seamless engineering workflow framework, to automate engineering tasks ensuring modelling productivity and quality, to manage information consistency, to capitalise and reuse engineering know-how and best practices and to ensure collaborative modelling work.

Thales Units and Areas, through the Deployment Committee and the Ochestra Key Projects, manage the Capella strategy and roadmap.

System and Software Architecture Definition in a Tool

Defining a system architecture means

• Performing and refining a functional analysis
• Defining and refining use cases
• Defining components realizing the functions of the system
• Defining the interfaces between these components
• Model the dynamics of the system with scenarios
• Take into account non-functional constraints (Performance, Safety, Human Factors, etc.)

A Methodological Guide in a Tool

In Thales, methodologies exist to help and guide the various actors of the engineering process. It is notably the case of

• Sys-EM, which defines the successive stages of the engineering process
• Arcadia, which compliments Sys-EM with a brick specifically dedicated to the functional analysis and architecture definition.

Capella leverages these methodologies and embeds them in a tool, which is helping and guiding the system engineer in its activity.

Is also provides Thales-wide language and tools, very close to (and interoperable with) industry standards such as UML and Sys-ML. This ensures a better understanding between Thales engineers from all domains.