COOPERANTS: Advancing early-stage project phases by implementing collaborative processes and tools in concurrent engineering studies

Abstract

The development of efficient collaborative tools and processes is crucial in complex, distributed, knowledge intensive fields such as the aerospace sector. In this regard, a key challenge is to find ways to securely share and link data among various stakeholders. The Gaia-X lighthouse project COOPERANTS (Collaborative Processes and Services for Aeronautics and Space) addresses this challenge within the German aerospace industry. Within this project, DLR and OHB conducted a pilot study to explore the feasibility of linking their Concurrent Engineering Centres (CECs) leveraging some of the smart services provided by COOPERANTS. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the process designed for inter-CEC collaboration as well as to evaluate the tools employed. The research utilized APOSSUM, a mission focused on extracting regolith from the Apophis asteroid, as its use case. The outcome from the study revealed that supporting the collaborative design process with the mentioned tools enhanced the synergy and flexibility of the model-based data exchange workflow. In this regard, this paper first outlines the development of the pilot study and the tools used, specifically detailing the smart services involved. Then, it presents the results from the evaluation of these services, providing insights into their effectiveness within the collaborative framework. Overall, this work aims to pave the way for more efficiency and collaboration across entities within the field of concurrent engineering.