Dynamic Modular Architecture for Product Lifecycle

A module is a set of components with interfaces selected in order to help designers address ilities or non-functional system requirements. Consequently, the boundaries of a module do not necessarily coincide with those dictated by functional decomposition. Modularization usually makes the architecture more complex due to additional interfaces and redundancies that have negative consequences on system performance. As a result, modularization is accompanied by a trade-off between non-functional and functional requirements. Additionally the system lifecycle consists of several phases, each characterized by different activities and goals. Systems may benefit from different modular architectures in the different lifecycle phases. This paper presents a dynamic modular architecture methodology, where the modular architecture changes over the different product lifecycle phases. An example of a relatively simple mechanical system - a bicycle - is presented to illustrate the implementation of the methodology.