MBSE: Cameo Suite Overview

"No Magic" and Dassault Systèmes are two organizations that produce Computer-Aided Design (CAD) products used in many industries. "No Magic" was acquired by Dassault Systèmes, making it a leader in model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and enriching its portfolio having acquired the Cameo Suite. Now, with the capabilities of SOLIDWORKS and CATIA, along with components from the Cameo Suite, like the specialized Magic Systems of Systems (SoS) Architect—commonly known as "SoS Architect," Dassault Systèmes' offerings address a wider range of engineering challenges.

CAD

CAD and modeling stand as leading innovations, catapulting industry's efficiency and precision in the development of complex systems and products. It is the use of computer software to create, modify, analyze, or optimize designs for various purposes. CAD software allows designers and engineers to produce precise 2D or 3D models of objects, buildings, mechanical parts, or systems. These digital models can be manipulated, visualized, and tested before physical prototypes are built, helping streamline the design process, reduce errors, and improve overall efficiency. CAD is widely used in industries such as architecture, engineering, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and product design.

Dassault Systèmes offers three software programs related to CAD and design, each catering to different needs and industries: SOLIDWORKS which is suitable for 3D modeling and product design, CATIA (Computer-Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application) which is a more powerful and versatile CAD tool used in various industries, and the Cameo Suite which contains specialized programs for system architecture design and modeling.

The following sections provide an overview of CAD and modeling and introduces two organizations: 1. Dassault Systèmes, an international software company that now owns Cameo, and 2. "No Magic", which used to own Cameo. This is important for clarity since the MBSE community widely uses Magic and Cameo and other seemingly historical names to refer to software from the Cameo Suite.

No Magic

"No Magic" is an organization that provides modeling and simulation solutions. It built the Cameo Suite, which includes tools for MBSE, enterprise architecture, and software modeling. The Cameo Suite is a platform for creating, editing, analyzing, and visualizing various types of models, including UML (Unified Modeling Language) diagrams and SysML (Systems Modeling Language) models. "No Magic" was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Allen, Texas, USA. It specializes in providing software solutions for modeling, simulation, and analysis.

In 2017, Dassault Systèmes acquired "No Magic." This acquisition strengthened Dassault Systèmes' position in the MBSE and model-based engineering (MBE) domains. As a result, "No Magic" is now a part of Dassault Systèmes, and the Cameo Suite has been integrated into Dassault Systèmes' portfolio of offerings.

Dassault Systèmes

Dassault Systèmes' is a multinational software company headquartered in Vélizy-Villacoublay, France. Founded in 1981 by Avions Marcel Dassault, the company is a subsidiary of the Dassault Group. Dassault Systèmes is best known for its 3D design, digital mock-up, and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions.

Dassault Systèmes major products, SOLIDWORKS and CATIA, are widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, industrial machinery, and consumer goods, among others. CATIA is renowned for its capabilities in designing, engineering, and manufacturing complex products. Dassault Systèmes offers other software solutions like SIMULIA for realistic simulation, DELMIA for digital manufacturing and operations, and ENOVIA for collaborative innovation. These solutions are utilized by businesses to streamline their product development processes, improve collaboration, and enhance overall efficiency.

SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, and Cameo Suite serve different purposes and have distinct features. SOLIDWORKS is a popular software primarily used for 3D modeling and design. It is known for its user-friendly interface and is widely used in industries like mechanical engineering, product design, and manufacturing. It is often used for designing individual parts and assemblies of products. It offers a range of tools for parametric modeling, simulation, rendering, and animation.

CATIA is more comprehensive and versatile compared to SOLIDWORKS. It is used for a wide range of applications, including aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, and industrial design. It offers advanced features for complex surface modeling, engineering analysis, and collaboration among various disciplines. Cameo is a suite of software tools used for system architecture design and modeling, particularly in the context of systems engineering and large-scale projects. It focuses on modeling and simulating complex SoS, such as aerospace and defense systems, to ensure that all components work together seamlessly.

The Cameo Suite

This section introduces the following Cameo Suite components: 1. MagicDraw, 2. Cameo Systems Modeler, 3. Cameo Enterprise Architecture, 4. Cameo Data Modeler, 5. Cameo Business Modeler, 6. Cameo Simulation Toolkit, 7. Cameo Collaborator, and 8. Magic Systems of Systems Architect.

• MagicDraw serves as a powerful modeling tool supporting various modeling languages such as UML (Unified Modeling Language), SysML (Systems Modeling Language), BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation), and more. It provides features for creating, editing, analyzing, and visualizing models.
• Cameo Systems Modeler is specifically tailored for systems engineering tasks. It supports standards like SysML and enables engineers to model complex systems, analyze system behavior, verify requirements, and perform simulations.
• Cameo Enterprise Architecture focuses on enterprise architecture, providing tools for modeling and analyzing an organization's structure, processes, information, and technology. It helps stakeholders understand and manage complex enterprise architectures.
• Cameo Data Modeler allows users to create, edit, and visualize data models. It supports various data modeling notations and standards, enabling users to design databases, data warehouses, and other data-related structures.
• Cameo Business Modeler is a tool designed for business process modeling and analysis. It helps organizations map out their business processes, identify inefficiencies, and optimize workflows.
• Cameo Simulation Toolkit provides simulation capabilities within the Cameo Suite, allowing users to simulate and analyze the behavior of models. This is particularly useful for verifying system requirements and evaluating design alternatives.
• Cameo Collaborator facilitates collaboration and communication among team members by providing web-based access to models and supporting features like commenting, reviewing, and version control.
• Magic SoS Architect is a tool designed for modeling complex SoS architectures. It enables engineers to understand and manage the relationships and interactions within these intricate systems.

Creating SysML Diagrams

"Cameo Systems Modeler" and MagicDraw are specifically designed for conducting MBSE activities, including the creation, analysis, and visualization of SysML models and diagrams.

• Cameo Systems Modeler is one of the core products dedicated to systems engineering tasks. It provides comprehensive support for SysML, allowing engineers to create various types of SysML diagrams, such as requirements diagrams, block diagrams, activity diagrams, and parametric diagrams. It also offers features for analyzing system behavior, verifying requirements, and performing simulations.
• MagicDraw is a more general-purpose modeling tool that also supports SysML diagrams and can be used for MBSE tasks. Users can create SysML diagrams within MagicDraw, including block definition diagrams (BDDs), internal block diagrams (IBDs), and other SysML diagram types. It offers a wide range of modeling capabilities beyond SysML, making it suitable for diverse modeling tasks in addition to MBSE.

Modeling SoS

In Systems Engineering (SE), Systems of Systems (SoS) represent complex configurations of multiple independent systems, which can also be complex, integrating to achieve higher-level goals. These systems can range from interconnected software systems to large-scale infrastructural networks or even ecosystems.

The "Magic SoS Architect" tool enables engineers and architects to model the intricate relationships and interactions within these complex systems, helping them understand how individual components contribute to the overall functionality and behavior of the larger system. It provides tools for visualizing the hierarchy of systems, defining interfaces and dependencies, analyzing system behaviors, and ensuring that the SoS meets its requirements and objectives. By using SoS Architect, organizations can better manage the complexity inherent in SoS, leading to more robust and resilient solutions that meet the needs of various stakeholders.

One use case of SoS Architect is when Systems engineers use it to design, analyze, and manage the architecture of complex SoS. This includes defining system boundaries, identifying system components and their interactions, and ensuring that the overall system meets its requirements.

Another use case of SoS Architect is when enterprise architects use it to model and analyze the relationships between SoS and the broader enterprise architecture context. This helps ensure alignment between the technical architecture of complex systems and the overarching goals and strategies of the organization.

Other use cases for SoS Architect is when it's used in industries such as defense and aerospace, where SoS are prevalent. Users in these industries rely on SoS Architect to model and analyze the architectures of complex defense systems, space systems, command and control systems, and other mission-critical systems. In sectors like transportation and infrastructure, where large-scale interconnected systems are common (e.g., smart transportation systems, smart cities), SoS Architect can be used to model and analyze the architecture of these systems to ensure interoperability, resilience, and efficiency.

Conclusion

The "No Magic" acquisition by Dassault Systèmes has integrated the Cameo Suite into Dassault Systèmes' portfolio. The Cameo Suite, comprising various software tools such as MagicDraw and "Cameo Systems Modeler," provides powerful solutions for modeling and simulation across diverse domains, including enterprise architecture, software engineering, and SoS architecture. With the incorporation of the Cameo Suite, Dassault Systèmes offers comprehensive MBSE software solutions, alongside its other products. Cameo Suite's components, such as MagicDraw and Magic SoS Architect, enable engineers and architects to model, analyze, and simulate complex systems and SoS, thereby facilitating better understanding, collaboration, and decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.