Cost Models for Electronic Architecture Trade Studies

This paper presents a model for estimating the total cost of a proposed electronic architecture for embedded, distributed, real-time systems. The main purpose of the model is to allow system engineers to compare different solution alternatives with respect to cost, in order to perform an early optimization. This is necessary to cope with the complexiy of such systems, and make them profitable for the company producing them. The total cost includes product cost, i.e. the cost of hardware components, hardware development, and software development. The model is modular to allow modifications in order to deal with spec?fic project circumstances. The modelling approach is also general, and could easily be extended to include other characteristics such as weight, reliabiliy, or power consumption, or be used to model other systems than electronics.