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Block Diagram

Typed blocks and connections — with a trade study on every block.

Block Diagram

What it's for​

The concept-phase architecture artifact. Blocks are typed (Sensor, Processor, Actuator, Power, Interface, Memory, Custom) with input/output ports; connections are typed (data/signal/power/control/bidirectional) and styled. It renders three ways — an SVG canvas, a System Blocks table, and a Connections table — and every block carries a Trade Study action that launches a scoped Pugh matrix.

When to use it​

Concept phase, once requirements exist. Drives the BOM, the ICD, and per-block trade studies.

How it works​

  1. Generate from a prompt, or add blocks from the Block Library / manually. → An SVG diagram renders (drag to reposition, draw port→port edges); the Block Library drawer has the 7 typed blocks with default I/O, and Add Block / Add Connection build it by hand.
  2. Click a block for the Block Editor; click a connection for the Connection Editor. → Edit label, type, function and ports; a connection edits its from/to blocks + ports, type and style. Editing needs Follow-on mode on a generated doc.
  3. Link requirements and map the block to a PBS node. → The Requirements-Import modal attaches ReqGen requirements to a block; the PBS-node picker maps the block to a hierarchy node so architecture stays consistent with the product breakdown.
  4. Click a block’s Trade Study action. → A Pugh matrix opens in a new tab seeded with that block’s function and I/O; a 🏆 tag marks blocks that already carry a trade-study winner.
  5. Run Validate wiring. → A deterministic topology check flags multi-driver contention, floating inputs, dangling outputs and excessive fan-out with severity badges — a connectivity sanity check, not electrical simulation.

Mechanics​

  • SVG canvas + System Blocks table + Connections table · fullscreen
  • 7 block types · typed/styled connections · port-level wiring
  • Block Editor / Connection Editor · Block Library · Auto-arrange
  • Requirements-Import linking · PBS-node mapping
  • Per-block Trade Study → scoped Pugh · Validate-wiring check
  • Hard delete with Undo · Removed-Items restore panel
  • Export: PDF · stamped PDF · PNG · JPEG · SVG · CSV · JSON

Open Block Diagram in the app