{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T17:56:04Z","timestamp":1787594164557,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]],"date-time":"2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1737590400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"NIUVT COMP15"},{"name":"The University of Connecticut Pratt and Whitney Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering (UConn P&amp;W IASE)"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Systems"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This article proposes a novel methodology aimed at streamlining the system\u2019s development process. By examining existing state-of-the-art approaches and the capabilities inherent in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools, the article introduces a methodology centered around transforming a descriptive Systems Modeling Language (SysML) model into a digital twin. This virtual representation of the physical asset leverages real-time data and simulations to mirror its behavior and characteristics. When integrated with MBSE, this synergy allows for a comprehensive and dynamic approach, enhancing innovation by providing a holistic and adaptable framework for designing, analyzing, and optimizing complex systems throughout their lifecycle. The practical application of this Real-Time Communication and Data Acquisition (RT-CDA) methodology is implemented in a context and operational scenario of an electric unmanned autonomous vehicle employing both Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) approaches. The methodology empowers systems engineers to iteratively update and refine their system model\u2019s fidelity based on real-world testing insights. The article specifically demonstrates the real-time communication capabilities achieved between an electric unmanned autonomous vehicle (a physical asset) and a descriptive (SysML) model, illustrating the real-time data aspect integral to the concept of a digital twin. This study serves as a foundation for future endeavors, envisioning real-time communication among virtual and physical models to construct comprehensive digital twins of complex systems to predict behavior and performance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/systems13020073","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]],"date-time":"2025-01-23T09:01:13Z","timestamp":1737622873000},"page":"73","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["An Approach Integrating Model-Based Systems Engineering, IoT, and Digital Twin for the Design of Electric Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1239-9931","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Clara A.","family":"Ramirez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Priyanshu","family":"Agrawal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Computing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0330-6625","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amy E.","family":"Thompson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2024, December 20). 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