The complexity of modern cyber–physical systems is steadily increasing as their functional scope expands and as regulations become more demanding. To cope with this complexity, organizations are adopting methodologies such as model-based systems engineering (MBSE). By creating system models, MBSE promises significant advantages such as improved traceability, consistency, and collaboration. On the other hand, the adoption of MBSE faces challenges in both the introduction and the operational use. In the introduction phase, challenges include high initial effort and steep learning curves. In the operational use phase, challenges arise from the difficulty of retrieving and reusing information stored in system models. Research on the support of MBSE through artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, has so far focused mainly on easing the introduction phase, for example by using large language models (LLMs) to assist in creating system models. However, generative AI could also support the operational use phase by helping stakeholders access the information embedded in existing system models. This study introduces an LLM-based multi-agent system that applies a Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generation (GraphRAG) strategy to access and utilize information stored in MBSE system models. The system’s capabilities are demonstrated through a chatbot that answers questions about the underlying system model. This solution reduces the complexity and effort involved in retrieving system model information and improves accessibility for stakeholders who lack advanced knowledge in MBSE methodologies. The chatbot was evaluated using the architecture of a battery electric vehicle as a reference model and a set of 100 curated questions and answers. When tested across four large language models, the best-performing model achieved an accuracy of 93 percent in providing correct answers.

The automation of product development is increasingly enabled by agents, which extend large language models (LLMs) from requirements engineering to computer-aided engineering (CAE). An agent can be understood as an LLM embedded in a software harness that provides tools, memory, execution loops, and feedback channels. Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) maintains the system architecture and may therefore provide an important source of context and state for such agents. This scoping review investigates which artifacts provide context and maintain state in the reported approaches, and whether the MBSE system architecture is among them. A systematic search of arXiv, IEEE Xplore, Scopus, and Web of Science on 1 August 2026 covered three search areas: MBSE and agents, MBSE and CAE, and agents and CAE. Of 14 584 records published from 2022 onward, title and abstract screening retained 495, of which 329, available in full text, were classified along the dimensions of their search area. Screening and classification were carried out by an LLM under author-defined criteria and closed vocabularies, reported along the PRISMA-trAIce checklist, and every evidence passage was verified against the full text. The review positions the MBSE system architecture within the agent harness and identifies how far the literature supports this role.

The complexity of modern cyber-physical systems is steadily increasing as their functional scope expands and as regulations become more demanding. To cope with this complexity, organizations are adopting methodologies such as Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE). By creating system models MBSE promises significant advantages such as improved traceability, consistency, and collaboration. On the other hand, the adoption of MBSE faces challenges in both the introduction and the operational use. In the introduction phase, challenges include high initial effort and steep learning curves. In the operational use phase, challenges arise from the difficulty of retrieving and reusing information stored in system models. Research on the support of MBSE through Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially Generative AI, has so far focused mainly on easing the introduction phase, for example by using Large Language Models (LLM) to assist in creating system models. However, Generative AI could also support the operational use phase by helping stakeholders access the information embedded in existing system models. This study introduces an LLM-based multi-agent system that applies a Graph-Retrieval-Augmented-Generation (GraphRAG) strategy to access and utilize information stored in MBSE system models. The system’s capabilities are demonstrated through a chatbot that answers questions about the underlying system model. This solution reduces the complexity and effort involved in retrieving system model information and improves accessibility for stakeholders who lack advanced knowledge in MBSE methodologies. The chatbot was evaluated using the architecture of a battery electric vehicle as a reference model and a set of 100 curated questions and answers. When tested across four large language models, the best-performing model achieved an accuracy of 93 percent in providing correct answers.