This paper describes the application of a model-based system design method critical to complex intelligent systems, PSARE, to a welding robot development to define its top level architecture. The PSARE model consists of requirement model which describes the core processes(function) of the system, enhanced requirement model which adds technology specific processes to requirement model and allocates them to architecture model, and architecture model which describes the structure and interfaces and flows of the modules of the system. This paper focuses on the detailed procedure and method rather than the detailed domain model of the welding robot. In this study, only the top level architecture of a welding robot was defined using the PSARE method. However, the method can be repeatedly applied to the lower level architecture of the robot until the process which the robot should perform can be clearly defined. The enhanced data flow diagram in this model separates technology independent processes and technology specific processes. This approach will provide a useful base not only for improvement of a class of welding robots but also for development of increasingly complex intelligent real-time systems.