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Course syllabus - Systems-of-Systems Engineering

Scope

2.5 credits

Course code

DVA479

Valid from

Autumn semester 2019

Education level

Second cycle

Progressive Specialisation

A1N (Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements)

Main area(s)

Computer Science

School

School of Innovation, Design and Engineering

Ratified

2019-01-24

Literature lists

Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.

    • Ratified date: 2022-08-22
    • Latest update: 2025-06-25

    Articles

    INCOSE Systems of Systems Primer

    URL: Link

    INCOSE - International Council on Systems Engineering,

    Maier, Mark W.

    Architecting Principles for Systems-of-Systems

    URL: Link

    INCOSE International Symposium, 6(1):565-573, jul 1996. ISSN 23345837. doi: 10.1002/j.2334-5837.1996.tb02054.x,

    Kim, Daniel H.

    Introduction to Systems Thinking

    URL: Link

    Pegasus Communications, Inc,

    Boardman, John; Sauser, Brian,

    System of Systems - the meaning of of

    IEEE, 2006. ISBN 1-4244-0188-7. doi: 10.1109/SYSOSE.2006.1652284 Related to Module 2: Systems thinking and systems engineering

    URL: Link

    2006 IEEE/SMC International Conference on System of Systems Engineering, 118-123

    Ebert, Christof; Gallardo, Gorka; Hernantes, Josune; Serrano, Nicolas,

    DevOps

    doi: 10.1109/MS.2016.68 Related to Module 3: Engineering methods and tools

    URL: Link

    IEEE Software, 33(3):94-100

    Rosen, Roland; von Wichert, George; Lo, George; Bettenhausen, Kurt D.,

    About The Importance of Autonomy and Digital Twins for the Future of Manufacturing

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2015.06.141, 2015 Related to Module 3: Engineering methods and tools

    URL: Link

    In 15th IFAC Symposium on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing, 567-572

    Schieritz, Nadine; Milling, Peter M.,

    Modeling the Forest or Modeling the Trees: A Comparison of System Dynamics and Agent-Based Simulation

    Related to Module 3: Engineering methods and tools.

    URL: Link

    In Proc. 21st Intl. Conf. of the System Dynamics Society,

    Huhns, M.N.; Singh, M.P.,

    Service-oriented computing: key concepts and principles

    ISSN 1089-7801. doi: 10.1109/MIC.2005.21, 2005 75-81 Related to Module 4: Architecture

    URL: Link

    IEEE Internet Computing, 9(1), 75-81

    Ingram, Clare; Payne, Richard; Perry, Simon; Holt, Jon; Overgaard Hansen, Finn; Diogo Couto, Luis,

    Modelling patterns for systems of systems architectures

    doi: 10.1109/SysCon.2014.6819249, 2014 pages 146-153 Related to Module 4: Architecture

    IEEE International Systems Conference Proceedings,

    Berners-Lee, Tim; Hendler, James; Lassila, Ora,

    The Semantic Web

    Related to Module 5: Interoperability and information representation

    URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/26059207?seq=1

    Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc.,

    Porter, Michael E.; Heppelmann, James E.,

    How smart, connected products are transforming competition

    64-88 Related to Module 6: Business models and incentives

    Harvard business review, 92(11),

    Axelsson, Jakob,

    Achieving System-of-Systems Interoperability Levels Using Linked Data and Ontologies

    Related to Module 5: Interoperability and information representation.

    Proc. INCOSE International Symposium,

    Verma, D. C.,

    Service level agreements on IP networks

    1382-1388 ISSN 0018-9219. doi: 10.1109/JPROC.2004.832969 Related to Module 6: Business models and incentives.

    URL: Link

    Proceedings of the IEEE, 92(9),

    Axelsson, Jakob,

    Towards a Unified Approach to System-of-Systems Risk Analysis Based on Systems Theory

    Related to Module 7: Trustworthiness.

    Proc. INCOSE International Symposium,

    Shapiro, Stuart S.,

    Privacy Risk Analysis Based on System Control Structures: Adapting System-Theoretic Process Analysis for Privacy Engineering

    pages 17-24 IEEE, may 2016. ISBN 978-1-5090-3690-5. doi: 10.1109/SPW.2016.15 Related to Module 7: Trustworthiness.

    URL: Link

    In 2016 IEEE Security and Privacy Workshops (SPW),

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to make the participants acquainted with the concept of systems-of-systems, which means that independent systems are collaborating. The course should provide an understanding why systems-of-systems is an important topic in the current digitalization and provide a theoretical and practical foundation for understanding important characteristics of systems-of-systems. Further, the course should give the participants a deeper knowledge in a number of key concerns that needs to be considered when engineering systems-of-systems.

Learning outcomes

After the completion of the course the student shall be able to:
1. Present key principles of systems theory and systems-of-systems.
2. Describe building blocks and tools used in systems-of-systems engineering.
3. Explain analysis methods for key characteristics of a system-of-systems.

Course content

The course contains the following main parts:
* Characteristics of systems-of-systems and important sub-classes.
* Underlying principles from systems theory and systems engineering.
* Methods and tools for engineering systems-of-systems.
* The architecture of a system-of-systems and how it can be described.
* Interoperability between constituent systems, and underlying principles for information representation.
* Business models and incentives for collaborations between systems.
* Analysis of trustworthiness of systems-of-systems, including risks, safety, and security.

Specific requirements

120 credits of which at least 80 credits in engineering. In addition, Swedish course B/Swedish course 3 and English course A/English course 6 are required. For courses given entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish course B/Swedish course 3.

Examination

Written assignment (INL1), 0,5 credits, examines learning outcome 1 (key principles of systems theory and systems-of-systems), marks Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Written assignment (INL2), 1 credits, examines learning outcome 2 (building blocks and tools used in systems-of-systems engineering), marks Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Written assignment (INL3), 1 credits, examines learning outcome 3 (analysis methods for key characteristics of a system-of-systems), marks Fail (U) or Pass (G).

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Two-grade scale