Course syllabus - Development of safety-critical systems

Objectives

The aim of the course is to educate how complex safety-critical systems are developed. The understanding of how design faults can be mitigated is central for the course. The course shall give basic knowledge in being able to participate in the development of safety-critical systems.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student shall be able to:
 
1. describe and argue for why it is important to use structured design processes during development of dependable systems,
2. explain the basic phases, elements and supporting functions for the development processes, connected to applicable standards,
3. apply basic methods to perform safety assessment,
4. apply methods for allocation and breakdown of system requirements and to propose conceptual design solutions, and to
5. explain how different architectures affect how functions are separated or integrated in dependable systems.

Course content

- Different solutions to affect the development of systems to minimize the number of potential design faults
- Development processes for safety-critical systems
- Design solutions to meet system requirements and how to break down and allocate requirements down to hardware and software
- Management of the interface between software and hardware
- Different architectures effect on how functions are separated or integrated into dependable systems

Specific requirements

At least 60 credits completed courses which includes Introduction to Computers and Software Engineering, 5 credits, and Requirements Engineering, 7.5 credits.

Examination

Group Assignment (GRU1), group exercises, 2 credits, examines the learning objectives 3 and 4, Marks Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Seminar (SEM1), 1.5 credits, examines the learning objective 2, Marks Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Written Examination (TEN1), 4 credits, examines the learning objectives 1-5, Marks Fail (U), 3, 4 or 5.

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

Pass with distinction, Pass with credit, Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course overlaps with 5 credits towards FLA309 Development of Avionics Systems.