Course syllabus - Project Course in Dependable Systems

Objectives

The project is developed in close collaboration with industry and/or research groups at MDU and/or other universities. The aim of the project is to have the same organization and requirements as real industrial projects with dependability requirements. Therefore, the focus is given to requirements management, verification and validation, safety and quality management. The aim of the project is to enrich students' knowledge of how to run projects that have dependability requirements, as well as to prepare students for future work environments.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student shall be able to: 

1. explain how projects with dependability requirements are developed and run,
2. argue for his/her technical solution in relation to research results that are related to the system developed by the group, 
3. show responsibility and actively lead the work in a formally controlled development, 
4. put together a project plan based on a proven development model,
5. develop and validate a requirements structure all the way from customer specification through system description to hardware and software requirements and also
6. argue for his/her technical solution in relation to social and ethical aspects.

Course content

In this project, students will work together in larger groups during one semester where they will plan and develop a dependable system and/or construct some parts of it. The students will take on different roles in line with those found at companies developing dependable projects, e.g. team leader for safety, chief engineer, project manager, and validation and verification engineer. The students will also plan and conduct formal reviews.

Specific requirements

150 credits in science and/or engineering of which includes Development of safety-critical systems, 7.5 credits or equivalent, and also 30 credits at advanced level classified as Dependable Systems.
 
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), project plan, organization and strategies, 4 credits, examines the learning outcomes 4 and 5, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Written assignment (INL2), requirements structure and design, 4 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1 and 5, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Written assignment (INL3), validation and verification strategy, 4 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1 and 5, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Written assignment (INL4), project report for final review, 4 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1, 2 and 6, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Seminar (SEM1), project plan, organization and strategies, 1.5 credits, examines the learning outcomes 3, 4 and 5, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Seminar (SEM2), requirement structure and design, 1.5 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1, 3 and 5, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Seminar (SEM3), validation and verification strategy, 1.5 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1, 3 and 5, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Seminar (SEM4), final examination, 2 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1-6, grades 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

Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course completely overlaps with FLA400 Project in Dependable Systems.

The course can be included in the technology area Dependable Systems.