Print Course syllabus
Course syllabus - Fail-safe Design Concepts
Scope
2.5 credits
Course code
ELA414
Valid from
Autumn semester 2026
Education level
Second cycle
Progressive Specialisation
A1N (Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements)
Main area(s)
Organisation
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Ratified
2024-01-18
Revised
2025-11-03
Literature lists
Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.
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Books
Other materials
Kurslitteraturen består av vetenskapliga artiklar, rapporter och standarder som presenteras på vald lärplattform.
Objectives
The purpose is to give engineers and students a toolbox of fail-safe design concepts for industrial and embedded systems.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course the student shall be able to:
- compare different fault tolerant concepts and their ability to mitigate failure effects,
- implement existing methods for fail-safe designs, and
- argue for redundancy concepts in fault tolerant architectures.
Course content
The course covers different types of faults and possible error sources (technology, human and environment). Different types of faults are addressed with fault tolerance mechanisms for systems, hardware and software components. This gives a solid base for understanding the design of fail-safe systems.
Specific requirements
At least 160 credits of which at least 15 credits within Computer Science and 20 credits within Electronics. In addition Swedish course 3 or Swedish level 3 and English course 6 or English level 2 are required. For courses given entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish course 3 or Swedish level 3.
Examination
Exercise (OVN1), online exercise where methods for fault tolerant concepts are compared with respect to their ability to mitigate failure effects, 1.5 credits, examines the learning outcome 1, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G).
Assignment (INL1), home assignment where existing methods for fail-safe designs are realized, and redundancy concepts in fault tolerant architectures are argumented for, 1 credit, examines the learning outcomes 2-3, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G).
A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding disability study support, can request adaptions for the examination. It is the examiner who takes decisions on any adaptions, based on the certificate and other conditions.
Grade
Two-grade scale
Interim Regulations and Other Regulations
The course overlaps with 2,5 credits with FLA432 Design of Fault Tolerant Systems.