Course syllabus - Design of fault tolerant systems

Objectives

The aim of the course is to give the students advanced knowledge and skills within design and verification of fault tolerant systems such that they can transfer theories from one safety critical domain to another. The aim is also to provide the students with analysis methods such that they can determine and argue for when safety-critical requirements are met.
 
 

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student shall be able to:

1. implement existing methods for fail-safe designs
2. compare different fault tolerant concepts and their ability to mitigate failure effects
3. argue for redundancy concepts in fault tolerant architectures
4. implement safety requirements and evaluate how these are taken care of and verified, and
5. determine when the dependability requirements are fulfilled

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 design of safety-critical systems. In addition, the course investigates the notion of sufficiently safe, through experiments with redundancy principles and tailor-made fault tolerant mechanisms.

Tuition

Lectures and exercises.

Specific requirements

At least 180 credits of which at least 30 credits within Computer Science and/or Electronics and/or Aeronautical Engineering and also 7,5 credits Robust electronics for aerospace applications and 3,5 credits Safety Critical Systems 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

Exercise (OVN1), a series of exercises where methods for fail-safe designs are implemented and compared in regards of their ability to mitigate failure effects, 2 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1-2, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)
Exercise (OVN2), a series of exercises in argumentation for redundancy concepts and implementation, judgement and evaluation of safety-critical requirements, 2 credits, examines the learning outcomes 3-5, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)
Written examination (TEN1), 3,5 credits, examines the learning objectives 2-5, 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

Grading scale: 5, 4, 3