Course syllabus - Project Course in Dependable Systems

Objectives

The project is developed in close collaboration with industry and research groups, to mimic real projects where dependability is important and where priority is given to requirements management, validation of requirements and verification strategies. The aim of the course is to enrich the students' knowledge of how to run a project with dependability in focus and to give them an insight into challenges relevant to participating companies and research groups.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student shall be able to: 
1. explain how a safety-critical embedded system is designed 
2. argue for his/her technical solution in relation to research results that are close 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 
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 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 and 22.5 credits at advanced level in computer science, aeronautical engineering and/or electronics. 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

Assignment (INL1), (project plan, organization and strategies), 4 credits,  grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) (examines learning outcomes 4 and 5) 
Seminar (SEM1), (project plan, organization and strategies), 1,5 credits, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) (examines learning outcomes 3, 4 and 5)
Assignment (INL2), (requirements structure and design), 4 credits, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) (examines learning outcomes 1 and 5)
Seminar (SEM2), (requirement structure and design), 1,5 credits, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) (examines learning outcomes 1, 3 and 5)
Assignment (INL3), (validation and verification strategy), 4 credits, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) (examines learning outcomes 1 and 5)
Seminar (SEM3), (validation and verification strategy), 1,5 credits, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) (examines learning outcomes 1, 3 and 5)
Assignment (INL4), (project report for final review), 4 credits, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) (examines learning outcomes 1, 2 and 6)
Seminar (SEM4) (final examination), 2 credits, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) (examines learning outcomes 1-6)

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

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

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