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CM30072: Safety-critical computer systems

[Page last updated: 02 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Computer Science
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course a student should be able to demonstrate the following:
1. An understanding of the nature of risk in developing computer-based systems.
2. The ability to choose and apply appropriate hazard analysis models for simple safety-related problems.
3. An understanding of how to approach the design of safety-critical software systems.

Aims: To give an appreciation of the current state of safe systems development. To develop an understanding of risk in systems. To give a foundation in hazard analysis models and techniques. To show how safety principles may be built into all stages of the software development process.

Skills: IT (T, A).

Content: The nature of risk: computers and risk; how accidents happen; human error. System safety: historical approaches to system safety; basic concepts and terminology. Managing the development of safety-critical systems. Modeling human error and the accident process. Hazard analysis: basic principles; models and techniques. Safety principles in the software lifecycle: hazard analysis as part of requirements analysis; designing for safety; designing the human-machine interface; verification of safety in computer systems.

Programme availability:

CM30072 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Computer Science
  • USCM-AFB06 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science (Year 3)
  • USCM-AAB07 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USCM-AKB07 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USCM-AFM01 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science (Year 3)
  • USCM-AAM02 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with Study year abroad (Year 3)
  • USCM-AKM02 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with Year long work placement (Year 3)
Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
  • UEEE-AFM13 : MEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEEE-AKM13 : MEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)
  • UEEE-AFM16 : MEng(Hons) Robotics Engineering (Year 3)
  • UEEE-AKM16 : MEng(Hons) Robotics Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UEEE-AFB16 : BEng(Hons) Robotics Engineering (Year 3)
  • UEEE-AKB16 : BEng(Hons) Robotics Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.