Dependable and certifiable real-world systems–issue of software engineering education (original) (raw)

Designing dependable systems needs interdisciplinarity

2004

Modern computer-based systems pose a huge challenge to designers if they are to achieve dependability of the delivered service. These challenges are recognised for safety-critical systems such as medical devices, industrial process supervision workstations or autopilots. But even for systems where life is in not at stake, the need for properties like reliability, security, maintainability is becoming ever more pressing.

Software System Safety & The NASA Aeronautics Blueprint

NASA's Aeronautics Blueprint lays out a research agenda for the Agency's aeronautics program. The word software appears only four times in this Blueprint, but the critical importance of safe and correct software to the fulfillment of the proposed research is evident on almost every page. Most of the technology solutions proposed to address challenges in aviation are software- dependent technologies. Of the fifty-two specific technology solutions described in the Blueprint, forty-one depend, at least in part, on software for success. For thirty-five of these forty-one, software is not only critical to success, but also to human safety. That is, implementing the technology solutions will require using software in such a way that it may, if not specified, designed, and implemented properly, lead to fatal accidents. These results have at least two implications for the research based on the Blueprint: (1) knowledge about the current state-of-the- art and state-of-the-practice in ...

Embedded system education: a new paradigm for engineering schools

2005

Abstract—Embedded systems are emerging as an essential component of modern electronic products. Embedded system design problems are posing challenges that involve entirely new skills for engineers. These skills are related to the combination of traditionally disjoint engineering disciplines. There is a shared concern that today's educational systems are not providing the appropriate foundations for embedded systems. We believe a new education paradigm is needed.