Real-Time Mission-Critical Systems Design from Coursera

This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5317, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree.

Upon completion of this course the learner will know the difference between systems you can bet your life on (mission critical) and those which provide predictable response and quality of service (reliable). This will be achieved not only by study of design methods and patterns for mission critical systems, but also through implementation of soft real-time systems and comparison to hard real-time. Methods of verification to determine ability to meet mission critical as well as soft real-time requirements will be learned so that the learner can properly assess risk, reliability and impact of failure in real-time systems.

At the end of this course learners will be able to apply an architectural style (cyclic executive, RTOS, or embedded Linux) to more detailed design of a mission critical system, a soft real-time system, or a mixed hard and soft real-time system, including:

● Thorough understanding of hardware/software device interfaces and resource view for hardware abstraction layers (HAL, BSP)

● Design trade-offs with different real-time hardware architectures including single core, multi-core, hybrid-FPGA, GP-GPU, and DSP systems, with emphasis on multi-core

● Mission critical embedded systems architecture and key design elements

● Fault tolerant processing, memory, and I/O concepts

What's inside

Syllabus

Device I/O interfaces and Drivers for Real-time Systems

This module covers RTES software to hardware interface using device abstraction and driver interfaces as well as system scaling.

Fault Tolerant Memory and Storage for Mission Critical Systems

This module covers use of key algorithms such as error correct codes, redundant arrays of devices, and use of flash file systems with persistent memory.

Solving performance and reliability defects in real-time systems

Service software implementation efficiency and optimization methods are covered so that computations can be completed by deadlines. Methods of profiling and tracing applications as well as the whole system are covered.

Difference between high availability and high reliability for hard and soft real-time systems

This module integrates fault tolerant and recovery methods with overall strategies for system level fault detection, isolation and recovery. Design with consideration of failure modes and effects analysis is covered along with redundancy management for high availability.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines mission critical and highly reliable real-time systems, which are standard in industries including healthcare, defense, automotive, telecommunications, and aerospace

Explores the difference between systems with deterministic deadlines and those with predictable response and quality of service, which are essential knowledge for design and architecture

Taught by Sam Siewert, who is recognized for their work in real-time systems engineering

Develops and strengthens expertise in mission critical real-time system design, architecture, and analysis, which are sought-after skills in industry and academia

Builds a strong foundation for intermediate learners and practitioners by teaching core concepts and providing practical examples

May require additional resources and technical background in engineering to fully grasp concepts and implementations

Reviews summary

Content-rich course with disorganized assignments

According to students, this course has a lot of great content, but its quizzes, lectures, and assignments do not flow in any logical order. Learners also mention that the final exam covered material that was not covered in the lectures.

The course has a lot of great content.

"Like all courses in this series, there is a lot of great content..."

"It's a realy vaste subject and everything can not be covered in a single serie of courses"

The final exam covered material that was not covered in the lectures.

"I felt the final exam covered material we did not cover in the lecture"

The quizzes, lectures, and assignments do not flow in any logical order.

"the quizzes, lectures, and assignments do not flow in any logical order."

"should get a solution from the professor when it's about programming assignment."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Real-Time Mission-Critical Systems Design with these activities:

Review basic electronics

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Refresh your understanding of basic electronics, including concepts like schematics and circuits, to ensure a solid foundation for this course.

Browse courses on Electronics

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Review Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's current law.
Practice analyzing simple circuits, including series and parallel circuits.
Build a simple circuit using resistors, capacitors, and transistors.

Design a simple embedded system

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Design and build a simple embedded system, such as a temperature sensor or a light controller, to apply the concepts learned in this course.

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Select a microcontroller and develop a hardware design.
Write firmware for the microcontroller using a programming language like C or Assembly.
Test and debug the embedded system to ensure it meets the design specifications.

Participate in embedded systems competitions or hackathons

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Participate in embedded systems competitions or hackathons to test your skills, collaborate with others, and gain practical experience in designing and implementing embedded systems.

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Identify and register for a relevant embedded systems competition or hackathon.
Form a team or work individually to develop an innovative embedded system solution.
Submit your solution and compete against other teams.

Two other activities

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Contribute to open-source embedded systems projects

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Contribute to open-source embedded systems projects to gain practical experience, collaborate with others, and give back to the community.

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Identify a relevant open-source embedded systems project.
Review the project's documentation and codebase.
Identify an area where you can contribute.
Submit a pull request with your contributions.

Create a video tutorial on a specific aspect of embedded systems

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Create a video tutorial explaining a specific aspect of embedded systems, such as interrupt handling or memory management, to reinforce your understanding and share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Embedded Systems

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Choose a specific topic related to embedded systems to cover.
Develop a script for the video tutorial, including clear explanations and demonstrations.
Record the video tutorial, ensuring high-quality audio and video.
Edit the video tutorial, adding any necessary animations or graphics.
Publish and share the video tutorial on a platform like YouTube or LinkedIn Learning.

Career center

Learners who complete Real-Time Mission-Critical Systems Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Embedded Systems Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineers design, develop, and test embedded systems. They work with hardware and software to create systems that are used in a variety of applications, including automotive, medical, and industrial. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an Embedded Systems Engineer. You will learn about the different types of embedded systems, the design process, and the testing and debugging techniques used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Real-Time Software Engineer

Real-Time Software Engineers design, develop, and test software that must meet strict deadlines. This software is used in a variety of applications, including avionics, medical devices, and industrial automation. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Real-Time Software Engineer. You will learn about the different types of real-time systems, the design process, and the testing and debugging techniques used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real-Time Software Engineer

Safety-Critical Software Engineer

Safety-Critical Software Engineers design, develop, and test software that must meet the highest levels of safety and reliability. This software is used in a variety of applications, including nuclear power plants, medical devices, and automotive systems. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Safety-Critical Software Engineer. You will learn about the different types of safety-critical systems, the design process, and the testing and debugging techniques used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Safety-Critical Software Engineer

Systems Architect

Systems Architects design the overall architecture of complex systems. They work with stakeholders to define the system requirements and then design the system to meet those requirements. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Systems Architect. You will learn about the different types of systems architectures, the design process, and the testing and debugging techniques used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Architect

Software Architect

Software Architects design the overall architecture of software systems. They work with stakeholders to define the system requirements and then design the system to meet those requirements. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Software Architect. You will learn about the different types of software architectures, the design process, and the testing and debugging techniques used in this field.

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Hardware Engineer

Hardware Engineers design, develop, and test hardware systems. They work with electrical and mechanical components to create systems that are used in a variety of applications, including computers, medical devices, and industrial equipment. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Hardware Engineer. You will learn about the different types of hardware systems, the design process, and the testing and debugging techniques used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Engineer

Test Engineer

Test Engineers design, develop, and execute tests to verify the quality of software and hardware systems. They work with engineers and developers to identify and fix defects. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Test Engineer. You will learn about the different types of testing, the testing process, and the tools and techniques used in this field.

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Quality Assurance Engineer

Quality Assurance Engineers work to ensure that software and hardware systems meet the required quality standards. They develop and implement quality assurance processes, and they work with engineers and developers to identify and fix defects. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Quality Assurance Engineer. You will learn about the different types of quality assurance, the quality assurance process, and the tools and techniques used in this field.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and control projects. They work with stakeholders to define the project scope, timeline, and budget. They also work with engineers and developers to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Project Manager. You will learn about the different types of projects, the project management process, and the tools and techniques used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software and hardware systems. They work with engineers and developers to understand the system and then write clear and concise documentation for users. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Technical Writer. You will learn about the different types of technical writing, the writing process, and the tools and techniques used in this field.

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Computer Scientist

Computer Scientists research and develop new computer technologies. They work with algorithms, data structures, and programming languages to create new ways to solve problems. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Computer Scientist. You will learn about the different areas of computer science, the research process, and the tools and techniques used in this field.

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Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and test software applications. They work with users to understand the requirements and then design and develop software that meets those requirements. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Software Developer. You will learn about the different types of software applications, the software development process, and the tools and techniques used in this field.

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Web Developer

Web Developers design, develop, and test websites. They work with users to understand the requirements and then design and develop websites that meet those requirements. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Web Developer. You will learn about the different types of websites, the web development process, and the tools and techniques used in this field.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve problems. They work with data to identify patterns and trends, and they develop models to predict future outcomes. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Data Scientist. You will learn about the different types of data, the data science process, and the tools and techniques used in this field.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with businesses to identify and solve problems. They work with stakeholders to understand the business needs and then develop solutions that meet those needs. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Business Analyst. You will learn about the different types of business problems, the business analysis process, and the tools and techniques used in this field.

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