Systems Engineering using Secure Open Source Technology I
INSY 7970/7976
3:30-4:45pm Mondays/Wednesdays 1120 Shelby Center
3 Credits
Dr David A. Umphress (CSSE) Dr Alice Smith (INSY) Dr Drew Hamilton (CSSE)
Course Information: This course provides a broad-spectrum overview to systems engineering. Its purpose is to give students who are already familiar with a specific engineering discipline a more holistic and systemic perspective of complex solutions to difficult real-world problems. This course is interdisciplinary. Using open source technologies as a context, it examines the engineering of physical and logical solutions to end-to-end systems that must be secure. The material in this course will be delivered through presentations by speakers from industry and government; lectures; and interactive student activities.
Students will be engaged in active learning through small groups, where each group consists of members from different majors and skills. Students will demonstrate their learning through short formative assignments that cover specific concepts; longer comprehensive assignments that integrate two or more concepts; and a mid-term and final exam. The course will culminate with a term project in which student teams develop a conceptual design of an aerial reconnaissance system consisting of small aircraft controlled by computers, all using open source mechanical, electrical, and software technologies.
This is the first course in a two-course sequence. It explores systems engineering principles, whereas the second course applies the principles to a hands-on project. Student may take the first course without taking the follow-on course. Students continuing with the second course will work in teams to build a working prototype aerial reconnaissance system based on a synthesis of conceptual designs developed in the first semester.
Course Outcomes: Through this course, students will be able to:
- Understand systems lifecycle activities: conceptual system design; preliminary system design; detail system design and development; and system test, evaluation, and validation.
- Understand contemporary systems lifecycle models: waterfall, manufacturing prototype, iterative, etc.
- Understand systems engineering technical processes (e.g., needs elicitation, analysis, solution design, etc.), together with contemporary methods and tools used to carry them out.
- Understand technical management processes (e.g., acquisition, configuration management, risk management, engineering economics), together with best practices used to carry them out.
- Exercise skills needed for problem formulation, creativity, synthesis, analysis, decision-making, communication, and collaboration.
- Understand the mechanics, risks, and benefits of using open source technologies in secure systems.
- Know the career potential of the systems engineering field.
Note: This course includes topics required by the Committee on National Security Systems for Certification CNSS 4012, National Information Assurance Training Standard for Senior Systems Managers. This is a federal certification that is earned by achieving a minimum score on an exam that is part of the course.
Prerequisites:
- ENGR 1110, Introduction to Engineering
- Senior or graduate standing
