Mathematical Models for Safety Systems

Module nameMathematical Models for Safety Systems
Type of moduleCompulsory
Learning results,
competencies, qualification goals
The student is able to:
  • derive and apply mathematical procedures and methods in accordance with international standards
  • explain and evaluate the functionality of safety-related systems
  • derive, interpret and analyse different relevant safety parameters
  • model and analyse various safety architectures
  • derive, design and apply various methods and concepts in order to determine safety parameters and analyse them in accordance with international standards.

Learning results with regard to the objectives of the course of study:
  • Gaining deeper insight into the mathematical and natural science areas.
  • Gaining a deeper knowledge about the specific electrical basics.
  • Acquiring enhanced and applied subject-specific basics.
  • Identifying and classifying complex electro-technical and interdisciplinary tasks.
  • Being confident in the ability to use and evaluate analytical methods.
  • Being able to create and evaluate solving methods independently.
  • Familiarising oneself with new areas of knowledge, running searches and assessing the results.
  • Gaining important and profound experience in the area of practical technical skills and engineering activities.
  • Working and researching in national and international contexts.
Types of courses4 SWS (semester periods per week):       2 SWS lecture
                                                                 2 SWS exercise
Course contents
  • Designing mathematical models for the analysis and evaluation of safety-related systems.
  • Creating different procedures for the determination of safety-related parameters.
  • Learning about the correct use and interpretation of international guidelines, standards and norms.
  • Detecting quality characteristics in the field of hardware and software engineering.
Teaching and learning methods
(forms of teaching and learning)
Lecture, presentation, learning by teaching, self-regulated learning, problem-based learning
Frequency of the module offeringWinter term
Language English
Requirements for the
participation in the module
Prerequisites according to examination regulations
Student  workload180 h:   60 h attendance studies
             120 h personal studies
Academic performancesNone
Precondition for the
admission to the
examination performance
None
Examination performanceWritten examination 120-180 min. or oral examination 20-40 min.
Number of credits
of the module
6 credits

In charge of the moduleProf. Dr. Josef Börcsök
Teacher of the moduleProf. Dr. Josef Börcsök and his co-workers
Forms of mediaProjector, black board, piece of paper
Literature references
  • Börcsök, Josef, Functional Safety - Basic Principles of Safety-related Systems Hüthig-Verlag Heidelberg, 2007
  • Börcsök, Josef, Electronic Safety Systems - Hardware Concepts, Models and Calculations, Hüthig-Verlag Heidelberg, 2004
  • IEC/EN 61508 (2010). International Standard: 61508 Functional safety of electrical electronic programmable electronic safety-related systems Part1-Part7, Geneva
  • IEC/EN 61511 (2010). International Standard: 61511 Functional safety - Safety instrumented systems for the process industry sector, Geneva
  • IEC 61131-3 (2003) Programmable controllers- part 3: Programming languages, International Electro-technical Commission.

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