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Postgraduate DiplomaElectronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom Applications open

Diploma in Redundant and Reliable Architectures

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in redundant and reliable architectures. 8 modules covering fault-tolerant design principles, voting and replication architectures, redundant power, redundant communications and buses, reliability and availability modelling, diagnostics and fault management and high-availability applications, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Identify single points of failure in electronic systems.

02

Design voting and replication architectures such as TMR and 2oo3.

03

Implement redundant power with current sharing and hot-swapping.

04

Select redundant communication protocols such as PRP and HSR.

05

Model reliability and availability with block diagrams and Markov chains.

06

Design diagnostic, isolation and reconfiguration strategies.

07

Assess the cost and benefit of redundancy in critical applications.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Critical systems engineers.
  • Reliability engineers.
  • Embedded systems architects.
  • Functional safety engineers.
  • RAMS engineers in rail, aerospace and energy.
  • High-availability hardware engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the railway sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC 61508-2 (functional safety — requirements for E/E/PE safety-related systems)
  • IEC 61078 (reliability block diagrams)
  • IEC 61165 (application of Markov techniques)
  • IEC 62439-3 (Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) and High-availability Seamless Redundancy (HSR))
  • IEC 61025 (fault tree analysis)
  • EN 50126-1 (railway applications — RAMS process)
  • ISO 26262-5 (road vehicles functional safety — product development at the hardware level)
  • IEC 60300-3-1 (dependability management — analysis techniques)
  • Isograph Reliability Workbench
  • ReliaSoft BlockSim
  • PRISM model checker
  • MATLAB
  • Python with NetworkX
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Fault, error and failure in electronic systems
  2. 1.2Permanent, transient and intermittent faults
  3. 1.3Hardware, software, time and information redundancy
  4. 1.4Active, passive and hybrid redundancy
  5. 1.5Single points of failure and their elimination
  6. 1.6Availability versus safety
  7. 1.7Fault containment and isolation regions
  8. 1.8Graceful degradation of service
  9. 1.9Cost and complexity of redundancy
  10. 1.10Case study: single points of failure of a controller
  1. 2.1Triple modular redundancy (TMR)
  2. 2.2Majority voters and their reliability
  3. 2.31oo2, 2oo2 and 2oo3 architectures
  4. 2.4Dual-core lockstep
  5. 2.5Duplex pairs and cross-comparison
  6. 2.6Diverse hardware redundancy
  7. 2.7Hot and cold standby switching
  8. 2.8Synchronisation between redundant channels
  9. 2.9Detecting discrepancies between channels
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: reliability calculation of a 2oo3 architecture
  1. 3.1N+1 and 2N power supply configurations
  2. 3.2OR-ing diodes and ideal-diode controllers
  3. 3.3Current sharing between supplies
  4. 3.4Hot-swapping of modules
  5. 3.5Rail supervision and sequencing
  6. 3.6Backup batteries and supercapacitors
  7. 3.7Power distribution with fault isolation
  8. 3.8Selective protection and electronic fuses
  9. 3.9Switchover testing between supplies
  10. 3.10Lab: redundant supply with active OR-ing
  1. 4.1Networks with PRP and HSR redundancy
  2. 4.2Ring topologies and the MRP protocol
  3. 4.3Redundant CAN bus and dual-channel FlexRay
  4. 4.4TSN Ethernet with frame replication
  5. 4.5Data protection with CRC and ECC
  6. 4.6Watchdogs and message supervision
  7. 4.7Redundancy in wireless links
  8. 4.8State management between controllers
  9. 4.9Link failure testing
  10. 4.10Workshop: PRP network for a control system
  1. 5.1Reliability block diagrams
  2. 5.2Markov chains for repairable systems
  3. 5.3Fault trees with dynamic gates
  4. 5.4Stochastic Petri nets
  5. 5.5Diagnostic coverage and its impact
  6. 5.6Common cause failures with the beta model
  7. 5.7Mean time to repair and maintenance
  8. 5.8Steady-state availability
  9. 5.9Monte Carlo simulation of systems
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: Markov model of a duplex system
  1. 6.1Power-on and run-time self-test
  2. 6.2Monitoring of memories and clocks
  3. 6.3Detection of latent faults
  4. 6.4Isolation and reconfiguration
  5. 6.5Event logging and remote diagnostics
  6. 6.6Data-driven predictive maintenance
  7. 6.7Fault injection testing
  8. 6.8Safe state management
  9. 6.9Related functional safety requirements
  10. 6.10Lab: fault injection in a duplex system
  1. 7.1Railway control systems
  2. 7.2Avionics and IMA architectures
  3. 7.3Data centres and servers
  4. 7.4Substations and electrical protection
  5. 7.5Electric vehicle charging stations
  6. 7.6Autonomous vehicles and automated driving
  7. 7.7Critical medical devices
  8. 7.8Satellites and radiation environments
  9. 7.9Lessons from real incidents
  10. 7.10Case study: architecture of an on-board railway system
  1. 8.1Availability and safety requirements
  2. 8.2Single point of failure analysis
  3. 8.3Selection of the redundant architecture
  4. 8.4Power and communications design
  5. 8.5Reliability and availability model
  6. 8.6Diagnostics and fault injection plan
  7. 8.7Cost-benefit assessment
  8. 8.8Conclusions and recommendations
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Isograph Reliability Workbench, ReliaSoft BlockSim, PRISM model checker, MATLAB and Python with NetworkX, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for availability modelling of repairable systems, fault injection testing on redundant controllers and verification of switchover between redundant supplies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: IEC 61508-2, IEC 61078, IEC 61165, IEC 62439-3, IEC 61025, EN 50126-1, ISO 26262-5, IEC 60300-3-1.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEC 61508-2, IEC 61078 and IEC 61165 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Isograph Reliability Workbench, ReliaSoft BlockSim, PRISM model checker, MATLAB and Python with NetworkX, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete redundant architecture, from availability and safety requirements and single point of failure analysis to power and communications design, reliability modelling and a fault injection plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Requirements and single points of failure
Set the availability and safety requirements and analyse single points of failure.
Architecture selection
Select the redundant architecture and design its power and communications.
Reliability model
Build the reliability and availability model of the system.
Diagnostics and fault injection
Define the diagnostic strategy and the fault injection plan, with a cost-benefit assessment.
Final project
Present the documented architecture with conclusions and recommendations to your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Critical systems engineerReliability engineerEmbedded systems architectFunctional safety engineerRAMS engineerHigh-availability hardware engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Isograph Reliability Workbench, ReliaSoft BlockSim, PRISM model checker, MATLAB and Python with NetworkX, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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