Engineering Systems Design

Catalog description

Design requirements for complex systems; trade-offs between market opportunities and technology; translation of priorities and needs into an operational concept. EDSGN 401 Engineering Systems Design (3) This course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to translate needs and priorities into system requirements, and develop derived requirements, which together form the starting point for engineering of complex systems. Students will develop an understanding of the larger context in which requirements for a system are developed, and learn about trade-offs between developing mission needs or market opportunities first versus assessing available technology first. Techniques for translating needs and priorities into an operational concept and then into specific functional and performance requirements will be presented. Students will assess and improve the usefulness of requirements, including such aspects as correctness, completeness, consistency, measurability, testability, and clarity of documentation. The course explores the role of techniques such as decision analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and risk assessment. Students will understand the limitations of the way that current systems engineering is practiced in terms of dealing with complexity, lifecycle uncertainty and other factors.