In this course, we will build on the conceptual approach to the new branch of engineering developed in CECS 6001. Students will investigate and analyse cyber-physical systems (CPSs) using cybernetic approaches.
Through the course, we will challenge students to study and analyze various examples of CPSs, employing systems analysis and complementary methodologies to explore concepts of safety, sustainability, responsibility and scale.
By the end of the course, students will be able to critically explore the ways CPSs are planned, designed, built, operated, maintained and regulated, as well as assess how CPSs link to and affect other systems, both physical and non-physical. Students will be able to identify mechanisms that restrict, shape and support CPS systems being deployed at scale.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate conceptual understanding of cyber-physical systems and emerging abstractions for explaining and interrogating such systems, including through the concepts of safe, sustainable and responsible CPS at scale.
- Develop and fluently apply relevant assessment, evaluation and decision making tools and techniques relevant to managing cyber-physical systems at scale and communicate these to others.
- Identify and critically appraise new developments, advances and emerging knowledge within domains relevant to the new branch of engineering.
- Demonstrate ability to frame critical and constructive questions and appropriately apply existing and emerging methodologies to describe and explain the design, construction, commissioning, management and decommissioning of cyber-physical systems using the abstractions in the 3AI framework.
- Demonstrates an appreciation of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice and how they are enacted and contested for a cyber-physical system.
- Demonstrate ethical, respectful, and professional conduct, and contribute positively to the Institute community.
- Synthesise a wide range of data sources and inputs, and generate and communicate complex outcomes of cyber-physical research in relevant formats for diverse audiences or partners.
- Demonstrate a creative, innovative, and pro-active approach in efforts to explore and analyse cyber-physical systems with the goal to further develop and improve the core concepts and methodologies associated with the new branch of engineering.
- Fluently apply teamwork and project management skills to enable a collaborative project with peers who have a variety of skills, knowledge and viewpoints, leading to the creation of an in-depth analysis of a cyber-physical system.
Indicative Assessment
- Cyber Physical Systems group research project (50) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
- Applied Cybernetics Methodology Essay (35) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
- Participation in Methodologies Practice (15) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The quantum of work through the semester will be approximately 130 hours per 6 units of course. This will include a mixture of workshops and group work, as well as independent reading, viewing, listening and study. They will also participate in whole-of-Institute activities.
Inherent Requirements
Information on inherent requirements for this course is currently not available.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
Preliminary Reading
Resource lists for this course range from book chapters and journal articles on core theoretical concepts and research methods drawn from a range of research traditions, to think tank and industry white papers and case studies, to media stories and podcasts of relevance to the course content for a given topic. Participants will also be encouraged to continue to draw on materials and tools from CECS6001 and CECS8001.
Students are expected to engage with all the resources assigned; this will be included in weekly tutorial grading.
Here is an indicative selection from across the course.
- Andrews, Zoe, Fitzgerald, John, Payne, Richard and Alexander Romanovsky (2013) Fault Modeling for Systems of Systems in 2013 IEEE Eleventh International Symposium on Autonomous Decentralized Systems (ISADS), pp. 108 IEEE.
- Beamon, Benita M (1998) Supply Chain design and analysis: models and methods. International Journal of Production Economics 55, no 3: 281:294
- Friedman, Batya, and Peter H. Kahn. “Human Agency and Responsible Computing: Implications for Computer System Design.” Journal of System Software 17, no. 1 (January 1992): 7–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/0164-1212(92)90075-U.
- Midgley, Gerald. 2000, Systemic intervention : philosophy, methodology, and practice / Gerald Midgley Kluwer Academic/Plenum New York
- Meadows, Donella H., and Diana Wright. 2015. Thinking in systems: a primer.
- Miller, T. Christian, Megan Rose, Robert Faturechi, and Agnes Chang. “The Navy Installed Touch-Screen Steering Systems To Save Money. Ten Sailors Paid With Their Lives.” ProPublica, December 20, 2019. https://features.propublica.org/navy-uss-mccain-crash/navy-installed-touch-screen-steering-ten-sailors-paid-with-their-lives/.
- Vespignani, Alessandro (2010). Complex networks: The fragility of interdependency. Nature 464, no.7291: 984.
- de Visser, Ewart J., Richard Pak, and Tyler H. Shaw. (2018) "From ‘automation’ to ‘autonomy’: the importance of trust repair in human–machine interaction." Ergono
Assumed Knowledge
The assumed knowledge and requirements to take this course will be documented in the application pack available at https://3ainstitute.cecs.anu.edu.au/
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 to 12 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
| 7.00 | 0.14583 |
| 8.00 | 0.16667 |
| 9.00 | 0.18750 |
| 10.00 | 0.20833 |
| 11.00 | 0.22917 |
| 12.00 | 0.25000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
