Description: Increasingly, microcomputers are being used in applications where their correct operation is vital to ensure the safety of the public and the environment: from anti-lock braking systems in automobiles, to fly-by-wire aircraft, to shut-down systems at nuclear power plants. It is, therefore, vital that engineers are aware of the safety implications of the systems they develop. This book is an introduction to the field of safety-critical computer systems, and is written for any engineer who uses microcomputers within real-time embedded systems. It assumes no prior knowledge of safety, or of any specific computer hardware or programming language. This book covers all phases of the life of a safety-critical system from its conception and specification, through to its certification, installation, service and decommissioning; provides information on how to assess the safety implications of projects, and determine the measures necessary to develop systems to meet safety needs; gives a thorough grounding in the techniques available to investigate the safety aspects of computer-based systems and the methods that may be used to enhance their dependability; and uses case studies and worked examples from a wide range of industrial sectors including the nuclear, aircraft, automotive and consumer products industries. This text is intended for both engineering and computer science students, and for practising engineers within computer-related industries. The approach taken is equally suited to engineers who consider computers from a hardware, software or systems viewpoint.

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