CSEP case studies
CSEP · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) credential is administered by INCOSE, the International Council on Systems Engineering, and is the professional-level certification in the INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) program. It is intended for practicing systems engineers who want independent recognition that their knowledge and experience align with the discipline's established body of knowledge, rather than for entry-level candidates or for specialists in a single technical domain. The CSEP case studies are 5 cases and about 3,850 words.
1AgriRover: The Missing Timing Budget
AgriRover is an autonomous crop sprayer operating at 1.2 m/s in orchards. The system requirement states: 'The vehicle shall detect a 0.3 m obstacle and come to a full stop within 0.4 m.' Perception is supplied by an external vendor; the vehicle controller is built in-house.
786 words, about 4 min2MediTrack: Making Availability and Alarm Latency Verifiable
MediTrack is a patient telemetry system for a 220-bed hospital. The marketing-derived requirement reads: 'The system shall provide continuous monitoring with 99.99% availability and shall alarm within 2 seconds.' The proposed architecture is a single on-premises server with a redundant disk and a monthly 4-hour maintenance window.
774 words, about 4 min3RailSense: Is the Verification Evidence Enough for a Safety Case?
RailSense is a processor for a highway-rail crossing. The safety requirement states: 'Upon detection of a vehicle stalled on the crossing, the system shall command barriers down and activate warning lights within 3 seconds.' Verification evidence at the critical design review consists of: a failure modes and effects analysis claiming detection is safe; unit tests of the radar driver with 94% statement coverage; a system test of 22 nominal scenarios; and a traceability matrix in which 12 of 71 requirements, including two derived safety requirements on degraded-mode timing, have no linked test.
808 words, about 4 min4OrbitalLink: Earned Value Meets a Fixed Launch Window
OrbitalLink is a ground terminal program with an approved budget at completion of 8.0M and an 18-month schedule. At the end of month 8, the project manager reports planned value 4.0M, earned value 3.2M, and actual cost 3.9M.
733 words, about 4 min5GeoLink: End-of-Life Radio and a Frozen Baseline
GeoLink is a fielded environmental monitoring network with 2,400 deployed sensor nodes and a 12-year support obligation, of which 8 years remain. The node's radio module has received an end-of-life notice; the last-time buy is in 14 months.
749 words, about 4 min