HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) course in aerospace
Online course of 300 hours in hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) for aerospace, structured in 6 modules covering HIL concepts, real-time platforms, aeronautical interfaces and buses, plant models and testing, and qualification and certification, with an assigned technical tutor.
HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) course in aerospace — studying from Ireland
Ireland's aerospace sector is concentrated in Shannon, Limerick and the Dublin region, with a strong base of maintenance, repair and overhaul, avionics, aerostructures and engine component manufacturing. Multinational suppliers and specialist SMEs serve global airframe and engine programmes, while the Irish Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency shape certification and airworthiness requirements. Growing interest in drones, urban air mobility and space-related research is supported by university spin-outs and national research centres. Engineers here work on design assurance, systems integration, maintenance planning and compliance across the aviation value chain.
Fees for Ireland: €797 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by professional bodies in Ireland for aerospace work?
SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state-awarded, and are not accredited by any national body. Engineers Ireland is the main professional body for engineers in Ireland and sets its own membership criteria, so recognition is decided by them, not by SEIUM. Aviation safety oversight sits with the Irish Aviation Authority. Check directly with these bodies before relying on any credential for licensing or chartership.
Do Irish aerospace and drone employers value private online engineering qualifications?
Hiring in Ireland's aerospace and drone sector is generally driven by demonstrable skills, relevant experience and, for many roles, recognised degrees. A private qualification may support a CV, particularly alongside practical experience, but its weight is decided by each employer. We cannot promise any outcome. Speaking to prospective employers about how they view SEIUM's programmes is the most reliable way to judge.
Can I study this programme alongside a full-time job in Ireland?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so there is no travel and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly time accordingly. You will have an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments. Some employers offer funding, which you should ask about directly.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the role of HIL in the development cycle.
Select real-time platforms suited to the unit under test.
Implement avionics interfaces and buses on a rig.
Develop plant models with the required fidelity.
Automate requirements-based tests with fault injection.
Integrate HIL into DO-178C and DO-254 certification processes.
Design a complete HIL rig for a real unit.
Who it's for
- HIL test engineers.
- Avionics integration engineers.
- Verification and validation engineers.
- Real-time model developers.
- Test rig engineers.
- Equipment qualification managers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join aeronautical manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- RTCA DO-178C (software considerations in airborne systems)
- RTCA DO-254 (design assurance for airborne electronic hardware)
- RTCA DO-330 (software tool qualification)
- ARINC 429 (digital information transfer system)
- MIL-STD-1553B (military data bus)
- ARINC 664 Part 7 (avionics full-duplex switched Ethernet (AFDX))
- ECSS-E-ST-40C (space software engineering)
- SAE ARP4754B (development of civil aircraft and systems)
- dSPACE SCALEXIO
- NI VeriStand
- Speedgoat with Simulink Real-Time
- Vector CANoe
- Python with pytest
6 modules
1.1The V-cycle and test levels1.2MIL, SIL, PIL and HIL1.3Advantages of HIL in avionics1.4Hard real time and determinism1.5Architecture of an HIL rig1.6Iron bird and integration rigs1.7Simulated plant versus real hardware1.8Latency and jitter requirements1.9Costs and return on the rig1.10Case study: HIL rig for flight controls
2.1Real-time operating systems2.2dSPACE platforms2.3Speedgoat and Simulink Real-Time2.4NI VeriStand and PXI2.5FPGA for high-speed models2.6Task scheduling and multirate2.7Measurement of execution times2.8Partitioning models across multiple cores2.9Clock synchronisation2.10Lab: deploying a model in real time
3.1Analogue and discrete signals3.2ARINC 4293.3MIL-STD-1553B3.4AFDX and ARINC 6643.5CAN and CANaerospace3.6SpaceWire in satellites3.7Sensor simulation: IMU, GPS and probes3.8Emulation of actuators and loads3.9Electrical fault injection3.10Practical exercise: ARINC 429 traffic on the rig
4.1Model fidelity requirements4.2Real-time flight dynamics4.3Engine and systems models4.4Orbital environment model4.5Test automation4.6Requirements-based test cases4.7Regression testing4.8Fault injection and degraded modes4.9Data logging and analysis4.10Workshop: automated test sequence
5.1The role of HIL in DO-178C5.2Hardware-software integration under DO-2545.3Tool qualification under DO-3305.4Validation of the rig against flight5.5Traceability from requirement to test and result5.6Configuration management of the rig5.7Space testing under ECSS-E-ST-40C5.8Evidence for authorities5.9Rig maintenance5.10Case study: test plan for an FCC
6.1Definition of the unit under test6.2Rig architecture6.3Selection of platform and interfaces6.4Real-time plant model6.5Test cases6.6Fault injection6.7Results and traceability6.8Qualification plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is dSPACE SCALEXIO, NI VeriStand, Speedgoat with Simulink Real-Time, Vector CANoe and Python with pytest, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures: an HIL rig for a flight control computer, fault injection in a fuel system and testing of a satellite attitude controller. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Standards covered: RTCA DO-178C, RTCA DO-254, RTCA DO-330, ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553B, ARINC 664 Part 7, ECSS-E-ST-40C, SAE ARP4754B.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An 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.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with dSPACE SCALEXIO, NI VeriStand, Speedgoat with Simulink Real-Time, Vector CANoe and Python with pytest, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, 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.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, 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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