ISO/IEC Course in Autonomy Simulation
Online 300-hour course in ISO/IEC in autonomy simulation. 6 modules covering ISO 21448 (safety of the intended functionality, SOTIF), UL 4600 (safety of autonomous products) and CARLA. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
ISO/IEC Course in Autonomy Simulation — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a established defence industry centred on companies such as Denel and Paramount Group, with capabilities in land systems, armoured vehicles and munitions. The sector supports engineering roles in systems integration, vehicle design and test and evaluation. Defence procurement and export controls are overseen by government bodies, and the industry works closely with the South African National Defence Force. Engineers in this field typically combine mechanical, electrical and systems skills.
Fees for South Africa: R 14 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African bodies regulate or recognise defence and military engineering professionals?
Engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA under the Engineering Profession Act, and defence programmes are guided by institutions such as the South African National Defence Force and Armscor, which set their own requirements. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by these bodies and your employer, so confirm with them first.
Would this qualification help me find work in South Africa's defence or land systems sector?
South Africa has a defence industry with state-linked entities and private contractors, and employers usually require security clearances, relevant experience and recognised qualifications. A private online programme may support your application but does not guarantee employment or clearance. Check requirements with prospective employers, as roles in this sector can be sensitive and tightly controlled.
Can I study alongside a job, and are there funding options?
The course is 100% online and taught in English, so you need strong English, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, each with an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, so ask whether your employer would fund part of the training.
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
Describe the role of simulation in the development of autonomous systems.
Model the system, its sensors and the operating environment.
Verify and validate the credibility of simulation models.
Design large-scale, scenario-based simulation campaigns.
Apply SOTIF criteria to identify triggering conditions.
Use simulation results as safety evidence.
Develop an integrative simulation project.
Who it's for
- Simulation engineer who wants to specialise in ISO/IEC in autonomy simulation.
- Verification and validation engineer for autonomous systems who wants to specialise in ISO/IEC in autonomy simulation.
- SOTIF safety engineer who wants to specialise in ISO/IEC in autonomy simulation.
- Virtual environment developer who wants to specialise in ISO/IEC in autonomy simulation.
- Robotics engineer who wants to specialise in ISO/IEC in autonomy simulation.
- Test scenario analyst who wants to specialise in ISO/IEC in autonomy simulation.
- Graduates in engineering or science who want to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 21448 (safety of the intended functionality, SOTIF)
- UL 4600 (safety of autonomous products)
- ASAM OpenSCENARIO (scenario description)
- ASAM OpenDRIVE (road network description)
- ISO 34502 (scenario-based safety evaluation)
- IEEE 1516 (high-level architecture, HLA)
- ISO 26262 (functional safety in road vehicles)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Purposes of simulation: design, validation and training1.2Types of simulation: constructive, virtual and mixed1.3Simulation in the loop: model, software and hardware1.4Distributed simulation architectures1.5Interoperability standards between simulators1.6Fidelity and its computational cost1.7Limits of simulation as evidence1.8Sector vocabulary and acronyms1.9Common tools and how they fit together1.10Exercise: choosing the type of simulation for an objective
2.1Dynamic model of the vehicle or robot2.2Actuator and delay models2.3Sensor models and their noise2.4Modelling the static and dynamic environment2.5Scenario generation and parameterisation2.6Variability in the behaviour of other agents2.7Weather and lighting conditions2.8Modelling communications and their degradation2.9Documenting assumptions and limitations2.10Practice: building a sensor model
3.1Difference between verifying and validating a model3.2Verification of code and implementation3.3Validation against experimental data3.4Comparison metrics and acceptance criteria3.5Parameter sensitivity analysis3.6Quantification of model uncertainty3.7Model credibility and its documentation3.8Simulation configuration management3.9Reference standards on credibility3.10Practice: validating a model with real data
4.1Experimental design and scenario coverage4.2Scenario catalogues and their construction4.3Sampling and search for corner cases4.4Mass execution and resource management4.5Reproducibility: seeds and versions4.6Safety and performance metrics4.7Automatic fault detection and classification4.8Statistical analysis of results4.9Management and traceability of generated data4.10Practice: designing a scenario campaign
5.1What a certifier accepts from simulation5.2Sufficiency argument for simulated evidence5.3Combining simulation, test benches and real-world trials5.4Traceability from requirement to scenario and result5.5Risk of overfitting to the simulator5.6Difference between simulation and reality and how to manage it5.7Training models with synthetic data5.8Transparency about limitations5.9Documentation for audit5.10Practice: building the evidence argument
6.1Choice of system and simulation objective6.2Simulation architecture6.3Modelling the system, sensors and environment6.4Model verification and validation plan6.5Scenario campaign design6.6Analysis of results and uncertainty6.7Evidence argument for certification6.8Documentation and configuration management6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CARLA, Gazebo, IPG CarMaker, MATLAB/Simulink, ROS 2, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work covers real procedures for scenario-based simulation campaigns, hardware-in-the-loop testing and correlation between simulation and real-world testing. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the role of simulation in the development of autonomous systems.
Model the system, its sensors and the operating environment.
Verify and validate the credibility of simulation models.
Design large-scale, scenario-based simulation campaigns.
Apply SOTIF criteria to identify triggering conditions.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- A sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The course works with CARLA, Gazebo, IPG CarMaker, MATLAB/Simulink, ROS 2. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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