Restructuring Avionics Engineering Curricula to Meet Contemporary Requirements and Future Challenges

Abstract

A comprehensive approach is offered for avionics engineering topics and curricula for educational activities that better meet contemporary aerospace industry requirements. These topics include a growing demand for airspace mobility services, the proliferation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and the required enhancements in avionics and air traffic management (ATM) design standards (hardware and software components); targeting the evolving safety, interoperability, and cybersecurity needs of the aeronautical and space sectors. Proposed topics and approaches stem from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Aerospace and Electronics Systems Society (AESS) Avionics Systems Panel (ASP) discussions aimed at aligning educational approaches to relevant industry needs and technical advancements in the field of avionics engineering. Suitable curricular development approaches are proposed to address the career life cycle of avionics engineers, including undergraduate and graduate education. Collaborative exchange and discussion, including both industrial and academic perspectives, focus on informing curricular development approaches that bridge the gaps between higher education, industry practice, and public stakeholder needs toward maximizing educational outcomes and preparedness of the avionics engineering workforce to tackle some of the most important challenges and opportunities faced by the aerospace sector.