Evolution in the Education of Software Engineers: Online Course on Cyberphysical Systems with Remote Access to Robotic Devices

Authors

  • Janusz Zalewski Florida Gulf Coast University
  • Fernando Gonzalez Florida Gulf Coast University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v13i08.7377

Keywords:

Software Engineering Education, Cyberphysical Systems Education, Embedded Systems Education, Robotic Devices, Online Labs, Remote Labs,

Abstract


The objective of this work is to address, from the educational perspective, the trends in the software engineerring discipline, which rely on a significant increase in the use of remotely accessible and remotely controlled embedded devices. The paper presents an approach and experiences with introducing robotic devices accessible online to a course on Cyberphysical Systems in an undergraduate Software Engineering program.  A closer look at both technologies, online labs and cyberphysical systems education, reveals that they are not in sync.  Remote labs have embraced a wide variety of science and engineering disciplines, but they are not popular in software engineering.  On the other hand, software engineering education, being crucial to the development of cyberphysical systems has not focused on such systems by any measure.  This project and paper aim at addressing this gap.

Author Biographies

Janusz Zalewski, Florida Gulf Coast University

Janusz Zalewski is a professor of computer science and software engineering at Florida Gulf Coast University. He obtained his MSc in Electronic Engineering (1973) and PhD in Computer Science and Engineering (1979) from Warsaw Uni-versity of Technology. Prior to an academic appointment, he worked for various nuclear research institutions, including the Data Acquisition Group of Supercon-ducting Super Collider and Computer Safety and Reliability Center at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He also worked on projects and consulted for a number of private companies, including Lockheed Martin, Harris, and Boeing. His major research interests include safety related, real-time embedded and cy-berphysical computer systems, and computing education.  He is currently serving as a secretary of the IEEE P1876 standard project on Networked Smart Learning Objects for Online Laboratories.

Fernando Gonzalez, Florida Gulf Coast University

Fernando Gonzalez joined FGCU as an assistant professor in the Software Engineering Program in the Fall of 2013. Previously he has worked at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas, the Los Alamos National Labor-atory and at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Gonzalez graduated from the University of Illinois in 1997 with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engi-neering. He received his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and his Bache-lor’s degree in Computer Science from Florida International University in 1992 and 1989. Dr. Gonzalez research interest includes the intelligent control of large scale autonomous systems, autonomous vehicles, discrete-event modeling and simulation and human signature verification.

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Published

2017-08-04

How to Cite

Zalewski, J., & Gonzalez, F. (2017). Evolution in the Education of Software Engineers: Online Course on Cyberphysical Systems with Remote Access to Robotic Devices. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE), 13(08), pp. 133–146. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v13i08.7377

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 08 (2017)

Section

Papers