IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - April 2021 - 47

Credit: Image licensed by Ingram Publishing

where this relative distribution increases to two-thirds or
more for some special mission aerial platforms [2]. Avionics
systems are not confined merely to aircraft, but include a
growing number of air traffic management (ATM) applications, including communication, navigation and surveillance
(CNS) systems as well as an automated decision support systems (DSS) for manned/unmanned aircraft operations in all
classes of airspace addressing both strategic and tactical operational timeframes [3]-[5]. The perpetual quest to maximize
safety and efficiency of aviation operations (by maintaining
an optimal balance between capacity and demand in increasingly denser airspace scenarios) makes CNS/ATM a topic of
growing importance within the domain of modern avionics
engineering. Another important avionics area is space traffic
management (STM), with a rapidly increasing number of
hardware/software solutions being developed and applied to
satellites (space, ground, and user segments) and space transport/exploration missions. In particular, avionics systems are
integral to global multidomain CNS systems, enabling the
efficient operations of not only manned/unmanned aircraft
and spacecraft but also autonomous surface vehicles and
other transportation systems. Furthermore, as integrated modular avionics (IMA) concepts enable the effective integration
of innovative CNS solutions across a broad range of autonomous vehicles, the need for avionics engineering is expanded
into multiple domains including not just air and space platforms but also maritime and terrestrial systems.

KEEPING PACE WITH MODERN NEEDS
In traditional academic settings, the scope of avionics engineering has often been narrowed from aviation/aerospace
electronics systems to aircraft electronics. Shortcomings
APRIL 2021

noted within the IEEE AESS Avionics Systems Panel
(ASP) include a lack of appreciation of the scope and the
complexities associated with design, development, and
implementation of mission-essential and safety-critical avionics systems both for civil and military applications. Lack
of coordination between industry and academic institutions
can increase the gap between university preparation and
industry needs. Documented efforts to coordinate university-industry training are limited , but include one graduate
program with a systems engineering based approach
involving industry [6] and a few updates to specific avionics related course content [7], [8]. A broad overview of educational requirements for aerospace cyber physical systems
was presented in [9]. Undergraduate, and even graduate,
avionics engineering curricula have largely existed under
the wings of Aerospace Engineering [10]-[12] or Electrical,
Electronic, and Computer Engineering Departments [13],
[14], rather than as stand-alone programs or joint programs
from Aerospace, Electronics, and Systems Engineering
Departments with significant multidisciplinary depth. Technology programs focusing on avionics systems operations
and, in particular, hardware/software systems maintenance
have traditionally been developed and operated separately
from undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programs. The special programs responded to the large array
of industrial needs for avionics technicians [15].
The academic base and specialties of faculty and professionals, due to both career experience and education,
have also often limited the depth and curricular coverage.
The limited scope curtails available preparation to orientation based within a single discipline or subfield. However,
the study of modern avionics systems requires a more
holistic approach, with an increased relevance of multidisciplinary systems engineering, artificial intelligence (AI),

IEEE A&E SYSTEMS MAGAZINE

47
IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - April 2021
