IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - April 2021 - 54

Restructuring Avionics Engineering Curricula to Meet Contemporary Requirements and Future Challenges
Evolution of Avionics Human-Machine Interfaces
and Interactions (HMI2): Conventionally, human
machine interfaces (HMI) focus on cockpit management and ground control. Originally HMI research
involved just the interface, but the advancement in
technology has made the interface more interactive,
and thus, it has evolved to HMI and interactions
(HMI2). Related multidomain systems with ever
increasing data fusion needs pose interactive as
" user refinement " toward command and control leverages cognitive engineering from human factors
disciplines [41]. Further development to increase
HMI2 adaptiveness has significant potential to
enhance the human operator's effectiveness, thereby
contributing to safer and more efficient operations.
Designing more adaptive display formats and functions forms significant part of present-day research
in avionics. Examples of HMI2 relate to UAS
remote pilots (including one-to-many operations),
ATM, and emerging UAM and space applications.
The potential depth in these and other research areas
can form the topic of several graduate theses, both at the
masters and doctoral level. The applications that define
the field of avionics lead to a need for strong programs to
develop a close liaison with industry and relevant organization. At present, doctoral-level degrees in avionics are a
relative rarity and stronger international collaboration will
significantly enhance these opportunities.
Deriving from these research areas and the existing
gaps in industry academia orientations, the structure of a
graduate avionics engineering program is proposed. It
focuses on five such specialization domains.

systems and how their performance can be
improved individually and in an integrated manner
to support future challenges in ATM. Future air traffic will be a complex mix of diversified aircraft,
densely operating in a limited airspace. Thus, more
accurate navigation systems and trajectory control
algorithms, image-assisted surveillance and navigation, alternate positioning, navigation and timing
(APNT), and similar technologies will keep evolving to afford more traffic within the same airspace
and with the same or higher safety requirements.
So, courses in this area should cover flight systems
in detail and techniques required to meet future
challenges. Linear systems, filtering and estimation,
sensor data fusion, predictive analytics, and airport
technology can be included in the curriculum.
Avionics Software and Cybersecurity: Majority of
avionics systems are now software intensive and
increasingly operating in a connected environment.
Software development and certification for avionics
systems is a major component of the aerospace
industry. In addition, system networking and
employment of data links for various functions,
especially for unmanned systems have given rise to
cybersecurity concerns. This specialization will be
oriented toward teaching advanced techniques in
cybersecurity and implementation of dedicated
cyberprotection and countermeasure techniques in
the aviation environment. Software protection, system assurance, and network protocols can also be
included in the curriculum.

Avionics System Design: The scope of this specialization will be to study and explore best design
methodologies for avionics systems. This will
include incorporation of new technologies in avionics systems and how to handle certification aspects.
To cite an example, AI/machine learning (ML) are
being widely used in numerous systems around the
world. AI/ML technologies have tremendous potential utilization in aviation but due to certification
issues no significant inroads have been made. Current research in AI/ML includes data analytics, generative learning, and multimode processing.
Students shall be able to analyze the structure and
functioning of existing avionics architectures to
minutest detail and be able to propose improvements. Fault tolerant avionics, data fusion, advanced
avionics architectures, and HMI2 can be the constituent components of this area.

Avionics Radio Frequency (RF)/Microwave Front
Ends: A number of avionics systems depend upon
communication with external systems or transmission and reception of electromagnetic energy. Like
other avionics systems, the requirements of designing aircraft RF systems do not follow conventional
RF design methodologies. Electromagnetic interference and compatibility (EMI/EMC) also becomes a
very dominant factor in the design and implementation process. Stealthier antennas, integrated RF
frontends, cognitive radios, and frequency diversity
are active areas of contemporary research. The
courses in this area should cover advanced microwave engineering with focus on aviation-specific
requirements. In particular, these should include the
hardware aspects of aircraft and CNS systems, multisensor avionics, advanced modulation techniques,
power optimization, EMI/EMC, and signal
integrity.

Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance
(CNS) Systems: Postgraduate studies in CNS systems will focus on in depth studies of existing

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): The UAS specialization will tend to carry forward the basics covered in undergraduate program. The focus at the

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IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - April 2021

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