Targeted Infusion Project: Infusion of Cyber Physical System Education and Research Training in the Undergraduate Curriculum in the College of Engineering at TSU

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)通过有针对性的灌输项目，支持基于证据的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以改善HBCU本科学生的准备和成功，使他们能够攻读科学、技术、工程或数学(STEM)研究生课程和/或职业。田纳西州立大学的这个项目将通过建立跨学科的网络物理系统(CPS)项目来加强本科教育，并为学生满足劳动力需求或CPS相关领域的进修做好准备。CPS项目涉及计算机科学、电气和计算机工程等多个系。该项目将开发一个最先进的网络物理系统研究和教育实验室，为学生和教职员工提供在CPS进行研究、教育和推广的机会；并将学习模块纳入本科课程，以满足技术劳动力的需求，并传授必要的知识和技能，以培养CPS具有竞争力的劳动力。在开发这样一个项目时，该项目将采用与常用的“自下而上”学习方法不同的“自上而下”的反向工程模式来传授知识，力求从早期阶段就引导学生使用CPS的模式，使学生从理论和实践的角度逐渐对其构成要素有详细的了解。该项目将为自上而下方法的有效性提供重要的见解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) graduate programs and/or careers. The project at Tennessee State University will enhance undergraduate education by establishing an interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical System (CPS) program and prepare students to meet the needs of the workforce or advanced studies in CPS related fields. The CPS program spans the departments of computer science and electrical and computer engineering. The project will develop a state-of-the-art Cyber Physical System Research and Education Laboratory that will provide opportunities for research, education, and outreach in CPS for students and faculty; and incorporate learning modules into the programs at the undergraduate level to meet the needs of the technology workforce and impart essential knowledge and skills to prepare a competitive workforce in CPS. In developing such a program, the project will adopt, in contrast to the commonly used 'bottom-up' learning approach, a 'top-down' reverse-engineering paradigm for imparting knowledge that would seek to orient students with the paradigm of a CPS from an early stage with students gradually gaining detailed understanding of its building blocks both from a theoretical and practical perspective. The project will provide important insights into the effectiveness of the top-down approach.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.